The American Open Road: Narrative and Popular Imagination

Summary

WINNER OF THE ELIZABETH AGEE PRIZE IN AMERICAN LITERATURE 

The American Open Road offers a rich exploration of how the mythos of the open road has shaped, and been shaped by, American culture. Beginning with the post–World War II boom that solidified car culture as central to American life, Melton reflects on how roads, automobiles, and landscapes have been represented in literature, film, and other cultural texts, highlighting the interplay between mobility and narrative.

Melton examines how the open road functions as a symbol of autonomy, reinvention, and resistance. He highlights how road narratives have also exposed deeper tensions in American life―especially around race, gender, and power―and how historically marginalized voices have used the road to reclaim space and tell new stories.

From the romanticism of Route 66 to the political edge of modern road films, The American Open Road offers an engaging analysis of the narratives that continue to define American identity and longing. For listeners interested in cultural history, travel literature, or the enduring pull of the highway, this book offers a compelling view from the passenger seat of America's most iconic journeys.