| Description |
1 online resource (vii, 240 pages) |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Summary |
"An odyssey from pre-Civil War Charleston to post-World War II Minneapolis through Jewish immigrants' eyes. The histories of US immigrants do not always begin and end in Ellis Island and northeastern cities. Many arrived earlier and some migrated south and west, fanning out into their vast new country. They sought a renewed life, fresh prospects, and a safe harbor, despite a nation that was not always welcoming and not always tolerant. How to Become an American begins with a widow's abandoned diary-and from there author Daniel Wolff examines the sweeping history of immigration into the United States through the experiences of one unnamed, seemingly unremarkable Jewish family, and, in the process, makes their lives remarkable. It is a deeply human odyssey that journeys from pre-Civil War Charleston, South Carolina, to post-World War II Minneapolis, Minnesota. In some ways, the family's journey parallels that of the nation, as it struggled to define itself through the Industrial Age. A persistent strain of loneliness permeates this story, and Wolff holds up this theme for contemplation. In a country that prides itself on being 'a nation of immigrants,' where 'all men are created equal,' why do we end up feeling alone in the land we love?"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Local Note |
eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America |
| Subject |
Jews -- Cultural assimilation -- United States -- History.
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Jews -- United States -- Identity.
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National characteristics, American.
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Citizenship -- Philosophy.
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Jewish families -- United States -- Social conditions.
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Jews -- United States -- Biography.
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HISTORY / Jewish. |
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BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Jewish. |
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Citizenship -- Philosophy |
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Jewish families -- Social conditions |
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Jews |
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Jews -- Cultural assimilation |
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Jews -- Identity |
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National characteristics, American |
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United States |
| Genre/Form |
Biographies
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Creative nonfiction
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History
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Creative nonfiction.
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Biographies.
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| Other Form: |
Print version: Wolff, Daniel J. How to become an American Columbia, South Carolina : The University of South Carolina Press, [2022] 9781643363639 (DLC) 2022033434 |
| ISBN |
9781643363646 electronic book |
|
1643363646 electronic book |
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9781643363639 paperback |
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