Based on the author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 231-268) and index.

This innovative book makes a major contribution to the current revision of the American literary canon. Challenging the view of Melville as an isolated, alienated genius, Sheila Post-Lauria presents him not only as a writer keenly attuned to the popular culture of his day but also as one who considered reliance upon cultural materials fundamental to his creativity. Firmly grounded in the new scholarship on the history of nineteenth-century print culture and in studies of Melville's contemporaries, Correspondent Colorings provides a rereading of Melville's oeuvre that casts new light on masterpieces like Moby dick and ambiguous texts such as Benito Cereno, as well as lesser known magazine and the late poetry.

SACFinal081324