The Norton Anthology of American Literature Paperback – November 14, 2011

Volume A (Beginnings to 1820) provides an excellent selection of texts from early American literature. This 8th Edition includes more diversity and range of selection than previous volumes, e.g., Native American creation tales and trickster stories, accounts of discovery and settlement by English and Spanish explorers, poetry by women, and various political and religious writings of the Colonial Period. As with other Norton literary anthologies, this one is meticulously edited, with useful background information, author sketches and annotations of obscure terms and references.

My written review is that it was a required purchase for a class I am taking at the local community college. It wasn't difficult to find on Amazons website. The book we use it all the time in class. As a student, I use the book away from class as well. The book didn't cost too much. I was a little confused about the pricing of the order. Amazon had thought or taken the presumption thatI had ordered two books. The website said "shipping address" and "mailing address." Please know that I hadn't ordered a book from Amazon in three years. You guys still do a good job! I mailed the book back and hope to get my money back soon from the other book.

I needed this book for a college level American Literature course. I was excited to take this course since I have been leaning towards and possibly majoring in some form of literature. The varying excerpts included in this anthology are wonderful, It covers from Native American's onward. I also appreciate that every author introduced is started with a personal history and background so you get a more full idea of where this writer was coming from and can better understand their point of view in writing.My only critique is that the pages are thin and for an eager reader as myself it makes it a gentle process to flip pages. I also enjoy highlighting passages as my professor speaks and it bleeds through a bit too easily. Otherwise I am very please with this anthology!

The book has some water damage, pages are dog eared and bent, cover has seen better days. BUT every page still seems to be there and all the words are legible and since I only needed this for a semester of college this will do perfectly fine.

Text book required for class. I got the print edition, because it was $30 cheaper than the ebook, which I find frustrating. I would have preferred the ebook because this text is super heavy. This has most of my reading for my American Lit class. If you are looking for an anthology of newer material, I highly suggest "The Best American Non-Required Reading" currently 2016 is the newest out.

Has a pretty decent selection of books. Would not recommend it if one already has a big literature book from somewhere else or access to one (like an intro to Lit. book for college, say in a college library).

Yes, I bought the Volume A from a friend but needed the entire book (both volumes). Thankfully it worked out for cheap and the combo of both is the same as the one large book (page numbers match up too). Yay! Thanks!

Literature 1914 > 1945 isn't going to change from 7th to 8th or 9th into infinity! just can't beat a penny for the material regardless of the $3.99 shipping charge - sellers & Amazon got to make some $; they've earn it in this case.Win - Win scenario here, for buyers, seller, and the middle man.