Travel Writing and Transnational Relations: Francis Lieber as The Stranger in America

Abstract

In this paper I analyze Francis Lieber’s 1835 travel book The Stranger in America “with regard to Lieber’s portrayal of transnational relations. By exploring his account of US culture, politics, and institutions, and by examining the comparative framework he cultivates, I carve out Lieber’s transnational perspective. To investigate whether he was indeed the “Stranger in America” he claims to be, I map out the identity he claims for himself. I conclude that Lieber purposely situated himself as a cultural intermediary to profit from a position of authority and to pave the way for a future in US political science and academia.

Keywords

• Transnational Relations
• Travel Books
• Travel Writing
• Francis Lieber
• The Stranger in America
• Migration