Wed, 5 Apr 1995 13:20:00 EDT
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I've been lurking on the list for six months or so, but the impending need
to order texts for a Fall term undergraduate seminar on Twain brings me out
of hiding. I suppose I should introduce myself first, though: an assistant
professor in the English Department at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana,
I teach a variety of upper-level American literature courses in addition to
the usual complement of composition and surveys. My scholarly work has more
or less centered on Henry James, but Twain is a burgeoning interest
(counterweight?) and I first taught a Twain seminar a year ago, with
generally good results all around. Which brings me to my question:
The second time around I'd like to emphasize more than I did before the
historical, social, and political context to the works. Any suggestions for
a suitable, manageable, affordable, and in-print volume that gives a good
overview of the Gilded Age without being superficial or too specialized? I
made limited use of Robert Wiebe's THE SEARCH FOR ORDER but found it to be
too much the interpretive essay. On the other hand, a textbook passed along
by a colleague--Vincent De Santis's THE SHAPING OF MODERN AMERICA:
1877-1920--seems too much a mere compilation of names, dates, places, etc..
Feel free to respond either personally or on-list. Thanks in advance.
Steve Jobe
Hanover College
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