The Best American Essays

The Best American Essays is an annual anthology showcasing a curated selection of the finest nonfiction published in the United States. Since its inception, the series has become a definitive barometer of the American essay form, highlighting a diverse range of voices, styles, and subjects. Each volume is guest-edited by a prominent writer, who brings a distinct literary sensibility to the selection process. The series is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as part of its broader "The Best American Series," which also includes titles like The Best American Short Stories and The Best American Poetry.

History and background

The series was launched in 1986, with the inaugural volume edited by the renowned critic and essayist Elizabeth Hardwick. Its creation was inspired by the long-running success of The Best American Short Stories, which began in 1915, and sought to provide a similar annual forum for the essay. The founding series editor is Robert Atwan, who has overseen the project since its beginning, establishing its editorial continuity and philosophical direction. The anthology emerged during a period of significant vitality in American nonfiction, paralleling the rise of literary journalism and the personal memoir. Early volumes helped cement the essay's status as a serious literary genre, distinct from academic writing or mere journalism, and provided a platform for writers from publications like The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Harper's Magazine.

Selection process

The selection process is a collaborative effort between the series editor and the annual guest editor. Robert Atwan first combs through hundreds of American and Canadian periodicals from the preceding year, compiling a longlist of roughly one hundred standout works. This list, representing a wide array of sources from major magazines to small literary journals, is then presented to the guest editor. The guest editor, a figure of significant stature in contemporary letters, reads all submissions and makes the final choices for inclusion, typically selecting between twenty and thirty pieces. This dual-editor model ensures the series maintains a consistent standard of quality while allowing each volume to reflect the unique tastes and thematic preoccupations of that year's editor, such as an emphasis on political critique, formal innovation, or personal narrative.

Notable editions and editors

The roster of guest editors constitutes a who's who of American literary and intellectual life. Early influential editors included Annie Dillard (1988) and Susan Sontag (1992), whose volumes emphasized philosophical depth and cultural criticism. The 2007 edition, edited by David Foster Wallace, was notable for its focus on essays that demonstrated what he called "single-mindedness." Other distinguished editors have included Joyce Carol Oates (1991), John Updike (1994), Mary Oliver (2009), and Rebecca Solnit (2019). The 2020 edition was edited by André Aciman, author of Call Me by Your Name. Each editor's introduction serves as a significant critical statement on the state of the essay, and the collected works often feature emerging writers alongside established names like Joan Didion, John McPhee, and Edward Hoagland.

Critical reception and influence

The series is generally regarded as an essential and authoritative survey of contemporary American nonfiction. Critics in publications such as The New York Times Book Review and The Los Angeles Times have praised its role in defining and elevating the essay as a central literary form. It has influenced the canon of nonfiction, introducing readers and students to seminal works and shaping academic syllabi. The anthology's influence extends to highlighting important social and political discourses, with essays often addressing pivotal events like the September 11 attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, or movements like Black Lives Matter. By providing an annual snapshot of the nation's intellectual and emotional life, the series has become a vital historical and cultural document, chronicling shifts in style, subject matter, and national consciousness over decades.

See also

* The Best American Short Stories * The Best American Poetry * The Essay * Literary magazine * Creative nonfiction * The Pushcart Prize Category:American essay collections Category:American non-fiction literature Category:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt books Category:Book series introduced in 1986