The Transatlantic Century: Europe and America, 1890-2010

by Mary Nolan

This is a fascinating new overview of European-American relations during the long twentieth century. Ranging from economics, culture and consumption to war, politics and diplomacy, Mary Nolan charts the rise of American influence in Eastern and Western Europe, its mid-twentieth century triumph and its gradual erosion since the 1970s. She reconstructs the circuits of exchange along which ideas, commodities, economic models, cultural products and people moved across the Atlantic, capturing the differing versions of modernity that emerged on both sides of the Atlantic and examining how these alternately produced co-operation, conflict and ambivalence toward the other. Attributing the rise and demise of American influence in Europe not only to economics but equally to wars, the book locates the roots of many transatlantic disagreements in very different experiences and memories of war. This is an unprecedented account of the American Century in Europe that recovers its full richness and complexity.

Genres: History

404 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2012

Reviews

[Katie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very informative, but quite broad. It’ll act as a great introduction for me as I dig into more narrowed, focused topics.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan of this work, unfortunately. I will say that I think Nolan compiles some very compelling and interesting data. Her stance that America did not reach and maintain supremacy in the ways that American exceptionalism would have many believe is very interesting, but her writing was unfortunately off-putting. She seems to know that her topic will invite criticism, and instead of allowing for that in her book, she instead comes across as needlessly defensive by being overly assertive. (Let me say, I like strong assertions in critical texts. Nolan uses them too frequently, though, and places them in very strange spots.)

Again, lots of good tidbits here, but you have to sift through Nolan's polemical prose to get them.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent synthesis of 20th century transatlantic history concerning Europe and America.

[Mills College Library]

909.09821 N788 2012