Telling America's Story to the World: Literature, Internationalism, Cultural Diplomacy

State and state-affiliated cultural diplomacy played a significant role in shaping postwar US literature, sending authors like Ralph Ellison, Robert Frost, William Faulkner, Langston Hughes, and Maxine Hong Kingston overseas to broadcast an American commitment to international cross-cultural connection. This led to a reevaluation of the scope and form of their literary projects, as seen in works like The Mansion (1959), Life Studies (1959), Cultural Exchange (1961, 1967), Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book (1989), and Three Days Before the Shooting... (2010).

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Telling America's Story to the World explores the profound impact of state and state-affiliated cultural diplomacy on the development of postwar US literature. Harilaos Stecopoulos, in his insightful analysis, emphasizes the central role of liberal internationalism in the United States' cultural outreach. He argues that the state primarily dispatched authors such as Ralph Ellison, Robert Frost, William Faulkner, Langston Hughes, and Maxine Hong Kingston to various corners of the globe, not merely to showcase the accomplishments of US civilization but also to convey an unwavering American commitment to fostering international cross-cultural connections. While these writers-turned-ambassadors may not have directly contributed to the state's propaganda objectives, their assignments provided them with an invaluable opportunity to contemplate the global significance and potential of US literature. For many of these figures, engaging with foreign audiences sparked a reevaluation of the scope and shape of their literary projects.

As evidence of the inadvertent yet integral role of cultural diplomacy in the worlding of US letters, a range of works emerge. These include seminal texts like The Mansion (1959), Life Studies (1959), Cultural Exchange (1961, 1967), Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book (1989), and Three Days Before the Shooting... (2010). These works reimagine US literature in a dynamic, global, and distinctly political register, reflecting the shifting contours of the nation and the world.

Through their literary endeavors, these authors not only contributed to the global dissemination of American culture but also played a crucial role in shaping the international perception of the United States. Their works resonated with readers across borders, fostering understanding and appreciation of American literature and culture. In essence, Telling America's Story to the World serves as a testament to the profound influence of state and state-affiliated cultural diplomacy on the shaping of postwar US literature and its role in projecting the nation's values and aspirations to the world.

Weight: 630g
Dimension: 240 x 164 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192864635