Nationalismus

Tagore, Rabindranath, 1861-1941Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.2

Word count: 171K words
Chapters: 18

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Nationalismus by Rabindranath TagoreAuthor: Tagore, Rabindranath, 1861-1941,Language: German, Class: JC: Political science: Political theory, Release Date: Oct 2, 2012

Editor's review

Nationalismus is Tagore's political essay presented in German, offering a critical reflection on nationalism as a core concept of modern politics. Rather than starting from an abstract definition, Tagore treats nationalism as a social and spiritual phenomenon that calls for scrutiny, discussing how it affects individual freedom, social ethics, and the course of civilization. The writing carries a literary sensibility and a thinker's edge; it is short but rewards repeated reading. For Chinese readers, the book's value lies in offering a non-Western-centric perspective: it does not rush to defend or condemn nationalism but asks how people can preserve conscience and openness within the framework of the nation. It can be read alongside the cosmopolitan spirit in Tagore's poetry, or understood within the intellectual history of early twentieth-century Asia. The electronic edition is easy to search by keyword and suited to thematic note-taking.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers in political science and sociology interested in theories of nationalism
Literary readers curious about the political-essay side of Tagore's thought
Scholars studying the global outlook of early twentieth-century Asian intellectuals
Readers with German reading ability who prefer short intellectual texts

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic general history or textbook-style survey of nationalism
Social science researchers seeking extensive empirical data and case analysis
Readers unable to read German at all and unwilling to use a translation

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the overall tone, then mark paragraph by paragraph Tagore's key judgments on nationalism.
While reading, compare with related themes in Tagore's poetry or fiction to appreciate the coherence of his thought.
Keep a sheet of paper to record the core concepts as they appear, and after finishing, restate the chain of argument in your own words.
If German is difficult, first consult a reliable translation for the gist, then return to the original to savor the wording.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

In what language did Tagore write this book?

According to the source, this edition of Nationalismus is in German, released as an electronic edition by Project Gutenberg. Tagore's original may have been written in another language, but this version presents the German text. Readers who do not know German will need a translation or to read comparatively.

Is this book suitable as an introduction to the study of nationalism?

It can serve as an intellectual introduction, but it does not function as a systematic textbook. Tagore's approach emphasizes critique and reflection rather than a conceptual history. It is best to have some basic familiarity with nationalism before reading, which makes it easier to grasp the questions and direction of the argument.

What should be noted when reading the electronic edition?

The Project Gutenberg version is a free eBook, convenient for searching and excerpting, but its layout and notes may be plain. It is advisable to mark chapters and keywords yourself and to check the completeness of the text. If citing it, note the source and release date of the edition.

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About the author

Tagore, Rabindranath, 1861-1941 Author

Tagore, Rabindranath (1861-1941) was a renowned Indian poet and writer whose work spans poetry, fiction, drama, and essays. The library holds thirty-three of his works, including the poetry collections Gitanjali, The Gardener, and Stray Birds, the novel The Home and the World, as well as Sadhana: The Realisation of Life and My Reminiscences. His poetry is known for its clear, melodious language and often explores nature, love, and the divine, combining philosophical reflection with lyricism; his fiction attends to social realities and inner lives, portraying the clash between tradition and modernity. Public information is limited and his full biography remains unclear, yet these works reveal a concise and moving style that has had a profound influence on later literature, inviting readers to encounter Eastern philosophical thought and humanistic care through his verse and prose.