Download or read book Providence Tales and the Birth of American Literature written by James D. Hartman and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 1999 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Providence Tales and the Birth of American Literature, James D. Hartman uncovers the genesis of the captivity narrative in the English providence tale and its transformation in the seventeenth century. Exploring the cultural context in which both English providence tales and their American counterparts emerged - focusing in particular on the influence of religious, scientific, and literary developments during this critical period - Hartman offers a provocative reassessment of the origins of American literature.