Reviews
Rather than an overly optimistic assessment of the transnational condition,A Tale of Two Citiesis a balanced, sophisticated look into the national and community-level challenges for transnational nations and peoples that, though rooted in historical scholarship, also crosses disciplinary lines., This detailed, compelling study shows how Dominicans have recreated the modern city in both their national capital of Santo Domingo and Washington Heights in New York through their aspirations, responses to government policy (in both states), and generational change. Hoffnung-Garskoff grounds his study in Dominican national debates over progress and culture before tackling the symbiosis of cities and nations that has intensified since the 1960s. -- G.W. McDonogh, Choice, [F]rom an American Studies and U.S. history perspective, this book is invaluable. It shows the extent to which students of the United States need to become experts on other nations and regions if they are to explain transnational and global processes., "Rather than an overly optimistic assessment of the transnational condition, A Tale of Two Cities is a balanced, sophisticated look into the national and community-level challenges for transnational nations and peoples that, though rooted in historical scholarship, also crosses disciplinary lines." --Marc Simon Rodriguez, Journal of American History, Hoffnung-Garskof's narrative is, quite simply, one of the best academic texts I have read in years. It is meticulous but not overwrought, briskly written but not simplistic, and contemporary but not dependent on trendy jargon. I will certainly use it in undergraduate classes on immigration. I would also recommend it to anyone who remains unconvinced about the value of transnational scholarship as a tool to help make sense of the contemporary world and its transformations., "[T]he questions Hoffnung-Garskof raises . . . will be of concern a broad array of scholars. The clarity of the writing, together with the wealth of apposite photographs and other illustrations, will make this text an excellent choice for the classroom as well. This capacious and well-told tale of two cities will reward any scholar with an interest in the history of transnationalism, international migration and the Dominican Republic."-- Katja Naumann, H-Soz-u-Kult, "[F]rom an American Studies and U.S. history perspective, this book is invaluable. It shows the extent to which students of the United States need to become experts on other nations and regions if they are to explain transnational and global processes." --Themis Chronopoulos, Americas, "Refreshing and convincing. Hoffnung-Garskof traces in very specific terms how the existence of transnational networks played out on both ends of the circulating stream of migration between the mid-1960s and the present. He does a very nice job in excavating the intricate ways U.S. economic and military imperialism in the Caribbean shaped Dominicans' opportunity structures and influenced their most important life choices. Truly a pleasure to read." --David G. Gutiérrez, University of California, San Diego, "Hoffnung-Garskof's narrative is, quite simply, one of the best academic texts I have read in years. It is meticulous but not overwrought, briskly written but not simplistic, and contemporary but not dependent on trendy jargon. I will certainly use it in undergraduate classes on immigration. I would also recommend it to anyone who remains unconvinced about the value of transnational scholarship as a tool to help make sense of the contemporary world and its transformations."-- Daniel Reichman, Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology, This detailed, compelling study shows how Dominicans have recreated the modern city in both their national capital of Santo Domingo and Washington Heights in New York through their aspirations, responses to government policy (in both states), and generational change. Hoffnung-Garskoff grounds his study in Dominican national debates over progress and culture before tackling the symbiosis of cities and nations that has intensified since the 1960s., " A Tale of Two Cities adds an important new case study and a focus on youth culture to the growing literature that acknowledges the full circuit of migratory experiences. It is one of the best and most empirically grounded of such works." --Donna R. Gabaccia, University of Minnesota, [F]rom an American Studies and U.S. history perspective, this book is invaluable. It shows the extent to which students of the United States need to become experts on other nations and regions if they are to explain transnational and global processes. -- Themis Chronopoulos, Americas, "[F]rom an American Studies and U.S. history perspective, this book is invaluable. It shows the extent to which students of the United States need to become experts on other nations and regions if they are to explain transnational and global processes."-- Themis Chronopoulos, Americas, "[T]he questions Hoffnung-Garskof raises . . . will be of concern a broad array of scholars. The clarity of the writing, together with the wealth of apposite photographs and other illustrations, will make this text an excellent choice for the classroom as well. This capacious and well-told tale of two cities will reward any scholar with an interest in the history of transnationalism, international migration and the Dominican Republic." --Katja Naumann, H-Soz-u-Kult, Hoffnung-Garskof's narrative is, quite simply, one of the best academic texts I have read in years. It is meticulous but not overwrought, briskly written but not simplistic, and contemporary but not dependent on trendy jargon. I will certainly use it in undergraduate classes on immigration. I would also recommend it to anyone who remains unconvinced about the value of transnational scholarship as a tool to help make sense of the contemporary world and its transformations. -- Daniel Reichman, Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology, "Hoffnung-Garskof's A Tale of Two Cities is a stunning study of Dominican life in Santo Domingo and New York City that raises the bar for transnational-migration scholarship. A work of rigorous research and analysis along multiple lines of inquiry (imperialism, migration, modernization, urban youth culture), it also is a deeply humane book that reveals the manifold ways in which ordinary Dominicans apprehend and make their social world." --Mae M. Ngai, author of Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America, "Rather than an overly optimistic assessment of the transnational condition, A Tale of Two Cities is a balanced, sophisticated look into the national and community-level challenges for transnational nations and peoples that, though rooted in historical scholarship, also crosses disciplinary lines."-- Marc Simon Rodriguez, Journal of American History, [T]he questions Hoffnung-Garskof raises . . . will be of concern a broad array of scholars. The clarity of the writing, together with the wealth of apposite photographs and other illustrations, will make this text an excellent choice for the classroom as well. This capacious and well-told tale of two cities will reward any scholar with an interest in the history of transnationalism, international migration and the Dominican Republic. -- Katja Naumann, H-Soz-u-Kult, "By using previously untapped sources of data--including oral history among barrio dwellers in Santo Domingo and migrants in New York City--this book goes well beyond previous works that focus only on demographics and socioeconomic issues. A Tale of Two Cities recreates the history of Dominican migration from the perspective of lower-class Dominicans--portraying the human face of Dominican migration while still keeping track of the big picture." --Ernesto Sagás, Southern New Hampshire University, "Hoffnung-Garskof's narrative is, quite simply, one of the best academic texts I have read in years. It is meticulous but not overwrought, briskly written but not simplistic, and contemporary but not dependent on trendy jargon. I will certainly use it in undergraduate classes on immigration. I would also recommend it to anyone who remains unconvinced about the value of transnational scholarship as a tool to help make sense of the contemporary world and its transformations." --Daniel Reichman, Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology, [T]he questions Hoffnung-Garskof raises . . . will be of concern a broad array of scholars. The clarity of the writing, together with the wealth of apposite photographs and other illustrations, will make this text an excellent choice for the classroom as well. This capacious and well-told tale of two cities will reward any scholar with an interest in the history of transnationalism, international migration and the Dominican Republic., Rather than an overly optimistic assessment of the transnational condition, A Tale of Two Cities is a balanced, sophisticated look into the national and community-level challenges for transnational nations and peoples that, though rooted in historical scholarship, also crosses disciplinary lines., "This detailed, compelling study shows how Dominicans have recreated the modern city in both their national capital of Santo Domingo and Washington Heights in New York through their aspirations, responses to government policy (in both states), and generational change. Hoffnung-Garskoff grounds his study in Dominican national debates over progress and culture before tackling the symbiosis of cities and nations that has intensified since the 1960s."-- G.W. McDonogh, Choice, "This detailed, compelling study shows how Dominicans have recreated the modern city in both their national capital of Santo Domingo and Washington Heights in New York through their aspirations, responses to government policy (in both states), and generational change. Hoffnung-Garskoff grounds his study in Dominican national debates over progress and culture before tackling the symbiosis of cities and nations that has intensified since the 1960s." --G.W. McDonogh, Choice, Rather than an overly optimistic assessment of the transnational condition, A Tale of Two Cities is a balanced, sophisticated look into the national and community-level challenges for transnational nations and peoples that, though rooted in historical scholarship, also crosses disciplinary lines. -- Marc Simon Rodriguez, Journal of American History, Rather than an overly optimistic assessment of the transnational condition,A Tale of Two Citiesis a balanced, sophisticated look into the national and community-level challenges for transnational nations and peoples that, though rooted in historical scholarship, also crosses disciplinary lines. -- Marc Simon Rodriguez, Journal of American History