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THE ESSAY IN AMERICAN

LITERATURE

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO NEW YORK
UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

BY

ADALINE MAY CONWAY, Ph.D.

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SERIES OF
GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDIES, No. 3

PUBLISHED BY

THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

NEW YORK, N. Y.

COPYRIGHT 1914

BY

ADALINE MAY CONWAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

A brief sketch of the Essay; its origin; develop-

ment and the classes into which it divided

itself

CHAPTER I. THE COLONIAL PERIOD.

Brief survey of the Essay in England and its

influence on the colonial writers in America.

Colonial predecessors of the American Essayists.

The Periodical Essay in England with special

reference to the Spectator and kindred publi-

cations. The appearance of Essays, original

and borrowed in the American colonial news-

papers and magazines .

CHAPTER II. THE FIRST AMERICAN PERIOD.

Benjamin Franklin as an Essayist. Political

Essays of the period. Other Essayists.

CHAPTER III. THE MODERN PERIOD.

Washington Irving's influence as an Essayist.

Critical Essays. Critical and Personal Essays.

The Transcendental Essayists. Emerson, the

Ideal American Essayist. The Nature Essay-

ists. Thoreau and his contributions to

literary style. The Personal Essayists. The

Essay of Today. Conclusion

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

VITA

Section I. References and Authorities

Magazine Articles on the Essay

our

1-12

13-26

27-54

55-83

85-87

Section II.

88-89

Section III.

Early American Newspapers and

Periodicals.

89-90

(C) Supplementary List of Minor

American Essayists

96-127

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