A Short History of American Literature, based upon The Cambridge History of American Literature, offers a comprehensive overview of the development of literary arts in the United States. Authored by William Peterfield Trent, this volume presents a concise yet insightful exploration of significant authors, movements, and works that have shaped the American literary landscape. From the early colonial writings to the modern era, this book traces the evolution of American literary expression, examining the historical, cultural, and social contexts that influenced its growth. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of the key figures and themes that define American literature, making it an essential resource for students, scholars, and anyone interested in the rich literary heritage of the United States.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.