Growing Up with America: Youth, Myth, and National Identity, 1945 to Present

D. H. Lawrence's classic study of American literature claimed that youth was the true myth of America, and Emily A. Murphy traces how this began to embody national hopes and fears in the aftermath of World War II. This era marked a crisis of identity, where literary critics and writers sought to redefine U.S. national identity in light of the nation's new global position. The figure of the adolescent is central to understanding U.S. national identity, and Murphy revisits classics of American literature alongside contemporary bestsellers to demonstrate the endurance of this myth.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2020
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

In his renowned exploration of American literature, D. H. Lawrence asserted that youth held the essence of the American myth. Building upon this assertion, Emily A. Murphy delves into the ways in which youth began to embody the national hopes and fears during the transformative period when the United States assumed a newfound position of global power. Following the aftermath of World War II, persistent demands arose for the nation to mature and transcend its innocence became prevalent, resulting in the sudden dismissal of the child as a symbol of the nation. This era marked the onset of a crisis of identity, where literary critics and writers alike embarked on a quest to redefine the U.S. national identity in light of the nation's evolving global stature.

The adolescent figure assumes a pivotal role in understanding the multifaceted nature of U.S. national identity, spanning both historical and contemporary perspectives. By tracing the evolution of this youthful persona, Murphy revisits iconic works of American literature, such as J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, alongside contemporary bestsellers. The profound influence exerted by the adolescent on some of America's most renowned writers serves as a testament to the enduring power of the myth first identified by Lawrence in 1923. Moreover, it establishes a profound connection between youth and one of the most persistent and profound inquiries for the nation: What constitutes the essence of being an American?

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820357812