Literary Culture in France and the United States

A series of cultural indicators reveals the similarity of general population literary preferences and the dissimilarity of elite literary tastes in France and the United States. The distinctive associations of literary activities with French and American elites are responsible for the distinctive characters of French and American Literary cultures. Whereas French literary culture is sustained by strong ties to centrally located governmental and traditional elites, American literary culture is defined by its support from dispered private elites. As these ties to elites define literary and influence literature, they are supported by the social and political organization of French and American society. Recent social and political changes have modified traditional patterns of support for literature and have attenued but not effaced certain distinctive features of French and American literary cultures.