David H. Hirsch 
Reality and Idea in the Early American Novel [PDF ebook] 

Frontmatter – PREFACE – TABLE OF CONTENTS – I.THE EMPIRICAL ORIGINS OF THE ENGLISH NOVEL – II.EMPIRICISM AND THE AMERICAN NOVEL – III.BRACKENRIDGE: IDEAS AND THE MAN OF REASON – IV.BROWN: IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES – V.COOPER: IDEAS AND LESSONS – VI.HAWTHORNE: THE INTELLECTUAL AS OUTSIDER – VII.ISHMAEL AND MELVILLE: THE DEMOCRAT AS MAN THINKING AND MAN CREATING – INDEX – Backmatter