Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Engaging, original, and timely, Manhood at Harvard traces the development of the masculine ideal as it was played out at one of the country's premier institutions of higher education from the Civil War through World War I. Although Townsend's thoughtful research takes off in several directions—he considers manhood's dependence on athletics and religion, the rise of Teddy Roosevelt and the cowboys of the West, the various definitions of manliness in politics and family life—his study never really leaves the ground of Harvard, where students seemed to have worked harder to attain the 'patriotism of American manhood' than any serious scholarly direction. Townsend's project is a pleasure to read because it weaves pop culture with social history, gender studies with pedagogy. The result is a fascinating look at the tapestry of American masculinity at the turn of the century, a tapestry that is surprisingly large and polychromatic and even a bit frayed around the edges." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [303]-306) and index.