Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Identity Crisis and the Beginnings of U.S. Cultural Diplomacy 2. From the Cowboy to the Aristocrats: The Early-Twentieth Century Foundations of U.S. Cultural Diplomacy 3. The Truth About America 4. The Golden Age of Cultural Diplomacy, 1953-1961 5. The Slow Death of American Cultural Diplomacy, 1961-1999 Conclusion: The Soul of a Nation Notes Bibliography Index

Promotional Information

A comprehensive survey of American cultural diplomacy from the late 18th Century to the present.

About the Author

Michael L. Krenn is Professor of History at Appalachian State University, USA.

Reviews

Krenn skillfully summarizes and synthesizes the work of many scholars in his compact book, which also draws on his own previous work on U.S. art exhibitions and African American diplomats.
*Journal of World History*

[A] gracefully written, solidly researched survey. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic levels/libraries; professionals.
*CHOICE*

Michael Krenn has provided an approachable, entertaining introduction to the history of cultural diplomacy. He synthesizes both classic and more recent scholarship and offers sound judgements on the ways that cultural diplomacy has – and has not – succeeded as a tool of U.S. foreign policy.
*Laura Belmonte, Oklahoma State University, USA*

Michael Krenn, a key figure among historians of U.S. cultural diplomacy for over a decade, has delivered the most sweeping survey of that field to date. In so doing, he considerably expands the very definition of the term, uncovering its roots in the earliest days of the nation. This book provides an excellent starting point for anyone interested in approaching the subject of U.S. cultural diplomacy and it will surely inspire new research, particularly into the pre-Second World War elements of that story.
*Justin Hart, Associate Professor and Associate Chair of History, Texas Tech University, USA*

This fascinating study reveals that the nation’s export of cultural artifacts coincided with the desire to form an identity on the part of a melee of non-state actors long before the 20th century. Skillfully juxtaposing international strategy and domestic inferiority, Krenn shows that in the final analysis there may not be much of a line between cultural and diplomatic history left. A must-read for anyone interested in the chronology of U.S. cultural diplomacy!
*Jessica Gienow-Hecht, Professor of History, Free University of Berlin, Germany*