Timely and beautifully written, New England Beyond Criticism provides a passionate defense of the importance of the literature of New England to the American literary canon, and its impact on the development of spirituality, community, and culture in America. An exploration and defense of the prominence of New England literary tradition within the canon of American literature Traces the impact of the literature of New England on the development of spirituality, community, and culture in America Includes in-depth studies of work from authors and poets such as William Bradford, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Henry David Thoreau, Susan Howe, and Marilynne Robinson Examines the place and impression of New England literature in the nation intellectual history and the lives of its readers