Synopses & Reviews
Historians have long treated the patriotic anthems of the American Civil War as colorful, if largely insignificant, side notes. But beneath the songsandrsquo; inspirational surface is a far more complex story. The contradictory genesis and reception of one such anthem, andldquo;Maryland, My Maryland,andrdquo; for instance, showcases the inherent ironies underlying the Civil War in general. Long considered one of the most popular Confederate patriotic songs, andldquo;Maryland, My Maryland,andrdquo; was not only written in Louisiana but also celebrated a state that never joined the Confederacy.
In Maryland, My Maryland: Civil War Music and Patriotism, James A. Davis offers an in-depth exploration of the contradictions underlying this Civil War anthem and considers what these incongruities reveal more broadly about expressions of patriotism during the war. To do so, Davis explores the geographic specificity of the songandrsquo;s lyrics, which allowed the contest between regional and national loyalties to be fought on bandstands as well as battlefields, amplifying the emerging division between soldiers and civilians as audiences and their role in bestowing musical meaning.and#160; Furthermore, Davis posits that andldquo;Maryland, My Marylandandrdquo; contributed to the shift in patriotic allegiance from a specific, localized and material place to an ambiguous, inclusive, and imagined space. By resisting the straight-forward narrative of popular music, Davis reveals the inconsistencies that belie commonly-held assumptions that popular music was for all people and that patriotism was an easily defined, stable, and universally-held attitude shared by those living within clearly delineated geo-political boundaries.
Synopsis
When the Nazis took power in 1933, most Germans did not foresee the oncoming storm. Many were wildly enthusiastic; some were alarmed; most were worried but trusted that things would work out. In short, they felt much as Americans have felt from time to time. Brian E. Fogarty's Fascism: Why Not Here? draws parallels between German culture of the early twentieth century and American culture today.
While Fogarty postulates that it would take a confluence of events and circumstances to propel Americans into the arms of fascism, he concludes that it is not entirely unlikely. Today, less than a decade after his original warning, some of those events are beginning to unfold. As Americans become more divided, as formerly nonpartisan institutions are politicized, and as Congress becomes increasingly paralyzed, we are forced to ask: how do we respond to a political outsider's rally cries to "make America great again"?
In examining the similarities and differences between Nazi Germany and America today, Fogarty finds many reasons for hope that Americans will not fall victim to such chauvinistic appeal, but he also finds plenty to worry about. He points out that contemporary Americans and Germans of the 1920s and 1930s share many similar values, ideals, fears, and beliefs. Fogarty's strong words of caution will resonate with anyone concerned about America's political future and the freedoms we too often take for granted.