Abstract

Martin, Terrence. “Social Institutions in the Early American Novel.”American Quarterly. 9. (1) Spring 1957, 72-84.

Terrence Martin’s article “Social Institutions in the Early American Novel” examines the way that the social institutions of early America affected the literature that came out of the time. The novels, he posits, are not windows into the actual lives of Americans at the time, but instead “what they knew and what they wanted to believe they were” (73). Consequently, through the two dominant literary styles of the time (the historical novel and the sentimental novel) we are able to explore the perceptions the early Americans had of themselves and of their new nation. The novels’ action, in both cases, is “visual[ized]…within the framework of some social form” (75).

Martin’s argument is framed in the discussion life in early America and the relationship to the literature of the time. This argument takes into account two different types of literary genres that were popular at the time and looks at how they fit into this dialogue. This was very helpful to read for my project as the way Americans view themselves (and their former colonizers, the British) is central to my discussion of Amelia. This article would also be helpful to anyone who is reading a sentimental or historical novel.