Description
Book SynopsisTells the compelling story of the centuries-long fascination with the history, literature, art, culture, and architecture of Spain in the United States. Richard Kagan offers a stunningly revisionist understanding of the origins of hispanidad in America, tracing its origins from the Early Republic to the New Deal.
Trade Review"
Spanish Craze: America's Fascination with the Hispanic World, 1779–1939 makes an important argument for understanding the influence of Spain, beyond Britain, France, and Germany, in shaping American cultural identity."—Katherine Sarah Massoth,
Journal of Southern History"Interesting reading for students of cultural history as well as Spanish-American relations over the centuries."—
Kirkus"
The Spanish Craze adds a much-needed piece to the creation of the American identity and exists at the forefront of the historiography that explores cultural relations between the United States and the Hispanic world."—Gregg French,
Journal of Arizona History"A lively, readable, widely focused work."—
Albuquerque Journal“The historical evolution of Hispanism is particularly relevant at this time, when the United States government is again at metaphorical battle with the Hispanic world and it Hispanic population. By understanding this history, U.S. citizens today will be able to better assess and make decisions about how to move forward in the future.”—M. Elizabeth Boone, professor of the history of art, design, and visual culture at the University of Alberta and author of
Vistas de España: American Views of Art and Life in Spain, 1860–1914“
The Spanish Craze is distinct. It not only encompasses an ambitious span of time, but it also provides novel and captivating glimpses into [discrete] faces of Hispanism. This book is very expansive, wonderfully original, and well narrated.”—John Nieto-Phillips, associate professor of history at Indiana University, Bloomington, and author of
The Language of Blood: The Making of Spanish-American Identity in New Mexico, 1880s–1930sTable of ContentsList of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Spanish Fever
1. Rival Empires
2. Sturdy Spain
3. Sunny Spain
4. Hispanism, Hispanismo, and the Hispanic Society of America
5. Collectors and Collecting
6. “Castles in Spain Made Real”
7. The Spanish Blaze
Conclusion: The “Back-and-Forth” Style
Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
Index
