This article focuses on the work of American writers and American literature. The greatness of American literature is that it is a living body of protest against the vulgarity and commercialization which many people think of as most characteristic of the U.S. In fact, contemporary American literature suggests what the last U.S. election suggested, that there is U.S. more real and more alive than the U.S. which pollsters, advertisers, Hollywood, and news editors know about. The most striking difference between Europe and the U.S. as far as writing is concerned is probably that the American writer does not belong to a community of literature.
