The book explores the evolving interpretation of a region's history, emphasizing its utopian origins and significance in the development of the American middle class. It delves into the regional watershed and highlights how art and cultural institutions have influenced the identity of its residents, providing a comprehensive understanding of the area's cultural and historical impact.
The author, Steven Conn, serves as the W. E. Smith Professor of History at Miami University and has written extensively on various historical topics. His latest work, "Americans Against the City," explores themes related to urbanization and its impact on American society, reflecting his deep engagement with historical narratives and critical analysis.
"There's no such thing as rural America. Or, rather, as Steven Conn argues, "rural America" is a phrase that has been made to mean so many things that it doesn't mean anything. In fact, he maintains, rural America--so often characterized as in crisis or in danger of being left behind--has been shaped by the same major forces as the rest of the country since at least the end of the Civil War: militarization, industrialization, corporatization, and suburbanization. Conn calls for us to dispense with the fantasies and visions that are often imposed on rural America, in the hopes of more productively addressing the real challenges facing all of America"--