Nation and Word, 1770-1850: Religious and Metaphysical Language in European National Consciousness (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781859282861)

The emergence of the modern nation state in Europe and the accompanying rise in national consciousness led to a heightened awareness of the close relationship between language and national identity. In this book the author shows that this relationship was expressed through the themes and figures of a 'language' of nationhood, drawn from a common European cultural heritage, particularly the Classical and Christian traditions. Despite its common roots, this language became the medium through which the diversity of national characters was expressed. The idea of the divine Word, for example, enabled the sacredness and power of national language to be celebrated. The identification of poet and prophet gave Romantic nationalists an authority to speak for and to the nation, and the theme of the Chosen People was often adopted to express the elect status of a writer's own nation. In conclusion, it is shown that this language of nationhood remains a powerful force at the end of the twentieth century.

Author: Mary Anne Perkins
ISBN-10: 1859282865
ISBN-13: 9781859282861
Publisher: Routledge
Language: English
Published: 08/18/1999
Pages: 392
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.59lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.88d