Why a National Literature Cannot Flourish in the United States of North America

A series of essays argues that a distinctive national literature has difficulty emerging in the United States because the population inherited European languages, tastes, and prejudices, while contemporary popular writing often remains superficial. The author surveys obstacles including sectarian religious influence, newspaper culture, theatrical practices, tourism, politics, laws, and the absence of robust international copyright, and criticizes social customs and uneven education—noting cultivated women and male pretensions alike. Emphasizing modest, philosophic inquiry and practical reforms in cultural institutions and legal protections, the essays propose steps to encourage more serious, independent literary production.