Customer Reviews

German Pioneers on the American Frontier: The Wagners in Texas and Illinois

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The title is not half as catching as the book itself. The well known historian Terry G. Jordan (author of German Seed in Texas Soil) wrote about this book: "In this unique biographical case study of 19th-century German migration to the United States, Andreas Reichstein deals with one family's life on both sides of the Atlantic, allowing the reader to understand the 'push' factors that drove the Wagners to emigrate, and the 'pull' factors drawing them to the United States, as well as the cultural changes required for adaptation to America." The book is truly fascinating to read (with exeption of the introduction). Its full of details which bring the past to life -- the situation in Germany in the 19th century as well as the hardships on the frontier. Yet, there's even more to this book. Its not just a vividly told story of immigrant families on the Texas and Illinois frontier but, it also describes what made immigrants become Americans. Its a compelling study about identity, about the past and the - possible -- future of the United States. Rarely have I read a book that intrigued me as much as this one.