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A Mirror for History: How Novels and Art Reflect the Evolution of Middle-Class America
1621908674 epub In A Mirror for History, author Marc Egnal uses novels and art to provide a new understanding of American society. The book argues that the arc of middle-class culture reflects the evolution of the American economy from the near-subsistence agriculture of the 1750s to the extraordinarily unequal society of the twenty-first century. Fiction offers a rich source for this analysis. By delving deep into the souls of characters and their complex worlds, novels shed light on the dreams, hopes, and goals of individuals and reveal the structures that shape characters lives. Additionally, paintings of the time periods expand upon these insights drawn from literature. Egnals lively exploration of the changing economy, fiction, art, and American values is organized into four expansive periodsthe Sentimental Era, Genteel America, Modern Society, and Post-Modern America. Within that framework, Read more