Unspeakable Awfulness: America Through the Eyes of European Travelers, 1865-1900
0
0
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Author Description
The Late Nineteenth Century Was A Golden Age For European Travel In The United States. For Prosperous Europeans, A Journey To America Was A Fresh Alternative To The More Familiar 'grand Tour' Of Their Own Continent, Promising Encounters With A Vast, Wild Landscape, And With People Whose Culture Was Similar Enough To Their Own To Be Intelligible, Yet Different Enough To Be Interesting. Their Observations Of America And Its Inhabitants Provide A Striking Lens On This Era Of American History, And A Fascinating Glimpse Into How The People Of The Past Perceived One Another. In Unspeakable Awfulness, Kenneth D. Rose Gathers Together A Broad Selection Of The Observations Made By European Travelers To The United States. European Visitors Remarked Upon What They Saw As A Distinctly American Approach To Everything From Class, Politics, And Race To Language, Food, And Advertising. Their Assessments Of This 'american Character' Continue To Echo Today, And Create A Full Portrait Of Late-nineteenth Century America As Seen Through The Eyes Of Its Visitors. Including Vivid Travellers' Tales And Plentiful Illustrations, Unspeakable Awfulness Is A Rich Resource That Will Be Useful To Students And Appeal To Anyone Interested In Travel History.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the perceptions of American society, culture, and character held by European travelers during the transformative period between 1865 and 1900. Kenneth D. Rose, a historian, synthesizes a wide array of primary source accounts from visitors who documented their impressions of the United States following the Civil War. By examining these external perspectives, the author constructs a framework that highlights the stark contrasts and emerging similarities between European traditions and the rapidly industrializing American landscape. The work argues that these observations provide a unique, external lens through which to view the development of the American identity during the late nineteenth century.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Primary source accounts from European travelers documenting their experiences in the United States between 1865 and 1900.
- Analysis of cultural themes including class structure, political systems, race relations, and domestic life.
- Observations on the physical environment, ranging from urban development and boosterism to the expansion into the American West.
- Commentary on daily habits and social norms, such as dining, language usage, and the prevalence of gun culture.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and scholars of American culture recognize this work as a valuable compilation of primary source material that offers a rare, external perspective on the Gilded Age. Readers frequently note that the text provides an accessible yet scholarly look at how the United States was perceived by outsiders during a period of significant national growth.
Page Count:
8
Publication Date:
2013-01-01
Publisher:
Taylor & Francis Group
ISBN-10:
0203797140
ISBN-13:
9780203797143
History
Travel
Social History
United States
