Van Wyck Brooks

Van Wyck Brooks is primarily recognized for his extensive work on American literary history, particularly his multi-volume series "Makers and Finders: A History of the Writer in America, 1800-1915." This series offered a comprehensive survey of American literature and its cultural context.

A good starting point for new readers interested in Van Wyck Brooks's work would be "The Flowering of New England," which is the second volume in his "Makers and Finders" series. It won the Pulitzer Prize for History and provides an accessible entry into his critical style and historical scope.

Van Wyck Brooks was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1937 for his book "The Flowering of New England." He also received the Gold Medal for Biography from the National Institute of Arts and Letters.