Serious Nonsense

Discover the rich cultural tapestry of Pennsylvania German heritage in Serious Nonsense by William Wilkinson Donner, published by Pennsylvania State University Press in 2016. This insightful exploration delves into the unique versammlinge, or meetings, where participants come together to celebrate and preserve their customs and traditions. Spanning 208 pages, Donner argues that these gatherings, conducted in the Pennsylvania German Deitsch language, are deeply rooted in American communicative styles that hark back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a time before the dominance of mass and electronic media. Serious Nonsense offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the social life and customs of the Pennsylvania Dutch community, making it a must-read for those interested in American cultural studies and heritage preservation.