A manuscript student notebook focused on the study of literature penned by a student named Edna Hart. An age and location for Hart is not known, though area of acquisition by us suggests someplace in Missouri and materials (particularly the mounted halftone clippings) suggests a date sometime around 1920. Though the book title is written as "American Literature," it opens with a lengthy study on Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" and goes on to profile authors including Poe, Hawthorne, Emerson, Cooper, and more in biographical entries often accompanied by original ink drawings. 

[Manuscripts] : [Education]. AMERICAN LITERATURE [Cover Title - Manuscript School Workbook]. [ca. 1920's]. Commercial notebook. Approximately 12" x 9 1/4." Black cloth hinged spine at left margin, black cloth at right edge with marbled paper over boards. Paper title label with pencil manuscript ownership inscription and title to front. String binding at left margin holding 46 ruled paper leaves with manuscript entries and illustrations in ink to rectos and most versos amid several mounted halftone portrait clippings. Mild handling wear. Interior hinging cloth frayed. Overall about very good.