American Literature

The U.S. poet laureate has a unique opportunity to shape America’s literary terrain—by fostering public appreciation of poetry and by continuing to produce his or her own work. This NewsHour collection profiles six such honorees at the onset of their terms. Each author reflects on experiences that have influenced his writing and describes what he hopes to accomplish during his tenure. In addition, each laureate reads a few of his own poems.

Link to 3 videos in this series. How did the poorest, least-educated, most racially troubled region in the United States produce so many first-rate writers? This classic three-part series by award-winning filmmaker Ross Spears explores the nuances and complexity of 20th-century Southern literature and the fascinating relationship between its white and African-American traditions.

This program from the Famous Authors series provides an overview of Mark Twain's life and work, starting with life in 19th-century Hannibal, Missouri, Twain's childhood home and a major influence on his writing, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.