Book details

Sentimental Democracy

The Evolution of America's Romantic Self-Image

Author: Andrew Burstein

Sentimental Democracy

Sentimental Democracy

$33.00

Trade Paperback

About This Book

The provocative interpretation of American political rhetoric

Americans like to use words of sentiment and sympathy, passion and power, to explain their democracy. In a provocative new work,...

Page Count
432
Genre
On Sale
05/24/2000

Book Details

The provocative interpretation of American political rhetoric

Americans like to use words of sentiment and sympathy, passion and power, to explain their democracy. In a provocative new work, Andrew Burstein examines the metaphorically rich language which Americans developed to express their guiding principle: that the New World would improve upon the Old. In journals, letters, speeches, and books, an impassioned rhetoric of "feeling" set the tone for American patriotism.

Burstein shows how the eighteenth century "culture of sensibility" encouraged optimism about a global society: the new nation would succeed. Americans believed, as much by sublime feeling as by intellectual achievement or political liberty. As they grew more self-confident, this pacific ideal acquired teeth: noble Washington and humane Jefferson yielded to boisterous Jackson, and the language of gentle feeling to the force of Manifest Destiny. Yet Americans never stopped celebrating what they believed was their innate impulse to do good.

Imprint Publisher

Hill and Wang

ISBN

9780809085361

In The News

“Stimulating, well researched, and relevant to today's debates about the nature of the American character and the role of the United Sates in world affairs.” —Library Journal

“Fully documented and carefully written, Burstein's book puts up a convincing case for his main thesis: the American character has to be forged, then reshaped over time, in a process of individual, regional and national self-scrutiny.” —The Roanoke Times

About the Creators

Sentimental Democracy

Sentimental Democracy

$33.00

Trade Paperback