Above the American Renaissance

"This collection is the first to assess nineteenth-century American literature in this way, and it will be of tremendous use to both scholars interested in U.S. religious traditions, Christianity specifically, and those who study the writers examined here. Above the American Renaissance is also a timely and important reengagement with David Reynolds's work, a text that has laid the groundwork for nearly three decades of scholarship."—Elizabeth Fenton, author of Religious Liberties: Anti-Catholicismand Liberal Democracy in Nineteenth-Century U.S. Literature and Culture

"This strong group of essays will make a significant contribution to both literary and religious studies by demonstrating the extent to which greater attention to popular culture, especially religious texts and practices, can dramatically expand our understanding of nineteenth century America."—W. Clark Gilpin, author of Religion Around Emily Dickinson

"The broad scope of essays from this very readable and insightful collection pays tribute to David Reynolds's landmark Beneath the American Renaissance on the eve of its thirtieth anniversary . . . [T]his book illuminatets the spiritual dimensions of the American Renaissance and extends Reynolds's scholarship into new domains."—The New England Quarterly