Once upon a time, nostalgia was epidemic among homesick soldiers
toggle caption George Walker IV/AP
Think back to a fond time and place in your childhood — perhaps a stroll with a parent along a waved-washed beach. The memory is a happy (and likely idealized) one, but still tinged with the bittersweet knowledge that you can never go back.
It's a complex emotion we know as nostalgia.
People experience it for their lost youth, first love and some even pine for a time they never experienced. That feeling is especially potent this time of year, as the holidays creep in.
As part of NPR's Word of the Week series, we take a look at nostalgia, its origin and how it was transformed from a 17th century malady to a 21st century marketing strategy.
Sponsor Message
It started with homesick soldiers
During
Continue Reading on NPR
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.