J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur
1735-1813
Life
Homes
Occupation
- Soldier
- Farmer
- Government official
Chronology
- 1735: born to noble family in Caen, Normandy, France
- 1754: travels to England
- 1755: sails to America and settles in New France
- 1758: captured as a member of the French army at the defeat of the
French army at Quebec
- 1759: moves to New York; changes name to J. Hector St. John
- 1765: becomes naturalized citizen of New York
- 1769: marries, buys 120 acres in New York, and becomes farmer
- c.1774: begins writing essays on America
- 1780: returns to Europe to escape Revolution because he was a British
sympathizer
- 1782: Letters from an American Farmer
- 1783: becomes French consul and returns to America
- 1789: returns to France for good
- 1801: Journey into Northern Pennsylvania and the State of New York
Issues and themes
Although he spent much of his life in his native country of France, J.
Hector St. John de Crevecoeur achieved distinction as an American writer
with his Letters from an American Farmer, published in 1782. The
most famous of these letters, "What Is an American," addresses
some of the most important American cultural questions of the era, including
those of the American identity and agrarianism. In his treatment
of broader subjects, including liberty and industry, he expresses
sentiments similar to those found in the works of John
Smith and Benjamin Franklin.
Work
Letters from an American Farmer
- Publication: 1782
- What contrasts does Crevecoeur draw between Europe and America? Why
do you suppose he emphasizes these differences?
- What does Crevecoeur mean when he says of the immigrants to America
that "here they are become men" (311)?
- In Crevecoeur's opinion, what kind of subsistence is best for humans?
Why?
- What are Crevecoeur's opinions about religion? What is "American"
about these opinions?
- Crevecoeur might be accused of idealism. Why? Do you think he is an
idealist?
Bibliography
- "J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur." Norton Anthology of
American Literature. Shorter Fourth Edition. New York: W.W. Norton,
1995. 308-309.
- Crevecoeur, J. Hector St. John. Letters from an American Farmer.
Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter Fourth Edition.
New York: W.W. Norton, 1995. 309-318.
© Mark Canada, 1997
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