Wednesday, November 14, 2007

A Call to Readers

I will be presenting in a few weeks on Anglo-American literature. This is a dauntingly broad topic, and I have debated and contemplated and bent my brain deciding how to approach it.

Finally, I decided to focus on my ongoing interest in the American experience abroad. How do Americans cope outside of their natural habitat? And how does this experience compare to those had by non-Americans in the United States? I have a few thoughts on these questions, but I will keep those for the presentation.

However, I do have a request for both my loyal readers. What books have you read (or heard of) that relate to this topic (an American abroad)? Any suggestions or thoughts on this topic would be much appreciated.

I have compiled a list of books, and originally planned to post them here, but I will leave that for a later date because I don’t want to influence any of your ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

5 comments:

notaconnoisseur said...

Other than "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," have I read or heard of any books with an American abroad? Besides I only read fluff. I loved a book I read this spring that had Canadian soldiers in Britain during WW II but that is as close as I seem to have gotten to the subject.

notaconnoisseur said...

Edith Wharton's "The Buccaneers?"

Wanna-Be Lit said...

Oh my. Have I read anything about Americans abroad? Do travel guidebooks count?

Uh, Timeline by Michael Crichton has Americans on an archaelogical dig in Southern France. However, not sure that's exactly up to par for your research. The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons also feature Americans abroad, but again not sure that would fit your academic presentation.

Wanna-Be Lit said...

Okay, on a more serious note--

I'm sure you have "The Poisonwood Bible." Also "All Quiet on the Western Front" (thought I didn't read the whole book), but that's more a war book than a cultural book. I also read "Morning is a Long Time Coming," sequel to "Summer of My German Soldier." The girl goes to Paris in that one.

I also read a great book in a political science class called "Tropical Gangsters." It's about a World Bank guy who goes to Africa, but it probably doesn't count because it's nonfiction.

I can think of several English people who go abroad in books, but struggling to come up with books about Americans abroad. Sorry I'm not much help.

I CANNOT wait to see your list.

Blogger said...

Poisonwood is a very good suggestions. And, yes, I could think of lots of British books. Too bad I prefer the British authors.