Letters from an American Farmer is increasingly recognized as one of the foundational texts in the study both of American literature and of American history. This compact edition combines a selection of the most important, accessible, and engaging sections of Crevecoeur's work with a focused selection of background contextual material. The result is an edition ideally suited for use in a wide range of undergraduate courses. This volume is one of a number of editions that have been drawn from the pages of the acclaimed Broadview Anthology of American Literature; like the others, it is designed to make a range of material from the anthology available in a format convenient for use in a wide variety of contexts.