[The Fall
semester is just around the corner, so this week I’ll preview some of the
courses and plans for which I’m excited as a new semester gets underway. I’d
love to hear your own upcoming courses, plans, work, or whatever else has you
excited for Fall 2016!]
Three things
that have changed about my upcoming fourth book since this
late May post on it:
1)
The Title (again): I thought we had this nailed
down as of late May, but fortunately I’m really happy with the project’s final
title, as it reflects both my subjects and (I believe) the book’s contemporary
stakes and significance: History and Hope
in American Literature: Models of Critical Patriotism. Works for me!
2)
A (rough) Release Date: Rowman & Littlefield have been
extremely efficient and helpful to work with, and the project is moving
smoothly toward a planned December 2016 release. I’ll do everything I can to
move that up a bit, as I’d love for the book to be out right around the
election (for the reasons I’ll get to in a moment)—but for a project that’s
been so long in gestation, having a due date before year’s end feels very good
indeed.
3)
The Stakes: It’s no coincidence that Connecticut
Senator Chris Murphy Tweeted this message just after the close of July’s
DNC convention in Philadelphia. I’ve always believed that my book’s subjects,
and especially my evolving emphasis on critical patriotism, are deeply
interconnected with our
current moment and its central issues and debates. But this election has
reinforced and extended those connections a thousandfold, and convinced me that
the stakes for these ideas couldn’t be higher. I’m beyond excited to be part of
that conversation, and can’t wait for the chance to share the book where I make
that case most explicitly.
Monthly recap
this weekend,
Ben
PS. Upcoming
work of yours to highlight? Other previews or plans you’d share?
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