LAST DAYS OF INNOCENCE, THE

IntheSpringof1917,Americawenttowarwithaninnocentdeterminationtore-maketheworld.WhenthesmokeliftedinNovember1918,thenationemergedwithitssenseofpurposeshattered,itscertaintiesshaken,andwithanewandunwelcomeself-knowledge.Seventy-fivethousandAmericansoldiersweredead,andbackhomeaPandora'sboxofsuspicionsandsurveillancehadbeenopened.TheLastDaysofInnocencerevealshowthefighttopreservefreedomabroadledtotheerosionoffreedomathome.DrawingonAmerican,British,andFrencharchivalmaterial,theauthorsrevealunplannedanduncoordinatedfieldefforts,aswellastheunsavoryactivitiesofanti-dissentgroups,fromtheCommitteeforPublicInformationtotheAnti-YellowDogLeague,includingaposseofchildrenorganizedtolistenforantiwartalkamongfamiliesandfriends.Hereisthestoryofthefifty-billion-dollarwarthatgavebirthtotheSelectiveServiceAct,threatenedlaborrights,stokedthefiresofracialandreligiousintolerance,andconcentratedthenation'swealthintofewerhandsthaneverbefore.TheLastDaysofInnocencetellstheuntoldstoryofthewarthatrudelythrustAmericansintoanuncertainfuture--awarwhoseeffectsremainwithustoday."Well-craftedineveryway...avividandauthoritativehistory."--ClevelandPlainDealer"Aneatlyplaitednarrative...richindetail.Asplendidhistory."--WashingtonTimes