Czech, German, and Noble: Status and National Identity in Habsburg Bohemia

Further, the pursuit of scientific or learned interests helped form a nascent public sphere. Masonic lodges, salons, and other forms of learned social interaction emerged, allowing people to converse regardless of social rank. Public building projects, too, contributed to the emerging national identity. Gardens-"publicly accessible private spaces" (152)-were viewed as a way in which one could educate public taste and celebrate local flora. Art works, previously used by aristocratic families to display their own wealth, came to represent the nation's riches. The founding of the National Museum in 1818-1822 was a culminating point in such attempts to educate the public, initiating "a dialogue with the public about the identity of the national community" (163). Since any good scholarly exploration opens up new avenues of inquiry, these questions actually demonstrate the richness of [Rita Krueger]'s research. Overall, the study is an excellent depiction of the complexity of aristocratic identities, convincingly showing how some nobles used their resources in the service of the nation. Czech, German, and [Noble] certainly challenges the notion that aristocrats were not involved in the formation of a Czech national identity, and should be read by anyone interested in Czech history.