The Hispanic World and American Intellectual Life, 1820–1880

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Introduction

   • Iván Jaksić

   Pages 1-6

3. “My King, My Country, and My Faith”: Washington Irving’s Writings on the Rise and Fall of Spain

   • Iván Jaksić

   Pages 7-27

4. Labor Ipse Voluptas: George Ticknor’s History of Spanish Literature

   • Iván Jaksić

   Pages 29-51

5. The Enlightened Foreigner: The Reception of Ticknor’s Work in the Hispanic World

   • Iván Jaksić

   Pages 53-68

6. The Spanish Student: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

   • Iván Jaksić

   Pages 69-89

7. Outre-Mer: Longfellow’s Hispanic Ties

   • Iván Jaksić

   Pages 91-108

8. Mary Peabody Mann and the Translation of South American Politics

   • Iván Jaksić

   Pages 109-124

9. The “Annals of Barbarians”: William H. Prescott and the Conquest of the New World

   • Iván Jaksić

   Pages 125-160

10. Knights-Errant and Bigots: Prescott’s Writings on Spain

    • Iván Jaksić

    Pages 161-182

11. Conclusion

    • Iván Jaksić

    Pages 183-187

12. Back Matter

    Pages 189-256

    PDF

This book examines why several American literary and intellectual icons became pioneering scholars of the Hispanic world after Independence and the War 1812. At this crucial time for the young republic, these gifted Americans found inspiration in an unlikely place: the collapsing Spanish empire and used it to shape their own country's identity.

• America
• American politics
• Empire
• identity
• Longfellow
• politics

'This path-breaking book is the first comprehensive narrative and analysis of early U.S. scholars of Hispanic history and literature. The author opens new windows on the migration of ideas into and out of the U.S.' - James Turner, Professor of the Humanities, University of Notre Dame, France

'Iván Jaksi?'s extraordinary study of a generation of mid-nineteenth century New Englanders fascinated with Spain and its satellites across the Atlantic sets new standards in the examination of the origins of Hispanism as a discipline in the English-speaking world. Meet, among others, Mary Mann, Sarmiento's translator and unofficial publicity agent; W.H. Prescott, a warrior in spite of his blindness; and Washington Irving, whose intellectual thefts are still unchallenged. This un-Metaphysical Club still defines the way we misconceive Hispanic civilization in the United States.' - Ilan Stavans, Lewis-Sebring Professor of Latin American and Latino Culture, Amherst College, USA, and author of The Hispanic Condition and Spanglish

'This is unquestionably the best study on Spain's place in the imaginary of nineteenth century America. Ranging widely over the work of such luminaries as Washington Irving, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, George Ticknor, William Hickling Prescott, and a bit of Melville as well, the scholarship is original and the presentation superb. A page-turner from the very start, the book is essential for anyone interested in history of Hispanism or theimage of Spain in the United States, as well as the writers whose work Jaksi? surveys.' - Richard L. Kagan, Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University,USA

'Highly recommended.' - Choice

IVÁN JAKSIC is author of Andrés Bello: Scholarship and Nation-Building in Nineteenth-Century Latin America, and is Associate Professor of History, Stanford University, USA.

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