The Puritan Culture of Letters

The Puritan culture of letters involved multiple genres (sermons, conversion narratives, spiritual autobiographies, poetry, histories, and more) in a massive production of literature that had significant consequences for American history and literature. A devotional desire to perceive God in all things and draw near to Him – especially through words – drove the Puritan culture of letters. Puritan writing had long-term consequences. Though scholars no longer support a “Puritan origins” thesis of American culture, they have begun in new ways to track Puritanism's influence in science, politics, economics, and literary history. This chapter traces the theological beliefs and practices motivating the literary production of Puritan New England and offers a survey of developments in Puritan scholarship.