The Martial Imagination: Cultural Aspects of American Warfare

Martial experiences and the mythologies that surround them have profoundly affected the ways in which Americans think of themselves. Wars identify the heroes who help define national character, provide the stories for the grand narratives of belonging and sacrifice, and serve as markers for essential moments of transformation.

However, only in the last several years have scholars begun using the term “cultural history of American warfare” to identify the study of how public discourse formul...