Here's why:
* European Roots: The roots of Modernism can be traced back to European artistic movements like Symbolism, Impressionism, and Expressionism.
* Key European Figures: Some of the most influential Modernist writers were European, including:
* James Joyce (Ireland)
* Virginia Woolf (England)
* Franz Kafka (Czech Republic)
* Marcel Proust (France)
* T.S. Eliot (American-born, but lived most of his life in England)
American Modernism:
* Influence: American writers were certainly influenced by European Modernism and adapted it to their own context.
* Key American Figures: American Modernist writers included:
* Ernest Hemingway
* F. Scott Fitzgerald
* William Faulkner
* Ezra Pound
* Gertrude Stein
In conclusion: While American Modernism developed its own distinct characteristics, its origins lie in Europe. It was a global movement that found expression in various national literatures.