The story of the American self-made man carries a perennial interest in American literature and cultural studies. This book expands the study of such stories to include the writings of Frederick Douglass, Horatio Alger, and James Weldon Johnson, and the work of silent comedians like Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and Buster Keaton. Thomas Nissley examines a number of texts, from Reconstruction-era autobiographies to the films of the 30s, to show the sustained market value of status and personal authenticity in the era of contract and free labor.
| ISBN: | 9780415861427 |
| Publication date: | 10th November 2014 |
| Author: | Tom Nissley |
| Publisher: | Routledge an imprint of Taylor & Francis Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 216 pages |
| Series: | Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory |
| Genres: |
History Literature: history and criticism Cultural studies |