Yesterday's Self: Nostalgia and the Immigrant Identity

The state of being called nostalgia has a history fraught with ambiguity and poetical connotation. In the late 17th century, nostalgic reminiscences were thought to be the symptoms of a deadly disease that shook one's mind and body. Today, we view nostalgia not as a medical condition, but as a bittersweet recollection of one's past joys and sorrows-the memories and treasures of an earlier self. And yet, there remains a category of individuals for whom such recollection can be seriously prob...