7 (+4) American literature classics - Traveling Psychiatrist

07/04/2023. Today is the US Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, a day of celebrations in America. The day commemorates the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. To mark the occasion, I discuss 7 American literature classics (this list is, of course, far from exhaustive), as well as 4 more recent books.

7 American literature classics

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

Set in the 1920s on Long Island, near New York City, The Great Gatsby is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third novel. It is widely considered a literary masterpiece, as well as a contender for the title of the Great American Novel (along with several other novels included in this list as well as others not included). It has been adapted into a film multiple times, including in 1974 and 2013.

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (1951)

A critically-acclaimed novel, The Catcher in the Rye is another contender for the title of the Great American Novel. It is J.D. Salinger’s best-known and most notable work. Narrated in the first person, it is a coming-of-age novel about a teenager who leaves his school to spend a weekend in New York City.

On the Road, by Jack Kerouac (1957)

On the Road is Jack Kerouac’s second novel and is based on the author’s travels across the United States in the late 40s and early 50s. In this largely autobiographical novel, Kerouac, a pioneer of the Beat Generation, takes us from New York to Denver, and from there to California and Mexico. On the Road was adapted into a film in 2012.

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee (1960)

Widely considered a classic of modern American literature, To Kill a Mockingbird is Harper Lee’s debut novel and was her only published novel until fairly recently. The story takes place in the 1930s in a fictional town in Alabama. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961 and has been adapted into a film (1962) and into a play.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou (1969)

This is the first and the most highly acclaimed in a series of seven autobiographies. Angelou talks about her traumatic childhood and adolescence (up until the age of 17). It was published much later, when the author was 40 years old.

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker (1982)

This is a critically-acclaimed novel which won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction. It has been written as a series of letters, discussing the life of an African-American woman and exploring important issues, such as racism and domestic violence. It has been adapted into a film twice and into a musical, which premiered in 2005. The 1985 film was directed by Steven Spielberg, whereas the second film adaptation is based on the musical and is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2023.

The Secret History, by Donna Tartt (1992)

Let’s now move to Vermont, where The Secret History, Donna Tartt’s debut novel, is set. The story takes place in the campus of a College and is about a socially isolated group of students, one of whom is murdered.

4 more American literature books

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, by Barack Obama (2006)

The Audacity of Hope is the second book by the 44th president of the United States. It is a non-fiction book, which was published two years before he first got elected. Since then, Obama has published two more books, Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters (a children’s book) and A Promised Land (a memoir).

Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens (2018)

Published only 5 years ago, this novel is yet to become an American literature classic. The story takes place in North Carolina in the 1950s and 60s. A young girl grows up on her own in the marshes. A few years later, she is the primary suspect in a murder enquiry and gets trialled for murder. The novel was adapted into a film last year (2022).

The President Is Missing, by Bill Clinton and James Patterson (2018)

This is the first book co-authored by the 42nd president of the United States and novelist James Patterson. It is a fictional, highly-entertaining novel. Prior to its release, Clinton had written 5 books (all non-fiction), whereas Patterson had authored or co-authored 150.

The President’s Daughter, by Bill Clinton and James Patterson (2021)

This is the second book co-authored by Clinton and Patterson, as well as the latest book by the former president. It is a standalone novel, not a sequel to The President is Missing (albeit equally entertaining).