America's Vietnam : The Longue Durée of U.S. Literature and Empire

America’s Vietnam challenges the prevailing genealogy of Vietnam’s emergence in the American imagination—one that presupposes the Vietnam War as the starting point of meaningful Vietnamese-U.S. political and cultural involvements. Examining literature from as early as the 1820s, Marguerite Nguyen takes a comparative, long historical approach to interpreting constructions of Vietnam in American literature. She analyzes works in various genres published in English and Vietnamese by Monique Truong and Michael Herr as well as lesser-known writers such as John White, Harry Hervey, and Võ Phiến. The book’s cross-cultural prism spans Paris, Saigon, New York, and multiple oceans, and its departure from Cold War frames reveals rich cross-period connections. America’s Vietnam recounts a mostly unexamined story of Southeast Asia’s lasting and varied influence on U.S. aesthetic and political concerns. Tracking Vietnam’s transition from an emergent nation in the nineteenth century to a French colony to a Vietnamese-American war zone, Nguyen demonstrates that how authors represent Vietnam is deeply entwined with the United States’ shifting role in the world. As America’s longstanding presence in Vietnam evolves, the literature it generates significantly revises our perceptions of war, race, and empire over time. America's Vietnam Challenges The Prevailing Genealogy Of Vietnam's Emergence In The American Imagination--one That Presupposes The Vietnam War As The Starting Point Of Meaningful Vietnamese--u.s. Political And Cultural Involvements. Examining Literature From As Early As The 1820s, Marguerite Nguyen Takes A Comparative, Long Historical Approach To Interpreting Constructions Of Vietnam In American Literature. She Analyzes Works In Various Genres Published In English And Vietnamese By Monique Truong And Michael Herr As Well As Lesser-known Writers Such As John White, Harry Hervey, And V Phi?n. The Book's Cross-cultural Prism Spans Paris, Saigon, New York, And Multiple Oceans, And Its Departure From Cold War Frames Reveals Rich Cross-period Connections. America's Vietnam Recounts A Mostly Unexamined Story Of Southeast Asia's Lasting And Varied Influence On U.s. Aesthetic And Political Concerns. Tracking Vietnam's Transition From An Emergent Nation In The Nineteenth Century To A French Colony To A Vietnamese-american War Zone, Nguyen Demonstrates That How Authors Represent Vietnam Is Deeply Entwined With The United States' Shifting Role In The World. As America's Longstanding Presence In Vietnam Evolves, The Literature It Generates Significantly Revises Our Perceptions Of War, Race, And Empire Over Time-- Examining Works Written In English And Vietnamese, This Book Maps A Transnational, Longue Dureé Model For Understanding The History Of Vietnamese-american Encounters And Demonstrates How Genre Significantly Shapes Our Perceptions Of War, Race, And Empire-- Marguerite Bich Nguyen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "America's Vietnam challenges the prevailing genealogy of Vietnam's emergence in the American imagination--one that presupposes the Vietnam War as the starting point of meaningful Vietnamese--U.S. political and cultural involvements. Examining literature from as early as the 1820s, Marguerite Nguyen takes a comparative, long historical approach to interpreting constructions of Vietnam in American literature. She analyzes works in various genres published in English and Vietnamese by Monique Truong and Michael Herr as well as lesser-known writers such as John White, Harry Hervey, and Võ ; Phi?n. The book's cross-cultural prism spans Paris, Saigon, New York, and multiple oceans, and its departure from Cold War frames reveals rich cross-period connections. America's Vietnam recounts a mostly unexamined story of Southeast Asia's lasting and varied influence on U.S. aesthetic and political concerns. Tracking Vietnam's transition from an emergent nation in the nineteenth century to a French colony to a Vietnamese-American war zone, Nguyen demonstrates that how authors represent Vietnam is deeply entwined with the United States' shifting role in the world. As America's longstanding presence in Vietnam evolves, the literature it generates significantly revises our perceptions of war, race, and empire over time"-- Provided by publisher "America's Vietnam challenges the prevailing genealogy of Vietnam's emergence in the American imagination ... one that presupposes the Vietnam War as the starting point of meaningful Vietnamese ... U.S. political and cultural involvements. Examining literature from as early as the 1820s, Marguerite Nguyen takes a comparative, long historical approach to interpreting constructions of Vietnam in American literature. She analyzes works in various genres published in English and Vietnamese by Monique Truong and Michael Herr as well as lesser-known writers such as John White, Harry Hervey, and Vetotilde; Phi?n. The book's cross-cultural prism spans Paris, Saigon, New York, and multiple oceans, and its departure from Cold War frames reveals rich cross-period connections. America's Vietnam recounts a mostly unexamined story of Southeast Asia's lasting and varied influence on U.S. aesthetic and political concerns. Tracking Vietnam's transition from an emergent nation in the nineteenth century to a French colony to a Vietnamese-American war zone, Nguyen demonstrates that how authors represent Vietnam is deeply entwined with the United States' shifting role in the world. As America's longstanding presence in Vietnam evolves, the literature it generates significantly revises our perceptions of war, race, and empire over time" .. Contents ......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction: Rethinking America’s Vietnam......Page 16 1. Melodrama, Miscegenation, and Americanized Empire in French Indochina......Page 38 2. Who Served Up Modernism? Vietnamese Labor and Anticolonialism in Modernist Paris......Page 74 3. Vietnam War Exceptionalism: Dismembering and Disremembering Vietnam......Page 100 4. Critical Refugee Studies and the Emergence of Vietnamese American Letters......Page 134 Conclusion: Vietnam’s America in a Time of Smoke and Fire......Page 160 Notes......Page 182 Bibliography......Page 220 Index......Page 236 "Examining works written in English and Vietnamese, this book maps a transnational, longue dureé model for understanding the history of Vietnamese-American encounters and demonstrates how genre significantly shapes our perceptions of war, race, and empire"-- Provided by publisher "Examining works written in English and Vietnamese, this book maps a transnational, longue durée model for understanding the history of Vietnamese-American encounters and demonstrates how genre significantly shapes our perceptions of war, race, and empire"-- Provided by publisher