Abstract

The idea of the ‘genteel tradition’ has long been recognized as one of the more significant and penetrating insights of George Santayana into the American culture of the first part of this century. For the historian and the scholar this work presents a collection of all the essays published by Santayana pertinent to the theme. Some of the essays are well known, such as ‘The Genteel Tradition in American Philosophy’, the ‘Genteel Tradition at Bay’ and ‘The Moral Background’ and they have frequently appeared in different publications. Other essays, such as ‘Genteel American Poetry’, ‘Materialism and Idealism’ and ‘Marginal Notes on Civilization in the United States’ are less well known and out of print. Most of the essays were written within the period of 1910-1920 and reflect the American culture of that time as well as the development of Santayana’s own thought. In all there are eight essays and one poem exemplifying this central concept of Santayana. The poem is of interest as a source for the theme of the ‘genteel tradition’, but is quite without value as poetry.