Transatlantic Images and Perceptions: Germany and America Since 1776 (Publications of the German Historical Institute) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521580919 ISBN 13: 9780521580915

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1997

Synopsis

Over the last two centuries, Germans and Americans have been rivals, friends, opponents, and, most recently, allies. This 1997 cross-disciplinary collection of essays analyses how German and American views of each other developed and periodically shifted, providing a fresh analysis of the often complex German-American relationship. The images that resulted from encounters between the two countries frequently reflected significant cross-currents of the contemporary relations, and often foreshadowed important trends. The nine German and eight American contributors to this volume analysed travelogues, private letters, diaries, diplomatic reports, and newspaper articles from the wake of US independence through the reunification of Germany, and also post-1945 movies, that reflect these cross-cultural encounters and illustrate how political agendas, prejudices, stereotypes, and pragmatic forces influenced individual, group and mass perceptions of the other society.

About this title

Review

"The 17 essays that make up this meaty volume...capture the discussion between German and US scholars on the perceptions and stereotypes that have characterized German-US interaction since the 18th century....They examine the credibility of a variety of sources....Excellent notes with each essay and a good index." -- Choice

"...this book makes for fine reading. The essays are meticulously researched, well written and mostly free of annoying and trendy jargon. Any scholar pouring through the footnotes alone could compile a comprehensive bibliography on any topic relating to the relationship between Germany and the United States. Obviously the book appeals to mostly scholars engaged in trans-national and/or comparative history. However, the diplomatic and intellectual historian as well as the student of popular culture can also find rewarding material in this volume." Werner H. Steger, American Studies International

"The seventeen essays in this volume, admirably edited by David Barclay and Elisabeth Glaser-Schmidt ably document the surge of interest in "transatlantic perception research"." Peter Bergmann, American Historical Review

"...an erudite reflection on American reactions to German reunification..." Frederik Ohles, German Studies Review

Book Description

The essays in this 1997 book analyse how German and American views of each other developed and periodically shifted, providing a fresh analysis of the often complex German-American relationship. The images reflect the contemporary relations, often foreshadow future trends, and illustrate how political agendas, prejudices, and stereotypes influenced perceptions.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521580919
• ISBN 13: 9780521580915
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 384
• Editor: Barclay David E., Glaser-Schmidt Elisabeth