History's Best Selling Books of 1817

Extra! Extra! Step right up to inspect the definitive collection of first-rate books releases from 1817. Discover the genuine articles of American ingenuity that captured the public's fancy and won nationwide acclaim during this historic era.

1. Keep Cool

   Released in 1817 by John Neal, E. J. Coale

   Published in 1817, John Neal's "Keep Cool" emerged during a critical period of American national self-definition following the War of 1812. This three-volume novel is historically significant not primarily for its literary merit, which was often debated and criticized, but for its bold and unapologetic advocacy for a uniquely American literary voice. Neal, a passionate young writer, sought to challenge the pervasive deference to European, particularly British, literary standards, urging his compatriots to embrace their own cultural identity. It reflects a burgeoning sense of nationalism and the intellectual struggle to forge an independent cultural identity commensurate with the nation's political autonomy, marking an early, energetic attempt to define American letters.