Authors Through History By Izzy Jerzyk

Introduction Through out history, authors have affected history, primarily by displaying the wrongs of the time in their writings. Famous works like Uncle Tom’s Cabin and The Jungle have influenced and brought about change in their societies and continue to be a source for learning from the past.

Common Sense Common Sense by Thomas Paine, when published in 1776, was one of the most influential pamphlets ever written. The main idea of this pamphlet was this: Why should a smaller body control a larger one? The radical Paine called not only for independence but the creation of a republic, where the power flowed from the people themselves. (Pg. 145)

Transcendentalism Transcendentalism is the idea that knowledge comes from emotions, and was the trend of the early 1800’s. Famous writers from this period are Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, William Cullen Bryant, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman. They believed in self-reliance, self-improvement, self-confidence, optimism, and freedom. (Pg. 339-344)

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe assisted the start of the Civil War. The South was outraged at the unfair representation of slavery that the North had gotten into their minds because of it. Not only did it impact the image of slavery in the North but also the view of the South in the eyes of Britain and France, a fact that changed the outcome of the Civil War. (Pg. 409-412)

Realism In the late 19th century the writing style turned from romantic sentimentality to rugged realism, focusing on real life drama and comedy. Famous authors that based their work on realism are Mark Twain, Jack London, Theodore Dreiser, William Dean Howells, Bret Harte, Stephen Crane, and Henry James. They concentrated on modern life and social problems, even if it made them unpopular. (Pg. 579-581)

Imperialism Authors also helped to influence imperialism in the late nineteenth century. Reverend Josiah Strong’s Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis looked overseas for new souls to harvest. Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan’s book The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783 said that control of the seas was the key to world dominance, which helped to stimulate the naval race among the great powers. (Pg. 624)

Progressive/Reform In the early 20th century writers brought into the light, the social injustices of the time. Jacob A. Riis shocked middle-class Americans with his How the Other Half Lives. Upton Sinclair aimed to reveal the unfair treatment of immigrants workers when he wrote The Jungle. Instead he brought attention the unsanitary food products. Thus the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 was created along with many other acts to help keep food hygienic. (Pg. 665 and 675)

Postwar (WWI) Grapes of Wrath After WWI came energy and new codes of morals. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise which became a Bible for the young. Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner were also popular authors. (Pg. 749-750) John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath portrayed the story of the Dust Bowl, where thousands had to abandon their homes because of drought and move west. (Pg. 790)

Postwar (WWII) World War II did not inspire the same kind of literary outpour has World War I had. Realism was fading. Authors wanted to write about the war as an exciting, unrealistic adventure. These consisted of books like Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s Slaughterhouse Five. Also during this time the problems created by the new mobility and wealth with books like Couples by John Updike. (Pg. 913-915)

Conclusion Authors throughout time have impacted history by affecting peoples’ opinions, bringing the social wrongs into the light, and educating the public on all ways of life. They have been influenced by historical events and they themselves shape history. From transcendentalism to realism or Thomas Paine to Upton Sinclair, authors and their writing always have and always will guide us through life.