Author guide
John Seelye Books in Order
John Seelye (1931–2015) was an American literary scholar, novelist, and film critic. He taught at the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Connecticut; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and the University of Florida, where he became Graduate Research Professor. His books range from novels and literary criticism to studies of American cultural and literary history. He also served as general editor of the Penguin American Library.
Catalog record updated .
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (3)
- The Kid
novel · 1972
- Dirty Tricks: Or, Nick Noxin's Natural Nobility
novel · 1974
Nonfiction (7)
- Melville: The Ironic Diagram
literary criticism · 1970
- Prophetic Waters: The River in Early American Life and Literature
literary criticism · 1977
- Mark Twain in the Movies: A Meditation with Pictures
film criticism · 1977
- Beautiful Machine: Rivers and the Republican Plan, 1755-1825
literary history · 1991
- Memory's Nation: The Place of Plymouth Rock
cultural history · 1998
- War Games: Richard Harding Davis and the New Imperialism
literary history · 2003
Frequently asked questions about John Seelye
Who was John Seelye?
John D. Seelye (1931–2015) was an American scholar of literature who also wrote fiction and criticism. He became known for his work on American literary and cultural history.
Sources: americanantiquarian.org (opens in a new tab)findingaids.uflib.ufl.edu (opens in a new tab)
Where did John Seelye study and teach?
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in 1953 and a PhD from Claremont Graduate School in 1961. He taught at the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Connecticut, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Florida, where he was a graduate research professor.
Sources: americanantiquarian.org (opens in a new tab)findingaids.uflib.ufl.edu (opens in a new tab)
What did John Seelye do at Penguin?
Beginning in 1979, Seelye served as general editor of the Penguin American Library. He helped select American literary classics for republication with scholarly introductions and notes.
What subjects did John Seelye explore in his scholarship?
His research focused on American literature and culture, especially rivers in early American life, Plymouth Rock and American historical memory, and major writers such as Herman Melville and Mark Twain.
Sources: americanantiquarian.org (opens in a new tab)americanantiquarian.org (opens in a new tab)americanantiquarian.org (opens in a new tab)
Which honors or fellowships did John Seelye receive?
His honors included a Guggenheim Fellowship and two National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships. He was also elected to membership in the American Antiquarian Society in 1974 and held an AAS-NEH Long-Term Fellowship in 1985–86.
Sources: americanantiquarian.org (opens in a new tab)americanantiquarian.org (opens in a new tab)