Ortega on the United States: a View from the Outside

Abstract

The spanish journalist, writer and philosopher jose ortega y gasset (1883-1955) had intended to devote a book to the subject of the united states to dispel the confusion in the european mind due to the "mass of puerile judgments that one hears pronounced on north america even by the most cultured persons." his work habits, illnesses, the civil war in spain and the long conflict in europe prevented him from writing more than two essays: "the new united states" (march 22, 1931) and "on the united states" (july 30, 1932). the present study offers the historical context for a more meaningful reading of the essays.