American literature cannot be captured in a simple definition. It reflects the many religious, historical, and cultural traditions of the American people, one of the world's most varied populations. It includes poetry, fiction, drama, and other kinds of writing by authors in what is now the United States. It also includes nonwritten material, such as the oral literature of the American Indians and folk tales and legends. In addition, American literature includes accounts of America written by immigrants and visitors from other countries, as well as works by American writers who spent some or all of their lives abroad.