Decision in Philadelphia - by Christopher Collier (Paperback)

About the Book

Fifty-five men met in Philadelphia in 1787 to write a document that would create a country and change a world. Here is a remarkable rendering of that fateful time, told with humanity and humor. Includes a complete copy of the Constitution.

Book Synopsis

A remarkable, readable, and thoroughly authoritative account of a landmark event in American history: the creation of the Constitution. This edition includes the complete copy of the U.S. Constitution.

"A bold, fast-paced narrative . . . that will appeal to a variety of audiences."--The New York Times Book Review

"A fact-filled account of the period that manages, much like the play 1776, to bring alive figures from old oil paintings."--The Philadelphia Inquirer

At the end of the American Revolution, Americans were sure that they were a special people with a special role in history.

But it had all gone wrong. Harassed by foreign nations it could not defend itself against, beset by international conflicts no one seemed able to resolve, staggering under enormous debt, the United States was on the verge of dissolution. And so, in 1787, fifty-five men met in Philadelphia to create a document that has since become the cornerstone of our society and democracy--the Constitution.

In Decision in Philadelphia, eighteenth-century America comes alive, and the very human qualities of the men who framed the document are brought provocatively into focus. Here, find the awe-inspiring George Washington, the reticent James Madison, the perverse Alexander Hamilton, and many lesser known but pivotal figures.

A celebration of how and why our Constitution came into being, Decision in Philadelphia is also a testament to the American spirit at its finest.

Review Quotes

"A fascinating suspense story."--United Press International

"The Colliers have written a useful and readable introduction to that 'most remarkable work.'"--The Washington Post Book World

"Highly recommended . . . the best popular history of the Constitutional Convention available . . . casting many of the Founding Fathers in a new light."­--Library Journal

"A bold, fast-paced narrative . . . that will appeal to a variety of audiences."--The New York Times Book Review

"A fact-filled account of the period that manages, much like the play 1776, to bring alive figures from old oil paintings."--The Philadelphia Inquirer

"A fascinating study of the talented, bright young men who, with all their foibles, prejudices, and varying temperaments, managed to create history by drafting the Constitution of the United States over one long hot summer in Philadelphia in 1787."--Baltimore Daily Record

"A good-spirited, lucid, vigorous book."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Well organized and lively, providing and engaging popular history of an important epoch."--Cleveland Plain Dealer

"An easy-to-read recounting of the intriguing story of the birth of the document . . . offers clear insights into the men and what they sought to accomplish."--Richmond Times-Dispatch

About the Author

Christopher Collier is an author and historian. He attended Clark University and Columbia University, where he earned his PhD. He was the official Connecticut State Historian from 1984 to 2004 and is now professor of history emeritus at the University of Connecticut. He is the brother of James Lincoln Collier, with whom he has written a number of novels, most of which are based on historic events. His books have been nominated for several awards, including the Newbery Honor and the Pulitzer Prize.