Class Conflicts and the American Dream

The first thematic series published for American literature, THE WADSWORTH THEMES IN AMERICAN LITERATURE SERIES is currently comprised of 21 themes spanning the time period normally covered in the two-semester American literature survey course--1492 to the present. Each carefully edited booklet centers on a core issue of the period with attention given to the development of key themes. Each thematic booklet offers an introductory contextual essay, a variety of literary perspectives, headnotes and footnotes, along with a variety of visual elements. Henry Hart is a contemporary poet, biographer, and critic with a broad range of work to his credit. He currently holds a chair in literature at the College of William and Mary. His themes are drawn from the postwar era, and he puts before readers a seductive range of work by poets, fiction writers, and essayists. Many of the themes from earlier volumes find their culmination here. Hart offers students a chance to think hard about the matter of ethnicity and race in contemporary America. He explores the role of class, gender, and sexuality in American society. In all, these thematic booklets by Hart are certain to challenge, entertain, and instruct.