Edmund Wilson and the Rise of American Lit

For several years, I have had a hunger to write this piece about the arrival of the Library of America on the publishing scene. I was amazed that less than a century ago only a few people so believed in American literature that they thought it capable of greatness. After World War Two, however, a consensus developed in favor of American literature. Problem solved? Not exactly. Because then there was a terrific fight over who would play curator to this incredible literary tradition.