Library of America is a nonprofit publisher that issues works of literary and social importance by American writers. The Library publishes authoritative editions of fiction, drama, poetry, and nonfiction from colonial times to the present day. A typical author volume includes several works, along with a chronology of the author’s life and notes on the texts. Leading scholars serve as editors of the volumes. All the volumes are printed on acid-free paper with durable bindings, and many are also available as e-books.
Many Library of America editions contain reissues of familiar works by famous writers. But the Library also issues works by lesser-known writers whose works may otherwise be difficult to obtain. In many cases, the Library publishes the complete works of an author in several volumes. The Library also issues original anthologies, including journalism, speeches, historical pieces, letters, essays, and sermons.
The Library of America was founded in 1979 with funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, a United States government agency, and the Ford Foundation, a private charitable organization. The first volumes were issued in 1982. By the early 2000’s, the Library had published more than 300 volumes.
