Items related to Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male...
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America - Softcover
Synopsis
A remarkable new work from one of our premier historians
In his exciting new book, John F. Kasson examines the signs of crisis in American life a century ago, signs that new forces of modernity were affecting men's sense of who and what they really were.
When the Prussian-born Eugene Sandow, an international vaudeville star and bodybuilder, toured the United States in the 1890s, Florenz Ziegfeld cannily presented him as the "Perfect Man," representing both an ancient ideal of manhood and a modern commodity extolling self-development and self-fulfillment. Then, when Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan swung down a vine into the public eye in 1912, the fantasy of a perfect white Anglo-Saxon male was taken further, escaping the confines of civilization but reasserting its values, beating his chest and bellowing his triumph to the world. With Harry Houdini, the dream of escape was literally embodied in spectacular performances in which he triumphed over every kind of threat to masculine integrity -- bondage, imprisonment, insanity, and death. Kasson's liberally illustrated and persuasively argued study analyzes the themes linking these figures and places them in their rich historical and cultural context. Concern with the white male body -- with exhibiting it and with the perils to it --reached a climax in World War I, he suggests, and continues with us today.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
". . . This is a page-turner of a book, with a surprise worth knowing on every beautifully written page." --Linda K. Kerber, University of Iowa
About the Author
John F. Kasson, who teaches history and American studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is the author of Amusing the Million, Rudeness and Civility, and Civilizing the Machine.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherFarrar, Strauss & Giroux-3PL
- Publication date2002
- ISBN 10 0809055473
- ISBN 13 9780809055470
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages270
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
£ 7.10
Shipping:
£ 2.44
From Canada to U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
Houdini Tarzan and the Perfect
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00036731512
Quantity: 2 available
Stock Image
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America
Seller: ZBK Books, Carlstadt, NJ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: acceptable. Used book - May contain writing, notes, highlighting, bends or folds. Text is readable, book is clean, and pages and cover mostly intact. May show normal wear and tear. Item may be missing CD. May include library marks. Fast Shipping. Seller Inventory # ZWM.449T
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America
Seller: Bookoutlet1, Easley, SC, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: VeryGood. Ships Within 24 Hours M-F- Satisfaction Guaranteed! Has a publisher overstock mark. Item is in Good Condition. Clean Copy With Light Amount of Wear. Seller Inventory # 39BZZZ003K4H_ns
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Good condition. This is the average used book, that has all pages or leaves present, but may include writing. Book may be ex-library with stamps and stickers. 0.55. Seller Inventory # 353-0809055473-gdd
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America
Seller: Books Unplugged, Amherst, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Fair. Buy with confidence! Book is in acceptable condition with wear to the pages, binding, and some marks within 0.55. Seller Inventory # bk0809055473xvz189zvxacp
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America
Seller: HPB Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_409464527
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America
Published by
Hill and Wang, 2002
ISBN 10: 0809055473
ISBN 13: 9780809055470
Used
Soft cover
First Edition
Seller: Jeff Stark, Barstow, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Fine - looks new. No wear or markings. Illustrated with b/w historic photos through-out. Interesting. Seller Inventory # 055188
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America
Seller: Coas Books, Las Cruces, NM, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Seller Inventory # 55GP71000QMB_ns
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America
Seller: Pomfret Street Books, Carlisle, PA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. Binding Tight Annotations Light Edge Wear. Book. Seller Inventory # 127368
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man: The White Male Body and the Challenge of Modernity in America
Seller: Ebooksweb, Bensalem, PA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: Acceptable. Used: Acceptable Condition. Seller Inventory # 52GZZZ01T42X_ns
Quantity: 1 available