Frontier in American Literature - Scholarly and Guide

In this review of Frontier in American Literature readers will find a compact, scholarly survey ideal for students and general readers interested in how the American frontier shaped key 19th-century writers. Edwin S. Fussell's book collects essays on Cooper, Hawthorne, Poe, Thoreau, Melville and Whitman, and the edition's Princeton Legacy Library reprint makes an out-of-print but influential study accessible again. The single biggest reason to consider this volume is its focused critical perspective linking canonical works to the idea of the West, useful for classroom reading and research bibliographies alike.

Key Features

• Collected critical essays: A sequence of seven chapters offers targeted readings of major authors, giving readers clear entry points into how each writer engages the frontier theme.
• Wide author coverage: From James Fenimore Cooper to Walt Whitman, the book surveys varied genres and eras to show continuity and contrast in American literary treatment of the West.
• Historic perspectives: Originally published in 1965, the work preserves mid-20th-century scholarly approaches useful for historians of criticism and literature courses.
• Princeton Legacy reprint: The print-on-demand edition restores a previously out-of-print title, making primary critical material available without needing library access.
• Chapter-level depth: Individual chapters devote sustained attention to key texts such as The Scarlet Letter, Walden, Moby-Dick and Leaves of Grass, helping readers connect single works to broader themes.

Who It's For

The book is best suited to undergraduate and graduate students, literary scholars, and interested general readers who want a concise, thematic account of how the frontier influenced major American writers. Its essay format and chapter-by-chapter focus make it a useful companion for seminar reading lists and research on regional and cultural literary history.

Readers seeking contemporary theoretical frameworks, recent scholarship, or a broad survey of every frontier-related writer might look elsewhere; this volume preserves a particular critical moment and is strongest when used alongside newer studies and primary texts.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Concise, focused essays that clarify the connection between frontier themes and individual authors' works.
• Restores an out-of-print study via the Princeton Legacy Library, increasing accessibility for students and researchers.
• Useful selections that reference major texts like Moby-Dick, Walden and The Scarlet Letter for course use and bibliographies.

Cons

• Because it preserves the original 1965 perspective, readers may find its critical approaches dated compared with recent scholarship.

Specifications

Title	Frontier in American Literature (Princeton Legacy Library)
Author	Edwin S. Fussell
Originally published	1965
Contents	Preface; Introduction; seven chapters covering Cooper, Hawthorne, Poe, Thoreau, Melville, Whitman and related essays
Notable texts discussed	Leatherstocking Tales; The Scarlet Letter; Walden; Moby-Dick; Leaves of Grass
Series	Princeton Legacy Library reprint

Our Verdict

Frontier in American Literature is a valuable reprint for students and scholars who need a historically situated, author-focused study of the frontier in 19th-century American writing. Its essay sequence and attention to canonical works make it good value as a reference or course supplement, though users should pair it with recent criticism for the latest perspectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the original text or a new edition?
This is a Princeton Legacy Library reprint of the original 1965 study, reproduced using print-on-demand; it preserves the original text.

Which authors are covered?
The book includes chapters on James Fenimore Cooper, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville and Walt Whitman, among related essays.

Is this suitable for undergraduate courses?
Yes. Its accessible essays and focused chapters make it suitable as a supplementary text for literature and American studies courses.