The Story of American Freedom

FromtheRevolutiontoourowntime,freedomhasbeenAmerica'sstrongestculturalbondanditsmostperilousfaultline,abirthrightforsomeAmericansandacruelmockeryforothers.EricFonertakesfreedomnotasatimelesstruthbutasavaluewhosemeaningandscopehavebeencontestedthroughoutAmericanhistory.Hissweepingnarrativeshowsfreedomtohavebeenshapednotonlyincongressionaldebatesandpoliticaltreatisesbutalsoonplantationsandpicketlines,inparlorsandbedrooms.Hischaractersincludethewell-known-ThomasJefferson,FrederickDouglass,FranklinD.Roosevelt,andRonaldReagan-andtheanonymous-formerslaves,unionorganizers,freedomriders,andwomen'srightsadvocates.IntheendhegivesusastirringhistoryofAmericaitselffocusedonitsanimatingimpulse:freedom."Wonderfullyreadable...anexcellentchoiceforseriousreaders."NewYorkTimesBookReview