Those United States

Those United States chronicles Arnold Bennett's first journey to America in 1911, documenting his observations as he traveled from his arrival by transatlantic steamship through various American cities and regions. The book, originally serialized in Harper's Magazine in 1912, captures Bennett's perspective as a British writer encountering American culture, cities, and customs for the first time. His account spans transportation, architecture, business, social customs, and daily life in early 20th century America. The narrative covers Bennett's experiences in major metropolitan areas like New York and Chicago, as well as his reflections on American industry, commerce, and the distinct characteristics of different regions within the United States. The work stands as both a historical document of America during the Progressive Era and an exploration of the cultural differences between Britain and the United States during a period of rapid industrialization and social change.

Many readers appreciate Bennett's outsider perspective as an English writer observing American culture in 1912. Multiple reviews note the historical value of seeing early 20th century America through fresh eyes, with detailed observations about cities, industry, and social customs. Readers highlight Bennett's wit and candid commentary. A Goodreads reviewer wrote: "His descriptions of New York, Pittsburgh and Chicago capture both the energy and grime of industrial America." Common criticisms focus on Bennett's occasional condescension toward American habits and his dated cultural assumptions. Several readers found the pacing uneven and some chapters overly focused on trivial details. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (27 ratings) Amazon: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) Internet Archive: 4.0/5 (8 ratings) The book has limited modern reader engagement but maintains interest among those studying early American travel writing or historical perspectives on US culture during the Progressive Era.

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🌟 Bennett wrote this entire travelogue without ever visiting Chicago - a major American city at the time - due to a railway strike that disrupted his planned itinerary 🌟 The book caused controversy in Britain for its largely positive portrayal of American culture, going against the prevailing British attitude of cultural superiority 🌟 Many scenes in the book were written from Bennett's temporary residence at the Vanderbilt Hotel in New York, where he spent several weeks observing American high society 🌟 Bennett's observations about American skyscrapers helped shift European perceptions about these buildings from viewing them as merely commercial necessities to seeing them as architectural achievements 🌟 The original Harper's Magazine serialization in 1912 earned Bennett the equivalent of about $50,000 in today's money, making it one of the most lucrative travel writing assignments of its era