The Hispanic World and American Intellectual Life, 1820–1880 (Studies of the Americas)

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. "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 'Ivan Jaksic'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 the image of Spain in the United States, as well as the writers whose work Jaksic surveys.' - Richard L. Kagan, Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University, USA 'Highly recommended.' - Choice Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction....Pages 1-6 “My King, My Country, and My Faith”: Washington Irving’s Writings on the Rise and Fall of Spain....Pages 7-27 Labor Ipse Voluptas: George Ticknor’s History of Spanish Literature....Pages 29-51 The Enlightened Foreigner: The Reception of Ticknor’s Work in the Hispanic World....Pages 53-68 The Spanish Student: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow....Pages 69-89 Outre-Mer: Longfellow’s Hispanic Ties....Pages 91-108 Mary Peabody Mann and the Translation of South American Politics....Pages 109-124 The “Annals of Barbarians”: William H. Prescott and the Conquest of the New World....Pages 125-160 Knights-Errant and Bigots: Prescott’s Writings on Spain....Pages 161-182 Conclusion....Pages 183-187 Back Matter....Pages 189-256

This book examines why several American literary and intellectual icons found themselves to be pioneering scholars and lifelong students of the Hispanic world.  The author asserts that these gifted Americans focused on the Hispanic world that they might shape their own country’s identity after independence and the War of 1812, a crucial time for the young republic, and that they found inspiration in a most unlikely place: the seat of the collapsing Spanish empire.