Resources about Hector St. John de Crevecoeur

Letters From an American Farmer- Google Books

1. Chevignard, Bernard. St. John De Crevecoeur in the Looking Glass: Letters from an American Farmer and the Making of a Man of Letters. 1984. 173. Print.The above-noted source is a short biography of Bernard Chevignard, written by an author for the journal of Early American Literature. It gives contributory historical and personal information for the famous writer of the Enlightenment, providing a historical background that proves to be the framework for de Crevecoeur’s more famous pieces. It deals less with the author’s style, and more with the historical context in which de Crevecoeur was writing. This, however, did not seem to be terribly uncommon, since much of the writing of the time was of political intent, less focuses on creating a unique literary tradition, and more intent upon provoking political, moral, and scientific thought.

2. "Crèvecoeur, Michel-Guillaume-Saint-Jean de." Encyclopædia Britannica. 11 June 2008. < http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9027882 >.
This source does not discuss much of his biographical history, only that which relates to his motive for writing. I did find out, however, that Hector St. John de Crevecoeur is his American name, not his actual given name. This source discusses why he wrote, how others viewed his work, and how he influenced the way the world saw his time. I feel that this source really helped me grasp the context of his writing. I find the source credible because it was regarded scholarly enough and accurate enough to be published in the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

3. Reuben, Paul P. "PAL: St. Jean De Crevecoeur (1735-1813)." Perspectives in American Literature. California State University Stanislaus, 15 Mar. 2009. Web. 22 June 2010. <http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap2/creve.html>.This website provides a lot of basic information/background on Hector St. Jean De Crevecoeur. Crevecoeur is most famous for his work Letters from an American Farmer. In these “letters” Crevecoeur writes about the American man and how he lives in this new country. The letters discuss different areas with different lives portrayed. Crevecoeur also held a great relationship between America and France, aiding in the Catholic church, American trade in France, and the Royal Agricultural Society of Paris had made him a member due to his botanical/agricultural writings.

Hector St. John de Crevecoeur. Digital image. Real Roads, Rail Roads, and Visions of the West. 8 Nov. 1999. Web. 23 June 2010. <http://www.univie.ac.at/Anglistik/ang_new/webprojects_erg/RoadCult/barrier/crevecoeur.jpg>.

Texts by Hector St. John de Crevecoeur

• Letters from an American Farmer
• Letter III
• Letter IX
  
• Sketches of Eighteenth Century America

Bloodpoole. "The Great American Melting Pot." YouTube. 27 Aug. 2008. Web. 22 June 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32l3sTFR

Relevant Literary Periods
Enlightenment

Relevant Literary Themes

Diversity: Crevecoeur coined the idea of a "melting pot" where immigrants of all kinds blended into the new culture
The American Dream:Crevecoeur is credited as one of the first authors to write about the concept of an American Dream
Identity: The identity Crevecoeur assumed as an American farmer resonated with the current national identity and was one of high interest in Europe

Relevant Literary Terms

Point of View: Crevecoeur's letters were written from a first person point of view, which allowed a personal insight to major historical events such as the Revolution
Tone and Style: Crevecoeur's letters were honest and personal in their tone
Setting: The setting of these letters included insight into what life was like in America during the Revolution