Domestic Manners of the Americans

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In "Domestic Manners of the Americans," Frances Trollope shares her experiences traveling through America from 1827 to 1830. Her journey includes a voyage up the Mississippi from New Orleans, a two-year stay in Cincinnati, and visits to Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Upon its 1832 publication, the book became a transatlantic best-seller, noted for its candid critiques of American customs, including spitting, religious zealotry, women's attire, the relentless pursuit of wealth, and the unequal treatment of women, slaves, and Native Americans. Trollope's writing is witty and satirical, yet it carries a serious message, warning her fellow countrymen about the implications of democratic freedoms during a time of significant social change in England. She denounces slavery and the hypocrisy surrounding it, contributing to the abolitionist discourse on both sides of the Atlantic. Her observations left a lasting impression, with Mark Twain later deeming her work the most accurate depiction of American life in the nineteenth century. The series offers a broad range of literature, providing accurate texts along with expert introductions, notes for clarification, and bibliographies for further study.