new American History books of note

I saw this type of topic on another group (thanks Garp, if you're on here too!) and thought it was a great idea, so I'm posting a similar note here.

I noticed in the Early Reviewers batch this month, John Ferling has a new book out The ascent of George Washington, (which I and 644 other people have already requested), which I am excited to take a look at.

Share with the group what new books you've recently read or are eyeing.

Phyllis Lee Levin's Abigail Adams: A Biography is out in paperback. Newly so, I think, but don't quote me on that -- it may just be that I hadn't seen it in paperback.

Edited to add: This is merely a recent acquisition. I haven't read it yet.

The Liberal Hour: Washington and the Politics of Change in the 1960s promises to be an enlightening read. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize this year, it lost out to Annette Gordon-Read's The Hemingses of Monticello, a book that has attracted wider public attention (and one that I look forward to reading at some point). But The Liberal Hour is of more immediate interest to me for its treatment of the 60s, not primarly as the age of protests but as the last time in our history when progressive reformers in the White House and Congress were able to push through landmark social legislation (Medicare and Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, etc). Hopefully, it will have something to say not only about the rise and fall of liberalism, from the 50s to the 70s, but also provide some perspective on the challenges the current administration faces.

I just finished The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride by Daniel James Brown. You know with this sort of book you can't tell what you'll get. Could be fluff, could be dry as bones that have been cracked open for their juicy marrow and then been boiled too many times... oop, sorry.

But no Brown has done a pretty good job with this. He's a good writer and takes an interdisciplinary approach, talking about Starvation studies, chemistry, and PTSD and the like. I wouldn't say the book is "rivoting" but its good history.

I just finished The Indifferent Stars Above too. I thought it was very good. The author is on Library Thing and I left him a note telling him how much I enjoyed the book. One question, though. I am not at all sure where the title comes from. I don't recall that line in the book. Perhaps I should have asked the author rather than pose the question here, but ...

Hey Steiac,

I can't seem to find my copy which is now buried under the eastern cprner of Mt. TBR, but the source is given on one of the first few pages. (I would tell you what I think it is, Shakespeare, but I'm likely to be wrong)

To Everything There Is a Season : Pete Seeger and the Power of Song by Allan Winkler, I have not read it yet but Dr. Winkler is a professor at Miami University where I am studying history. This fall Dr. Winkler will be my professor for the course, American Cultural History: Folk Music.

Native Activism in Cold War America : The Struggle for Sovereignty is another new book by a Miami professor. I haven’t got any classes scheduled with him but I feel safer if I also mention him. ;-)

Even after adding both books to my library I cannot get the touchstones to work.

Pam

There it is. It's from a Yeats poem called "A Dream of Death." Teaches me to start reading after the table of contents. Appreciate your help.

Yaeats, Shakespeer. I knew it was one of them-there talented fokes.

(I still haven't found my copy)

I am looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of Champlain's Dream - it looks really cool. I gave it as a gift knowing that it was right up the recipient's ally, but want to get another copy for myself to read.

I thought this one looked interesting too.



And I've boldly asked the publisher for a review copy.

=================

And it's arrived. SgtBigg has a copy as well and he's ahead of me. We both lament the lack of footnotes.

There is a new volume of the Oxford History of the United States scheduled for release. Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815 written by Gordon S. Wood. The release date is October 26, 2009. That's a long wait it will give me time to read some other volumes in the series I recently bought. So far it is an excellent series.

Agree with WildBill that the Oxford University History of the U.S. is an excellent series.

I too am eagerly awaiting the release of this sure-to-be classic by Gordon S. Wood. Wouldn't mind finding out when and where Professor Wood will be available for lecture/booksigning events, if at all. Any thoughts on how to find out? Would surely be worth the roadtrip to New England (most likely venues), especially given the time of year for his book's release.