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The cities of central Europe, among them Berlin, Budapest, Hamburg, Vienna and Prague, went through a period of phenomenological growth during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their rapid expansion and growing economic importance made their citizens aware of the need to manage the fabric and culture of the urban environment, while burgeoning nationalism and the development of local and international tourism constructed cities as showcases for national and regional identity. The essays in this volume focus on citizens' perceptions of their city and how that determined conservation and development. Competing visions of how city and nation should represent themselves were advanced by different social groups, by commercial interests and by local and national political authorities. The contributors explore the way in which various urban projects articulated a range of interests and allegiances, whether through architecture, the design of public places, the founding of educational and cultural institutions, or the rules governing the conduct of the inhabitants. The volume is introduced by Malcolm Gee, Tim Kirk and Jill Steward who provide an historical overview which establishes a context for the exchange of ideas and competition between the cities of central Europe during this period.