Letter from the Editor

When I began teaching at Pulaski Academy in the fall of 2000, I discovered that the American Literature textbook being used had some glaring omissions, including “Rip Van Winkle,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” “Annabel Lee,” “Bartleby the Scrivener,” and “The Road Not Taken,” to name just a few.

Determined to teach the American classics, I temporarily solved the problem by photocopying and distributing these works to students; however, the cost (not to mention the time spent) to run 100 copies of each work was considerable.

In the spring of 2003, the English Department began looking for new textbooks to replace the series that the school had been using.  As I pored over sample copies, I was both disappointed and frustrated to find that the anthologies on the market no longer represent the established literary canon.

Instead of accepting another average, overpriced textbook from one of the major publishers, I decided to edit my own book—an anthology of classic American Literature that I hope will help students develop an appreciation for this country’s rich literary heritage.

— Dr. Blane Covert
    Little Rock, Arkansas