Abroad in America: Visitors to the New Nation 1776-1914 by Marc PachterMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The twenty-nine essays here are by writers expert in the culture being covered. Each essay is a synopsis, biography, and commentary on writings and recollections of foreign travelers on their journeys to American. This summary of observations of European, South American, Asian, and African visitors covers the first century-and-a-half of the U.S.'s existence as a nation. (This was issued to accompany the "Abroad in America: Visitors to the New Nation 1776-1914" exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in 1976) Even from so many different vantage points consistent themes arise of America's noisy democratic approach, lacking in manners and supporting racism while eschewing elitism. I have come to understand this culture I am in supports a cult of individuality; personal freedom extends maximally and personal liability is absolute. Argentina's Domingo Sarmiento has an aspect on the same feature and here is quoted as saying the each Yankee,
"is his own keeper, and if wants to kill himself, no one will interfere. If
he is running after a moving train and dares to jump and hang from a railing, barely missing the wheels, he has a perfect right to do so; if the rascally paperboy, possessed by the desire to sell one more newspaper, hops off after the train has resumed full speed, every one will applaud the skill with which he lands on his feet and continues his way. This is the way the character of a people is formed and how it profits by personal freedom! Perhaps there are a few more accidents and victims but, on the other hand, there are free men and not disciplined prisoners . . .
(also quoted in Michigan Alumnus QUARTERLY REVIEW, DECEMBER 19, 1942)
Other standouts include Frances Trollope who traded retail investment for bitter loathing, Charles Dickens,a Japanese castaway, Antonin Dvorak falling in love with American native music, and Swami Vivekananda seeking sane religious devotion.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment