The Romance of Real Life

Focusing on the cultural connections of Charles Brockden Brown's life and writings, this study offers a fresh perspective on his often-overlooked works alongside his well-known novels from the late 1790s. By analyzing genre and chronology, it uncovers broader ties between Brown's literature and early American society. The author emphasizes the interplay of text, context, and self, highlighting how these elements influence each other. The work also addresses the "social history of ideas," illustrating how language's form and content are grounded in real-life experiences.