 | |
| Author | Hampton Sides |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | 2004 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 464 |
| ISBN | 1400033551 |
Americana: Dispatches from the New Frontier is a 2004 collection of non-fiction essays compiled by American historian and author Hampton Sides. [1] The book was published in paperback on April 13, 2004, through Doubleday. [2] [3]
The book consists of several essays that Sides wrote, while traveling through the United States and examining American cultures during a period of 15 years. Sides pays specific attention to subcultures that would fall under the topic of "Americana". [4] .
Hampton Sides's Americana delves into the multifaceted nature of American identity by exploring diverse subcultures and regional peculiarities. The collection examines the nation's eclecticism, highlighting unique and shared values. Sides reflects on significant historical events, such as the post-9/11 landscape, offering insights into the evolving American ethos. The essays underscore the interplay between individual experiences and broader societal narratives, providing a nuanced perspective on contemporary America. [5]
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Westword gave a favorable opinion of Americana, writing "Engendered by a crack facility for vivid, pictorial prose, [Sides] invites readers into each story with him." [6] The San Francisco Chronicle was also favorable, stating "Much of the collection's charm rests in its gallivanting, "road trip" narrative form, with stops across the map, as Sides gathers the odd-fitting pieces that, once assembled, best define "Americana."" [7]