Douglas Brinkley takes us on the incredible journey of the United States – a nation formed from a vast countryside on whose fringes a few small colonies made a bold cast at freedom, then burgeoned into an expanding democracy, and ultimately flourished as a world power. From the first primitive maps outlining a New World to the faded daguerreotypes of young men in uniforms standing beside Confederate flags; to pictures of hopeful immigrant families arriving at Ellis Island; to the stirring photographs of civil rights marchers; to the terrible images of the Oklahoma City Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing – the history of America offers a stunning album of people and events.
“To understand where we are and where we may be heading as we enter a new millennium we must reflect on how civilization got to its current state of affairs…” — Douglas Brinkley
For more than four decades, American Heritage’s reputation for engaging, impeccably researched historical journalism has made it one the most respected names in American storytelling. Among its grand illustrated books are two titles that have become classics in our nation’s history: The American Heritage New History of the Civl War, written by Bruce Catton and recently revised by Pulitzer Prize winning James M. McPherson, and American Heritage New History of World War II, written by C. L. Sulzberger and recently revised by bestselling historian Stephen E. Ambrose. In the same tradition of quality comes the American Heritage History of the United States, the long-awaited illustrated history of the making of our country.
In this rich and inspiring book, the acclaimed historian Douglas Brinkley takes us on an incredible journey of the United States — a nation formed from a vast countryside on whose fringes a few small colonies made a bold cast at freedom, then burgeoned into an expanding democracy, and ultimately flourished as a world power. From the primitive maps outlining a New World to the faded daguerrotypes of young men in uniforms standing beside Confederate flags; to pictures of hopeful immigrant families arriving at Ellis Island; to the stirring photographs of civil rights marchers; to the terrible images of the Oklahoma City Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing — the history of America offers a stunning album of people and events.
With more than five hundred beautiful images and deluxe custom maps, this book is as much a delight to look at as it is absorbing and instructive to read. The illustrations, culled from public and private collections all over the world, include copious color photographs and paintings as well as sketches, etchings, and engravings. This magisterial volume will be treasured by anyone interested in our national heritage.
Published
1998
Formats and Editions
Hardcover
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Praise for American Heritage History of the United States:
“Douglas Brinkley has turned out the best of the recent decades’ one-volume histories of the United States. His keen eye and facile pen paint with a lucid narrative style a stunning portrait of our country. This is a history that captures and holds the attention with engrossing detail. Thus it is not only a fascinating volume but an important educational addition to the American chronicle.” — Walter Cronkite
“Douglas Brinkley and American Heritage have done a grand job. This is a first-rate book; fair, clear and enormously welcome.” —David McCullough
“A herculean treatise is made readable by American Heritage in its presentation of a detailed, accurate, and fascinating account of 500 years of American history. Professor Brinkley’s lucid writing and wit make this an outstanding publication for both the history buff and the scholar alike. This worthwhile volume will be a welcome addition to the bookshelves of all Americans fascinated with history or simply interested in how we evolved into the society we are today.” — Mark O. Hatfield
“What a delight it is to encounter indefatigable historian Douglas Brinkley in my dotage. His optimistic, prodigious nature conjures memories, for me, of the young Samuel Eliot Morison. Brinkley’s American Heritage: History of the United States — with its sober-minded economic thrust — is both smart and uplifting.” — Alfred Kazin
“Douglas Brinkley’s one-volume history is a riveting narrative of the unique people who have come to call themselves American. There is no dust on those pages as the author brilliantly tells our national story with skill and brevity.” — Ken Burns