One of the most poignant quotes in American
literature comes from Donald Briscoe, who stated that "To understand American
Literature, it is necessary to examine both its
fiction and its non- fiction because the key to the American Spirit can be found in both." This paper assesses Briscoe's quote through addressing two works of American fiction and two works of American non- fiction with the intent of proving how the spirit of the American people is reflected in both types of
Literature.