Travel, Nationalism, and Identities in 19th-Century France and America

Travel in foreign cultures pushes people toward a new awareness of national and personal identities. Lloyd Kramer will discuss how French and American travelers redefined their conceptions of selfhood by “traveling to unknown places” during the century after the French and American revolutions, but the historical themes can help you reflect on your own past or future journeys.
This event is free and open to all!
Lloyd Kramer is a Professor Emeritus of History and the former Director of Carolina Public Humanities (CPH) at UNC, Chapel Hill. His historical work emphasizes the importance of cross-cultural experiences and transnational exchanges. His most recent book, "Traveling to Unknown Places: Nineteenth-Century Journeys Toward French and American Selfhood", was published by the University of North Carolina Press, and his earlier historical publications include "Threshold of a New World: Intellectuals and the Exile Experience in Paris, 1830-1848" (Cornell University Press); and "Lafayette in Two Worlds: Public Cultures and Personal Identities in an Age of Revolutions" (UNC Press). He believes that historical knowledge and the humanities are essential for a flourishing democratic society.