"Difficult as it might be to compile a universally accepted roster of "great" contributors to all elements of American literature, the producers of this impressive anthology may have accomplished just that. From colonists Anne Bradstreet and Cotton Mather through early 20th-century writers such as Upton Sinclair, Robert Frost, and F. Scott Fitzgerald to contemporary authors such as Kurt Vonnegut, Amy Tan, and Toni Morrison, the series presents brief synopses of the lives and works of over 60 acknowledged masters in their fields. Each of the eight chronologically divided programs covers between 5 and 11 authors within 30 minutes. While these introductions are brief and somewhat superficial, they are succinct and will spark viewer interest as they position each author into the larger picture of literary, historical, and social movements taking place during the specific time period. A nicely balanced blend of video re-creations, vintage photographs, graphics, artwork, and contemporary interviews supplement the clear and well-paced narration. To enhance the effectiveness of the program, author selection is available as are Spanish subtitles, closed captioning, and a slide show including all the authors in the program. An affordable, comprehensive, and valuable series."

"A useful, well-organized introduction to American literature to introduce or recap important literary periods and authors."