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America Writes Its History, 1650-1850: The Formation of a National Narrative

By turns irreverent, sympathetic and amusing, America Writes Its History, 1650-1850 adds to the public discourse on national identity as advanced through the written word. Highlighting the contributions of American writers who focused on history, the author shows that for nearly 200 years writers struggled to reflect, or influence, the public perception of America by Americans. This book is an introduction to the development of history as a written art form, and an academic discipline, during America's most crucial and impressionable period. America Writes Its History, 1650-1850 takes the reader on a historical tour of written histories--whether narrative history, novels, memoirs or plays--from the Jamestown Colony to the edge of the Civil War. What exactly did we, as Americans, think of ourselves? And more importantly; What did we want non-Americans to think of us? In other words, what was (and is) history, and who, if anyone, owns it?

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America Writes Its History, 1650-1850: The Formation of a National Narrative

By turns irreverent, sympathetic and amusing, America Writes Its History, 1650-1850 adds to the public discourse on national identity as advanced through the written word. Highlighting the contributions of American writers who focused on history, the author shows that for nearly 200 years writers struggled to reflect, or influence, the public perception of America by Americans. This book is an introduction to the development of history as a written art form, and an academic discipline, during America's most crucial and impressionable period. America Writes Its History, 1650-1850 takes the reader on a historical tour of written histories--whether narrative history, novels, memoirs or plays--from the Jamestown Colony to the edge of the Civil War. What exactly did we, as Americans, think of ourselves? And more importantly; What did we want non-Americans to think of us? In other words, what was (and is) history, and who, if anyone, owns it?

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America Writes Its History, 1650-1850: The Formation of a National Narrative

America Writes Its History, 1650-1850: The Formation of a National Narrative

by Jude M. Pfister
America Writes Its History, 1650-1850: The Formation of a National Narrative
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America Writes Its History, 1650-1850: The Formation of a National Narrative

America Writes Its History, 1650-1850: The Formation of a National Narrative

by Jude M. Pfister

Overview

By turns irreverent, sympathetic and amusing, America Writes Its History, 1650-1850 adds to the public discourse on national identity as advanced through the written word. Highlighting the contributions of American writers who focused on history, the author shows that for nearly 200 years writers struggled to reflect, or influence, the public perception of America by Americans. This book is an introduction to the development of history as a written art form, and an academic discipline, during America's most crucial and impressionable period. America Writes Its History, 1650-1850 takes the reader on a historical tour of written histories--whether narrative history, novels, memoirs or plays--from the Jamestown Colony to the edge of the Civil War. What exactly did we, as Americans, think of ourselves? And more importantly; What did we want non-Americans to think of us? In other words, what was (and is) history, and who, if anyone, owns it?

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781476614489
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date: 05/21/2014
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 216
File size: 547 KB
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Jude M. Pfister is a public historian working for the National Park Service in Morristown, New Jersey, with experience in many of the most important historic sites in the United States.
Jude M. Pfister is a public historian working for the National Park Service in Morristown, New Jersey, with experience in many of the most important historic sites in the United States.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Preface 1

Introduction 5

Part I 15

1 America as a Topic of Historical Inquiry 17

2 European Models of History and the American Revolution 30

3 American Writing in the Age of American Independence 36

Part II 45

4 Writing About the Founding 47

5 Three Giants of Historical Writing in America in 1800 60

6 Other Genres of Writing About History 73

7 George Washington-Retirement and Death 81

Part III 91

8 Ramsay and Weems: Biographers 93

9 Bushrod Washington and John Marshall Write The Life of George Washington 105

Part IV 125

10 Jared Sparks and the Writing of The Life and Writings of George Washington 127

11 The Harvest of Sparks' Washington 148

12 The Bitter Harvest of Sparks' Washington 152

Conclusion: The Benefits of History 160

Epilogue: The German Influence on Sparks 165

Appendix 1 fared Sparks to Bushrod Washington, January 26, 1826 169

Appendix 2 Bushrod Washington to Jared Sparks, March 13, 1826 174

Appendix 3 Washington Papers Contract 175

Appendix 4 Major Works by Jared Sparks 177

Appendix 5 Literary and Historical Societies to Which Jared Sparks Was Elected 178

Appendix 6 George C. Washington to Jared Sparks, 1849 180

Chapter Notes 182

Bibliography 199

Index 204

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History
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