Brown (1771-1810) was America's first professional man of letters. Brown's novels are enactments of psychological processes, tracing the murky paths by which we surrender our need for omniscience, restrain our underlying savagery, make peace with out sexual identity, and overcome the destructive effects of egotism in assuming social maturity. Grabo's work is a radical interpretation of Brown's fiction, and he reveals Brown to be a conscious and consistent artist. Originally published in 1981. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.