Super Short Summary

First published in 1782, J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur’s Letters from an American Farmer is regarded as an early, influential example of American literature and an epistolary text combining fiction and nonfiction. The book charts James's exploration of American and European societal contrasts, detailing the environment, culture, and identity of Americans, with a focus on Nantucket and culminating in reflections on slavery and war. Slavery and graphic descriptions of violence appear in the book.