Overview

Bringing together sources from many countries and many centuries, this study critically analyses the growth of national thought and of nationalism — from medieval ethnic prejudice to the Romantic belief in a nation's 'soul'. The belief and ideology of the nation's cultural individuality emerged from a Europe-wide exchange of ideas, often articulated in literature and belles lettres. In the last two centuries, these ideas have transformed the map of Europe and the relations between people and government. In tracing the modern European nation-state, cross-nationally and historically, as the outcome of a cultural self-invention, Leerssen also provides a surprising perspective on Europe's contemporary identity politics. National Thought in Europe has been brought up to date in this new, third edition.

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Reviews

Joep Leerssen has written a wide-ranging, lucid, concise and elegant essay that replaces the many European nationalisms in their cultural contexts. It should appeal to students and tell their teachers something new as well. Peter Burke, Emmanuel College, Cambridge University| This book should be studied by all working in the field of nationalism. Leerssen is a scholar of the first rank, and I doubt if there is any serious scholar of nationalism who will fail to profit from this treasure house of erudition and reflection. The book is itself a delight to read. John Hutchinson, London School of Economics, in Nations and Nationalism

Joep Leerssen has written a wide-ranging, lucid, concise and elegant essay that replaces the many European nationalisms in their cultural contexts. It should appeal to students and tell their teachers something new as well. [-][-]Peter Burke, Emmanuel College, Cambridge University - This book should be studied by all working in the field of nationalism. Leerssen is a scholar of the first rank, and I doubt if there is any serious scholar of nationalism who will fail to profit from this treasure house of erudition and reflection. The book is itself a delight to read. [-][-]John Hutchinson, London School of Economics, in Nations and Nationalism

""Joep Leerssen has written a wide-ranging, lucid, concise and elegant essay that replaces the many European nationalisms in their cultural contexts. It should appeal to students and tell their teachers something new as well."" Peter Burke, Emmanuel College, Cambridge University|""This book should be studied by all working in the field of nationalism. Leerssen is a scholar of the first rank, and I doubt if there is any serious scholar of nationalism who will fail to profit from this treasure house of erudition and reflection. The book is itself a delight to read."" John Hutchinson, London School of Economics, in Nations and Nationalism

Author Information

Joep Leerssen holds the Chair of Modern European Literature at the University of Amsterdam. He is the author of many authoritative studies on the relations between literature, historical consciousness and nationalism.

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