Biography: adventurers and explorers Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFollowing on from the author's autobiography, The Life of My Choice, this book provides a record of Thesiger's 30 years in Kenya. Since his first visit to Kenya in 1960, Thesiger has made a series of long journeys on foot with camels to Lake Turkana, Marsabit and other remote areas.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisJane Austen''s reputation rests on the six novels she wrote in her short life - enduringly popular novels which have become part of the fabric of English life, and which have reached new audiences through recent dramatisations on screen and stage. This book, which draws on her letters, describes Jane''s life in the vicarage at Steventon and later at Bath and Chawton, and her relationships with family and friends - especially her beloved sister, Cassandra, and the engaging Tom Lefroy (who it was rumoured was the love of her life). It also describes the parties and balls in country houses and assembly rooms which she attended and the detail of nineteenth-century life which she so sharply observed and which provided the background to her novels. This book is a pleasure for anyone wanting to understand the life of one of our great novelists.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new edition of the classic 1964 biography of Queen Victoria, reissued for the 200th anniversary of her birth.Trade ReviewIt is hard to imagine how Lady Longford's detailed and vivid volume could have been bettered . . . scholarly yet racily readable, witty yet wise * Sunday Times *Gives us more than the general reader has ever had, revealing the Queen as a character at once simple & complex, humble & authoritarian * Daily Telegraph *So sanely and attractively written with each episode blending so easily into the next that the reader is soon carried along in fascination * Financial Times *[Queen Victoria] has in Lady L. her fullest and best-informed, most sensible and sympathetic biographer * The Times *A full, authoritative study -- Jane Ridley * The Spectator *Dazzlingly readable, and very enjoyable -- Stella GibbonsVery few biographies which have reached the public in recent years can have as good a claim to be called "definitive" as has Elizabeth Longford's life of Queen Victoria * New York Books *Longford has brought Queen Victoria to life again, and presents to a new generation of readers one of the most truly remarkable personalities of history with scrupulous care, fidelity and wit * The Spectator *One of the best I have ever read -- Noel Coward

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this sequel to Fugitive Days, Ayers charts his life after the Weather Underground, when he becomes the GOP’s flaunted “domestic terrorist,” a “public enemy.”   Labeled a domestic terrorist by the McCain campaign in 2008 and used by the radical right in an attempt to castigate Obama for pallin' around with terrorists, Bill Ayers is in fact a dedicated teacher, father, and social justice advocate with a sharp memory and even sharper wit.  Public Enemy tells his story from the moment he and his wife, Bernardine Dohrn, emerged from years on the run and rebuilt their lives as public figures, often celebrated for their community work and much hated by the radical right. In the face of defamation by conservative media, including a multimillion-dollar campaign aimed solely at demonizing Ayers, and in spite of frequent death threats, Bill and Bernardine stay true to their core beliefs in the power of protest, demonst

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.   Appearing in paperback for the first time—with twenty arresting new photos and an extensive Q&A with the author—Unbroken is an unforgettable testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit, brought vividly to life by Seabiscuit author Laura Hillenbrand.Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography and the Indies Choice Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year award   “Extraordinarily moving . . . a powerfully drawn survival epic.”—The Wall Street Journal   “[A] one-in-a-billion story . . . designed to wrench from self-respecting critics all the blurby adjectives we normally try to avoid: It is amazing, unforgettable, gripping, harrowing, chilling, and inspiring.”—New York   “Staggering . . . mesmerizing . . . Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page.”—People   “A meticulous, soaring and beautifully written account of an extraordinary life.”—The Washington Post   “Ambitious and powerful . . . a startling narrative and an inspirational book.”—The New York Times Book Review  “Magnificent . . . incredible . . . [Hillenbrand] has crafted another masterful blend of sports, history and overcoming terrific odds; this is biography taken to the nth degree, a chronicle of a remarkable life lived through extraordinary times.”—The Dallas Morning News   “An astonishing testament to the superhuman power of tenacity.”—Entertainment Weekly   “A tale of triumph and redemption . . . astonishingly detailed.”—O: The Oprah Magazine   “[A] masterfully told true story . . . nothing less than a marvel.”—Washingtonian   “[Hillenbrand tells this] story with cool elegance but at a thrilling sprinter’s pace.”—Time   “Hillenbrand [is] one of our best writers of narrative history. You don’t have to be a sports fan or a war-history buff to devour this book—you just have to love great storytelling.”—Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive English-language biography of Emperor Huizong corrects the prevailing view of this ruler as a decadent political failure who lost the throne to invaders. Ebrey recasts the artistically gifted emperor as passionate and paradoxical, yet genuinely ambitiousif too much soin pursuing glory for his flourishing realm.Trade ReviewEbrey, a master historian of this period with an acute sense of the poignant and tragic, shows us, in this first English-language biography of Huizong, one of the most brilliantly cultured monarchs ever to have lived, and recounts his miserable end… Patricia Ebrey’s scholarly powers are amazing. I can think of few historians—Chinese or Western—of traditional China who could exceed or even match her knowledge of the arts so widely patronized and practiced by Huizong, from poetry and brushwork to music and gardening. Her ability to evaluate Song and later sources is a model for all scholars. Such books are an intense pleasure to read. -- Jonathan Mirsky * Literary Review *[An] impressive new biography of Emperor Huizong by Patricia Buckley Ebrey, a respected scholar of Song China. If you feel you know about Henry VIII but know nothing of the history of early China, this book is essential. -- Robin Lane Fox * Financial Times *Constitutes the most comprehensive English-language work on the pivotal figure, whose rule saw a blossoming of art and culture but also the near-total collapse of Song dominance over southern China. But Ebrey also challenges some long-held assessments of Huizong’s rule, including the idea that Huizong was a decadent ruler whose commitment to the arts distracted him from political and military concerns… Besides providing a vivid portrait of a complicated man who, at the height of his reign, was arguably the most powerful person in the world, Ebrey provides thick and fascinating context at every turn, including attention to the important role of women in the Song court. -- Brendan Driscoll * Booklist *Fascinating… In history, Huizong is often maligned as a most self-indulgent sovereign, siring at least 65 children while on the throne with multiple partners and spending a prodigious amount of wealth on his building projects. But he was also a rare talent who excelled in such highly esteemed art forms as poetry, calligraphy, and painting and was credited with inventing the elegant ‘thin-gold’ style of calligraphy. -- V. C. Xiong * Choice *Since he suffered military defeat and spent his final years as a captive of the Jurchens, Emperor Huizong (1082–1135), who ruled from 1100 to 1125, is remembered in Chinese history as a failure. Ebrey offers a more nuanced interpretation of his reign, in this first English-language biography of this Song Dynasty (960–1279) emperor… This is recommended reading for all students of Chinese history. Through the examination of this complicated ruler, Ebrey sheds light on the nature of monarchy in China, thus providing readers not only with a nuanced portrait of this emperor but a better understanding of how the political system of imperial China functioned. -- Joshua Wallace * Library Journal *[Ebrey] showcases the great achievements Huizong made in culture and art: he worked toward administrative and educational reform; he produced poetry, hymns, and paintings that centered on Daoist themes; and he was ‘an avid builder of temples and gardens.’ Ebrey’s depictions of court life are masterfully detailed and she focuses on six grand projects that reflected the Emperor’s range of interests and talents: a new ritual code; a new Daoist canon; visual documentation of auspicious signs; collections of cultural treasures; the Bright Hall; and the Northeast Marchmount. The portrait does not exclude the Emperor’s fall from power, but it depicts Huizong’s acceptance of defeat… Historians will find Ebrey’s text of interest as a revisionist one that appreciates the richness of Chinese traditions. * Publishers Weekly *Emperor Huizong demonstrates both Ebrey’s outstanding skill as a scholar and the amazing depths to which she delved in her study. Given her unparalleled knowledge of Huizong and his court, her book will remain both a unique accomplishment and an enlightening contribution to our understanding of the relationship between a ruler and the culture and politics of his reign. Her work is to be commended. -- Hugh R. Clark, Ursinus CollegeI feel certain that all historians will welcome Emperor Huizong, since it intermeshes the personal with the political, the policies with the man. By trying to understand what motivated Huizong to pursue an ambitious agenda of cultural renaissance and political reform, Ebrey adds a new dimension to our understanding of a ruler who still instills passions, both positive and negative. -- Richard L. Davis, Lingnan UniversityLong depicted as a feckless ruler who brought about the downfall of the Northern Song, Huizong emerges in this magisterial study as an emperor fully in control of the world around him and dedicated to perfecting the art of rule. Historians of China will admire how Ebrey’s forensic approach replaces one-sided myths about Huizong’s rule with a comprehensive picture of emperor-centered court life. Above all, Ebrey tells a riveting story; her portrayal has all the power of a great novel. This book is quite simply superb. -- Paul Jakov Smith, Haverford College

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the 1960s to the 1990s, seven members of the Quimpo family dedicated themselves to the anti-Marcos resistance in the Philippines, sometimes at profound personal cost.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book Vendler brings her remarkable skills to bear on a number of Stevens’s short poems. She shows us that this most intellectual of poets is in fact the most personal of poets; that his words are not devoted to epistemological questions alone but are also “words chosen out of desire.”Trade Review[This book] tells the reader a good deal more about Wallace Stevens’s poetry and Stevens as a poet than many a weighty tome… The shining merit of these lectures is their capacity to elucidate single poems, some familiar anthology pieces, others much less familiar, so that they stand alone as comprehensible entities. The key to this success is the devotion that has accompanied her patience, a devotion that responds, in particular, to the warmth and sadness, the emotional depth, that Vendler finds in Stevens… Those readers who have sensed both the urgency of feeling and the forlornness in Stevens’s poems, but have found the obliquities of his manner and diction often impenetrable, will be grateful for the tact and moderation of these fresh interpretations. Their special achievements are that they convince, movingly and with a simplicity not often found in Stevens commentary, and that they then leave the poem to reassemble in the mind as wholly itself. -- Lucy Beckett * Times Literary Supplement *[Vendler] has found the right way to talk about [Stevens], and is quite right to say that he is a genuinely misunderstood poet. On the very late poems she is exceptionally good and provides some reasons for the belief (which I share) that they are great poems indeed… She writes throughout with admirable firmness… Altogether this little book seems to me a triumph. -- Frank Kermode

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis''This captivating account . . . is the story of an ordinary soldier, but an extraordinary man. I commend this book most warmly.''Richard Dannatt, General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL, Chief of the General Staff 2006-9''The amazing account of a young man, Neville ''Timber'' Wood, who, despite fighting in many of the major engagements of the Second World War, including Dunkirk, El Alamein and D-Day, survived to become a much-loved husband and father . . . brilliantly written . . . I highly recommend it''Eleanor TomlinsonThe son of a Hull butcher, Neville ''Timber'' Wood volunteered in 1939, at the age of eighteen, to join the British Army''s Tyne-Tees 50th Northumbrian Division. Timber was in many ways an entirely unremarkable soldier - he won no medals for gallantry, though he exhibited conspicuous bravery day after day, for years, and he rose no higher through the ranks than Lance Corporal. Nonetheless, he had an extraordinary wTrade ReviewA time when innocent lives were threatened by a ruthless enemy, when people of all ages lived in fear. Sound familiar? No it's not 2020, but 1939, and a generation of young men and women rallied to the cause to fight fascism, oppression and tyranny so that future generations could have their freedom and hopefully live in peace. A Soldier's Story is the amazing account of one such young man, Neville 'Timber' Wood, who, despite fighting in many of the major engagements of the Second World War, including Dunkirk, El Alamein and D-Day, survived to become a much-loved husband and father. It's brilliantly written and recounts the courage, determination, dedication and, somewhat surprisingly, the humour of the soldiers involved. I highly recommend it. -- Eleanor Tomlinson

Read more less

Book SynopsisDraws together Karl Koenig's thoughts on the enigma of Kaspar Hauser, as well as exploring Koenig's deep connection to the young man.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRosa Luxemburg holds a fascination as a radical socialist committed to democratic values, and a woman whose charismatic personality and impassioned speeches inspired her followers without resort to bureaucratic organization. Mathilde Jacob was her friend and assistant, and writes this biography.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWidely regarded as one of the great Aboriginal leaders of the modern era, Rob Riley was at the centre of debates that have polarised views on race relations in Australia: national land rights, the treaty, deaths in custody, self-determination, the justice system, native title and the Stolen Generations. He tragically took his own life in 1996, weighed down by the unresolved traumas of his exposure to institutionalisation, segregation and racism, and his sense of betrayal by the Australian political system to deliver justice to Aboriginal people. His death shocked community leaders and ordinary citizens alike. Set against the tumultuous background of racial politics in an unreconciled nation, the book explores Rob''s rise and influence as an Aboriginal activist. Drawing on perspectives from history, politics and psychology, this work explores Rob''s life as a ''moral protester'' and the challenges he confronted in trying to change the destiny of a nation. Rob Riley''s belief that he had

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Dr. Martin Luther King arrived in Selma, Alabama, in January, 1965 to organize peaceful demonstrations against discriminatory voting, Sheyann Webb was aged eight and Rachel West Nelson aged nine. This is their account of the events of the winter of 1965 which changed American history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisStirring and heart-wrenching, this is the extraordinary story of a visionary who has elevated these bright sparks and, through education, given them hope to rise above crippling poverty.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEmotional, moving, and powerful, Every Last Tie is the highly personal memoir of David Kaczynski—brother of Ted Kaczynski, aka the Unabomber—in which he discusses his family, comes to terms with his brother's crimes, and meditates on the possibilities for reconciliation and maintaining family bonds.Trade Review"Compelling and quietly dramatic, the author's story, which is followed by a brief afterword by psychiatrist James Knoll, seeks not to excuse his brother but rather to humanize him. As Knoll suggests, understanding the mentally ill 'with an open heart' is an activity in which not only affected family members, but also the whole of society must engage for the good of all. Powerfully provocative reading." * Kirkus Reviews *"David Kaczynski’s reflective and resolutely unsensational memoir reveals how difficult it was to accept even the possibility that his older brother, Theodore, might be a terrorist." -- Scott McLemee * Inside Higher Ed *"In Every Last Tie, Mr. Kaczynski gives a compelling personal account of his relations with his brother and the anguish he experienced upon realizing that Ted was one of the most wanted terrorists in America." -- Edward Jay Epstein * Wall Street Journal *"This slim, intriguing book is the story of a family whose two sons lead different lives. David Kaczynski's voice is quietly thoughtful, and his writing is lovely; he ranges from family anecdote to psychological puzzle to philosophical musing while retaining an even tone. Every Last Tie is both a straightforward story and a complex consideration of an extremely difficult one." -- Julia Jenkins * Shelf Awareness *"[R]emarkable for its slenderness, humility and tact. ... Kaczynski devotes a thoughtful, affectionate chapter to each member of his immediate family." -- Susan Choi * Washington Post *"Every Last Tie is extraordinarily insightful—but also instructive. By analyzing his own capacity for causing pain, David brings his brother close enough to learn something from him." -- Malcolm Harris * The New Republic *"[T]he perspective on these events is obviously somewhat different when offered directly from a family member, not filtered through the eyes of a reporter. ... [Kaczynski] succeeds at the most difficult task of a book like this, writing about his brother’s victims with sensitivity and restraint." -- Michelle Dean * The Guardian *"The book is an admirable attempt to examine Ted’s early life, offering us glimpses of a more psychological humanity. Most important, David reveals the roots of Ted’s affinity for nature and his increasing alienation from a world that he saw as driven by technological advancement and a digital revolution. ... [M]any of the recollections are revealingly intimate instances of a precocious but troubled boy." -- Nathan Smith * Pacific Standard *"We already knew that the younger Kaczynski was a compassionate and ethical man–he turned in his brother, but only after he thought that the death penalty was off the table. This memoir reinforces what it took for him to lead authorities to Ted, and offers ways for the rest of us to move forward with empathy." -- Kel Munger * Lit/Rant *Table of ContentsPreface xi 1. Missing Parts 1 2. Life Force 31 3. Ghost within Me 61 4. North Star 81 Afterword / Dr. James L. Knoll IV, MD 105 Acknowledgments 137 Index 139

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“I am humbled by the extraordinary spirituality that shines throughout Immaculée Ilibagiza’s story of terror, endurance, healing, and forgiveness. As a Rwandan, I am proud that we can look beyond the misconceived differences that resulted in the murder of so many of our children, men, and women in 1994. Immaculée’s account of genocide survival is truly astonishing. It gives us hope of overcoming the divisions deliberately created by those with self-serving agendas and no thought for humanity. Everyone should read this story—survivors as well as perpetrators. I hope that all can experience Immaculée’s profound spiritual transformation and be inspired to work for a united and lasting nation.”— Jeannette Kagame, First Lady of the Republic of Rwanda “In 1994, Rwandan native Ilibagiza was [24] years old and home from college to spend Easter with her devout Catholic family when the death of Rwanda’s Hutu president sparked a three-month slaughter of [more than] one million ethnic Tutsis. She survived by hiding in a Hutu pastor’s tiny bathroom with seven other starving women for 91 cramped, terrifying days. This searing first-hand account of Ilibagiza’s experience cuts two ways: her description of the evil that was perpetrated, including the brutal murders of her family members, is soul-numbingly devastating, yet the story of her unquenchable faith and connection to God throughout the ordeal uplifts and inspires. This book is a precious addition to the literature that tries to make sense of humankind’s seemingly bottomless depravity and counterbalancing hope in an all-powerful, loving God.”— Publishers Weekly “Left to Tell is for anyone who is weary of the predictable ‘eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth’ trance most of the world suffers from. Immaculée Ilibagiza breaks that spell by bravely quelling the storm within, and contacting a force so powerful that it allows her to calm the storm ‘without,’ and more important, to forgive the ‘unforgivable.’ Her story is an inspiration to anyone who is at odds with a brother, a nation, or themselves.”— Judith Garten, teacher and counselor of The 50/50Work and a child of the WWII Holocaust “This book has renewed my faith in God and the Universe in a profound and real way that has changed me forever.”— Christiane Northrup, M.D., the author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom “An inspirational, life-altering book. Once you turn that first page, you’re changed forever. You will never forget Immaculée and what it means to embrace life in the darkest of times.” — Cindy Pearlman, New York Times Syndicate “Immaculée Ilibagiza’s gift of forgiveness to the perpetrators of the unthinkable acts revealed in this book is just one of the extraordinary examples of her unwavering courage. This book moved me in unimaginable ways, and reminded me once again about the immense grace that is born out of faith and forgiveness.” — Denise Linn, the author of If I Can Forgive, So Can You “Reading this book has truly changed my life—not in some distant future, but right now! I can’t even describe my feelings, but they have shifted things inside me in such a way that I just can’t find the words. This is a book that defies adequate description.”— Vimala Rodgers, author and motivational speaker “Immaculée’s story is totally gripping from first to last page. It’s such an important work that I don’t want to just describe it as a page-turner . . . but it is. This is a book that will stay with me forever.”— Al Burton, writer, director, and creator of numerous hit TV shows “Left to Tell reminds us that we are all sons and daughters of God; that with faith, miracles will always appear; and that forgiveness is the key to freedom. A must-read for all of us in these troubled times.”— Colette Baron-Reid, the author of Remembering the Future “Left to Tell is an incredibly important story. It addresses both the best and the worst aspects of our humanity. Immaculée is a living example of the undefeatable human spirit! Her story is timeless.”— Steve Kalafer, three-time Academy Award–nominated producer

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsCalendar of DocumentsList of Editorial HeadnotesList of MapsPrefaceChronology of Thomas A. Edison, January 1888–December 1889Editorial Policy and User's GuideEditorial SymbolsList of Abbreviations–1– January–March 1888 (Docs. 3128–3172)–2– April–June 1888 (Docs. 3173–3219)–3– July–September 1888 (Docs. 3220–3266)–4– October–December 1888 (Docs. 3267–3304)–5– January–March 1889(Docs. 3305–3338)–6– April–June 1889 (Docs. 3339–3372) 594–7– July–September 1889 (Docs. 3373–3419)–8– October–December 1889 (Docs. 3420–3458)Appendix 1. Edison's Autobiographical NotesAppendix 2. Edison's Draft List of Inventions for Henry VillardAppendix 3. List of Edison's "Dead Experiments for 1888"Appendix 4. Laboratory Experimental Staff, 1888–1889Appendix 5. Edison's U.S. Patent Applications, 1888–1889BibliographyCreditsIndex

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn activist who disdained the women’s rights and antislavery movements, Dix, an old-line Whig, sought to promote national harmony and became the only New England social reformer to work successfully in the lower South right up to the eve of secession.Trade Review[Dorothea Dix] is the story of a woman who held that 'a wholesome moral environment, with or without physicians, could restore the spiritual stability of the insane'...This 'moral treatment' of insanity was based on Miss Dix's religious view of life (she was a Unitarian). During her long life (1802-1887) she was an author of children's books, a teacher, a prison reformer, the moral and political force behind the creation of many mental hospitals, and superintendant of women nurses for the Union Army during the Civil War...[Dorothea Dix is] a sound scholarly biography of a formidable American woman. * Washington Times *The strengths of Brown's biography are obvious: it is impressively researched and well written; it provides insights into Dix's career; and it offers a window into the complex cultural world of that era. The most original part of the book lies in the detailed analysis of Dix's failure to secure federal land grants to endow state mental hospitals and her abortive role as superintendent of nurses during the Civil War; both episodes illuminate the sources of her career and the fragility of her moral ideology. Brown's biography will appeal most to scholars seeking the define the character and ideology of mid-nineteenth-century social activism...It is clear that Brown has made in important contribution, and future scholars will profit from his insights. -- Gerald N. Grob * Journal of American History *Dorothea Lynde Dix's singular career to improve the condition of the mentally ill has received a great deal of recent scholarly attention. Thomas J. Brown suggests that there is more to be said, and he traces her life in revisionist ways, quietly amending earlier accounts...Brown covers [her life] with rich insight and sensitivity to his subject. He writes convincingly and well. He is well versed in the historiography of American politics, gender relations, and social reform, and he uses them well to place Dix in her time and role. This is an excellent first book. -- Joel H. Silbey * Journal of Illinois History *The most famous American woman reformer of her time, Dorothea Dix was a monomaniac, possessed of a personality and manner that made friends sometimes prefer sinners to a saint. Nevertheless, Brown declines to psychologize. Grounded in a persuasively sober reading of Dix's voluminous correspondence and the papers of her friends...Brown stresses her commitment to the moral imperatives of Unitarianism. His perspective is particularly helpful when he positions within antebellum sectional conflicts over federal land policy Dix's long campaign to get through Congress a land-grant bill to aid state mental hospitals. And he offers a sympathetic account of Dix's Civil War volunteer work, when her expectation of being the American Florence Nightingale came so sadly to naught...If one must choose just one biography, his book should have the edge. -- A. Graebner * Choice *This biography of the great American reformer is a good reminder that not all influential women in nineteenth-century America were seething feminists who demanded revolution or nothing...This excellent biography uses an enormous range of materials and combines a balanced approach with a pleasant and readable style. * Contemporary Review [UK] *This well written and copiously researched work presents a sympathetic and intimate portrait of one of the best-known reformers in antebellum America...What Brown presents is a surprisingly intimate portrait that still acknowledges Dix's many shortcomings--her limited view of women's rights, her blindness on the issue of slavery, and her lingering nativism. Despite Dix's personal limitations, however, Brown recognizes her many successes in convincing parsimonious legislatures to build asylums and putting the plight of the mentally ill on a national stage. Brown tells a story that is closely focused on Dix, but also manages to reveal valuable information about education, religion, medical professionalism, women's history and the political quagmire of antebellum America. -- Stephan D. Andrews * Journal of the Early Republic *In his definitive biography of 'the country's most famous benevolent heroine,' Thomas J. Brown presents a compelling portrait of Dix's work as an advocate for the insane. No mere account of a New England 'busybody,' Brown's careful and thoughtful biography traces the life and times of a rigidly conventional woman who, through force of will, forged a most unconventional career. * New England Quarterly *Table of Contents* Preface * Almost Alone in This Wide * Fixed as Fate * Moral Power * I Tell What I Have Seen! * This Mighty Vortex of Labor * A Happiness Which Goes with You * The Property of the People * A National Work * The Moral Horizon of a Unitarian Minister * The American Invader * Our People Need to Suffer * Downright Madness * A Huge Wild Beast Has Consumed My Life * At Last * Notes * Acknowledgments * Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Grand Prix de la Biographie Politique""Winner of the Prix littéraire de biographie historique Brantôme""A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""A fascinating story. . . . Zunz’s account of Beaumont and Tocqueville’s journey and the subsequent writing of Democracy in America is riveting."---Lynn Hunt, New York Review of Books"[A] superbly written biography. . . . Accessible and erudite."---Stephen W. Sawyer, Times Literary Supplement"Zunz has written what must surely be the definitive account of the public life of Alexis de Tocqueville."---Alan Ryan, Literary Review"A masterpiece."---Peter McPhee, Australian Book Review"This biography gives us, often with just a few telling strokes, the ambitious but depressive young aristocrat . . . the Romantic literary self-creator . . . and the liberal politician.""---Jedediah Britton-Purdy, New Republic"Zunz, the foremost living Tocqueville expert, sensitively and masterfully examines the Frenchman’s life in full. . . . Engaging and informative."---Michael M. Rosen, Commentary"As a narrative biography, Olivier Zunz’s The Man Who Understood Democracy succeeds tremendously. The details of Tocqueville’s life—and the events he lived through—are rendered with engaging clarity."---Paul Sagar, The Critic"An informative biography. . . . Zunz explains what Tocqueville learned—and what he failed to notice—during his travels throughout the United States. . . . Zunz also provides a splendid account of Tocqueville’s career as a practical politician in France."---Glenn C. Altschuler, Minneapolis Star-Tribune"A major new biography . . . [Zunz] is ideally matched to his subject. . . . [Tocqueville] could not have a more deeply knowledgeable biographer."---Brooke Allen, Hudson Review"An exhaustively researched and discretely focused biography."---Barton Swaim, Wall Street Journal"The Man Who Understood Democracy must now stand as the authoritative biography of Alexis de Tocqueville, far surpassing the achievements of earlier biographers such as Hugh Brogan. From start to finish, it is elegantly written, judicious, erudite, and a hugely insightful and informative read."---Jeremy Jennings, Tocqueville21"A richly detailed intellectual biography. . . . Wide-ranging and meticulously argued." * Publishers Weekly *"Magisterial. . . . [A] virtuosic account of Tocqueville’s life and work."---Tarek Masoud, Journal of Democracy"A wide-ranging study of the life and thought of the French aristocrat. . . . [An] astute biography." * Kirkus Reviews *"An outstanding new biography of Alexis de Tocqueville that is sure to be the standard for years to come." * Choice *"A self-recommending biography of one of the greatest social science thinkers. Easy to read, and good for both the generalist and specialist reader."---Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution"Olivier Zunz’s The Man Who Understood Democracy is an excellent biography of this major figure of political philosophy. It is well-written and judicious in its use of detail."---Theodore Dalrymple, Law & Liberty"Tocqueville has a lot to offer us. The publication of this biography is as much an occasion to engage with his ideas as it is to be inspired by his longing for truth and his commitment to creating conditions conducive to human flourishing."---Suyash Rai, Carnegie India

Read more less