Born in the U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen)

History's Best Selling Products of 1789

1. The Power of Sympathy

   Released in 1789 by William Hill Brown, Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews

   Published in 1789, 'The Power of Sympathy' holds a pivotal place in American literary history as the nation's inaugural novel. Its release marked a significant step in the development of a distinct American literary tradition, moving beyond mere imitation of European models. Coming just six years after the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War, the novel reflected the nascent republic's anxieties about social order, individual morality, and the establishment of a virtuous citizenry. Its innovative blend of sentimentalism with cautionary tales about seduction and forbidden love captivated readers, laying groundwork for future American fiction and offering a window into late 18th-century cultural mores.