Ties That Bind, Ties That Divide (Hardcover)

A vivid picture of the evolution of one of America's many vital ethnic voices. The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were times of change within the United States. The influx of immigrants gave the United States a new face as well as a new culture. In Ties That Bind, Ties That Divide, Juliana Puskás, a prominent scholar on immigration, examines the Hungarian-American experience. Often overshadowed by the stories of other immigrant communities, the Hungarian community is finally brought to the forefront in Puskás's thorough discussion. Beginning with a look at the semifeudal state of mid-nineteenth century Hungarian society, the author provides a historical context within which to place the emigrants. She goes on to reveal the gradual process by which immigrants built diverse communities and became Hungarian-Americans, rather than just Hungarians in America. Puskás also chronicles the role of Hungarian-Americans in the Cold War, focusing on the displaced persons who arrived immediately after World War II. Ties That Bind, Ties That Divide melds a lucid, thorough appraisal of the Hungarian migration with first-hand experiences, interviews, and observations, skillfully redressing the general ignorance of the Hungarian-American experience.