"Initial Studies in American Letters" by Henry A. Beers is intended as a companion to the historical sketch of English literature, entitled From Chaucer to Tennyson. The text is written as a continuous essay on American history. Starting with early colonial times in the early 1600s and leading all the way to the 1860s, the book looks at America through the lens of literature. This book is an essential tool for literature and American history students and lovers alike.