This book surveys the diverse fiction produced in the U.S. from the late eighteenth-century until the beginning of the Civil War. An overview of early fiction along with in-depth examinations of specific novels is provided.

"A Companion to American Fiction 1780-1865 presents current critical responses to the broad range of American fiction written from the earliest declarations of nationhood to secession and civil war. The volume features contributions from over 35 leading international critics and scholars, who offer a cultural and historical context that serves to illuminate the fiction. The Companion covers both less well-known writers, such as Lydia Maria Child and...