America, Empire of Liberty - by David Reynolds (Paperback)

About the Book

First published as "America, empire of liberty: a new history" by Allen Lane, 2009.

Book Synopsis

"The best one-volume history of the United States ever written" (Joseph J. Ellis), now updated to cover the Obama and Trump presidencies
In America, Empire of Liberty, prizewinning historian David Reynolds offers a single-volume account spanning the entire course of US history, from 1776 to today. He demonstrates how tensions between empire and liberty have often been resolved by faith. Both evangelical Protestantism and the larger belief in the nation's righteousness, he explains, have energized American politics for centuries and driven the country's expansion.
In this new edition, Reynolds also addresses America's turbulent recent history. From the 2008 financial crash to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, he recounts the dramas of change and crisis at home and abroad during the Obama and Trump presidencies, as well as ongoing cultural conflicts over race and identity. In an uncertain era, America, Empire of Liberty offers essential insight into our nation's past.

Review Quotes

"Concise and still-inclusive...teeming...an evenhanded distillation of America's story from a singular outside observer."--Kirkus

"Dazzlingly sweeping yet stippled with detail, this one-volume narrative runs from 1776 to Obama's election, serving up fresh insights along the way."--American History Magazine

"In an animated overview up to the present time, Cambridge historian Reynolds (In Command of History) captures the sprawling chronicle of a nation forged from the fires of revolution, populated by immigrants and constantly evolving politically and culturally... Most readers will find Reynolds's epic overview provocative and enjoyable."--Publishers Weekly

"Let us not mince words...this is the best one-volume history of the United States ever written...At least on the face of it, no single mind can master this mountain of material, avoid the almost-inevitable factual blunders, negotiate the long-standing scholarly controversies, and control the narrative in clear and at-times-lyrical prose. But that is precisely what Reynolds has done...[A] remarkable tour of the American past."--The National Interest

About the Author

David Reynolds is professor of international history at Christ's College, Cambridge. A regular visitor to the United States for forty years, he is the multiple prizewinning author of thirteen books ranging across the modern world, including In Command of History and, most recently, Island Stories. He lives in Cambridge, England.