Britannica Sources used in this answer

When did English-language American literature begin to develop in the colonies?

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John Smith: Map of Virginia — American literature Map of Virginia from John Smith's *The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles*, 1624.

English-language American literature began to develop in the 17th century with the arrival of English-speaking Europeans in the colonies. This early body of work was essentially a colonial literature, written by authors who were Englishmen and maintained the styles and traditions of British literature of the period.12

John Smith is credited with initiating this tradition, with his works such as The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles (1624) serving to document colonial opportunities. Throughout the 17th century, writing remained largely utilitarian, consisting of sermons, journals, and accounts of voyages that addressed religious concerns and the practicalities of life in the New World. While poetry was produced—notably by Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor—both the form and content of these writings were heavily influenced by British models. It was not until the first decades of the 19th century that a distinctively American literature began to emerge, moving beyond derivative traditions to explore the American landscape and society.12