American Civilisation: An Introduction [antikvár]

When American studies began to establish themselves at European universities, the need soon made itself felt for textbooks written by and for Europeans. American books often proved to be inadequate for the purpose. In 1961 Sigmund Skard (Oslo) suggested to the American Council of Learned Societies that it support the preparation of a comprehensive European Handbook of American Studies, and the following year he presented the same request to the European Association for American Studies. D. C. Watt (London) presented to the EAAS a similar plan, following up an initiative from British publishers. The EAAS in 1963 appointed as members of an explorative committee Roger Asselineau (Paris), Dietrich Gerhard (Göttingen), A. N. J. den Hollander (Amsterdam), Sigmund Skard (Oslo), Heinrich Straumann (Zürich) and D. C. Watt (London). In the light of this committee's report the EAAS decided to have the book prepared and published under its auspices, and the ACLS promised its support. Editorship was entrusted to A. N. J. den Hollander and Sigmund Skard, w^ho began their work in the autumn of 1965- Initially it was hoped that the book could be written exclusively by non-American scholars, covering the main regions of Europe. In several countries and subjects, however, European specialists proved unavailable, and the editors had gratefully to accept American contributors. As the book is now presented, two chapters are written by Englishmen, two by Frenchmen, two by Norwegians, two by Scots, and four by authors respectively from Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. The remaining five chapters are contributed by Americans. This book has been written primarily with a view to the teaching of American studies at European universities, particularly at a more elementary level. But the editors also hope that it will prove useful as a reference work to teachers in secondary schools, and attractive to the general reading public. Each chapter is accompanied by a brief bibliography