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Reiss uses P. T. Barnum's Joice Heth hoax to examine the contours of race relations in the antebellum North. Barnum's first exhibit as a showman, Heth was an elderly enslaved woman said to be the 161-year-old former nurse of the infant George Washington. Seizing upon the novelty, the newly emerging commercial press turned her act--and especially her death--into one of the first media spectacles in American history.

Popular culture --- Women slaves --- Freak shows --- Whites --- African Americans in popular culture --- Racism in popular culture --- Death in popular culture --- Afro-Americans in popular culture --- Sideshows --- History --- Social aspects --- Race identity --- Barnum, P. T. --- Heth, Joice, --- Barnum, Phineas Taylor, --- Parn̲am, P. T., --- Barnam, P. T., --- Northeastern States --- Northeast (U.S.) --- Northeastern United States --- United States, Northeastern --- Race relations. --- Race relations --- Barnum, Phineas Taylor --- United States --- Biography --- 19th century --- Heth, Joice --- White persons --- Ethnology --- Caucasian race --- White people --- Enslaved women --- Women, Enslaved --- Enslaved persons

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"This ambitious literary history traces the American novel from its emergence in the late eighteenth century to its diverse incarnations in the multi-ethnic, multi-media culture of the present day. In a set of original essays by renowned scholars from all over the world, the volume extends important critical debates and frames new ones. Offering new views of American classics, it also breaks new ground to show the role of popular genres - such as science fiction and mystery novels - in the creation of the literary tradition. One of the original features of this book is the dialogue between the essays, highlighting cross-currents between authors and their works as well as across historical periods. While offering a narrative of the development of the genre, the History reflects the multiple methodologies that have informed readings of the American novel and will change the way scholars and readers think about American literary history"-- "This ambitious literary history traces the American novel from its emergence in the late eighteenth century to its diverse incarnations in the multi-ethnic, multi-media culture of the present. Original essays by internationally renowned scholars present fresh readings of American classics and break new ground to show the role of popular genres - such as science fiction and mystery novels - in the creation of the U.S. literary tradition. In an exciting departure from its predecessors, the essays in this book talk to each other. Their dialogue highlights surprising connections within and across eras. As a collective, interwoven chronicle of the nation's dominant literary genre, The Cambridge History of the American Novel will change the way we think about the history - and the future - of American literature"--

Literary semiotics --- American literature --- American fiction --- Roman américain --- History and criticism. --- Histoire et critique --- Roman américain --- History and criticism