Transatlantic German Studies

The decisive contribution of the exile generation of the 1930s and '40s to German studies in the United States is well known. The present volume carries the story forward to the next generation(s), giving voice to scholars from the US and overseas, many of them mentored by the exile generation. The exiles knew vividly the value of the humanities; the following generations, through spared the experience of historical catastrophe, have found formidable challenges in building and maintaining the field in a time increasingly dismissive of that value. The scholar-contributors of this volume, prominent members of the profession, share their experiences of finding their way in the field and helping to develop challenges, including the question of the role of literature and of interdisciplinarity, pluralism, and diversity. Of particular interest is the role of transatlantic dialogue.