Wasps: The Splendors and Miseries of an American AristocracyAn examination of WASP culture through the lives of some of its most prominent figures. Envied and lampooned, misunderstood and yet distinctly American, WASPs are as much a culture, socioeconomic and ethnic designation, and state of mind. Charming, witty, and vigorously researced, WASPS traces the rise and fall of this distinctly American phenomenon through the lives of prominent icons from Henry Adams and Theodore Roosevelt to George Santayana and John Jay Chapman. Throughout this dynamic story, Beran chronicles the efforts of WASPs to better the world around them as well as the struggles of these WASPs to break free from their restrictive culture. The death of George H. W. Bush brought about reflections on the end of patrician WASP culture, where privilege reigned, but so did a genuine desire to use that privilege for public service. In the time of Trump—who is the antithesis of true WASP culture—people look at the John Kerry, Bobby Kennedy, and Philip and Kay Grahams of the world with wistfulness. And even though we are a more diverse and pluralistic nation now than ever before, there is something about WASP culture that remains enduringly aspirational and fascinating. Beginning at the turn of the 20th century, Beran’s saga dramatizes the evolving American aristocracy that forever changed a nation—and what we can still glean from WASP culture as we enter a new era. |
Contents
Section 16 | |
Section 17 | |
Section 18 | |
Section 19 | |
Section 20 | |
Section 21 | |
Section 22 | |
Section 23 | |
Section 9 | |
Section 10 | |
Section 11 | |
Section 12 | |
Section 13 | |
Section 14 | |
Section 15 | |
Section 24 | |
Section 25 | |
Section 26 | |
Section 27 | |
Section 28 | |
Section 29 | |
Other editions - View all
Wasps: The Splendors and Miseries of an American Aristocracy Michael Knox Beran No preview available - 2021 |
Wasps: The Splendors and Miseries of an American Aristocracy Michael Knox Beran No preview available - 2022 |
Common terms and phrases
Acheson Adams's agora Alice Alsop American Century artist Ashburn Auchincloss beautiful believed Berenson Boston boys brother called Cambridge Chanler Chartres civic Club College Cotty cousin culture Dante Dean Acheson death Edie Edmund Wilson Eleanor Endicott Peabody England eutrapelian father Franklin Roosevelt George Santayana Greek Groton School Harry Harvard Henry Adams Henry James high WASPs House human Ibid ideal imagination Inferno Jack James's Joe Alsop John Jay Chapman Kennan Kennedy knew Learned Hand liberal Lippmann live looked Louis Auchincloss married mind modern Morgan neurasthenic never novel Oxford Paris patrician Peabody of Groton poet poetry political preppy president Puritan Rector reform Republic Sedgwick seemed social sought soul Soviet spirit Stimson Straight T. S. Eliot Theodore Roosevelt things thought told took Trilling University Press wanted Washington WASPs Whitney William wrote Yale York young