- Hardcover: 400 pages
- Publisher: Crown Publications (Aug 1991)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0517032953
- ISBN-13: 978-0517032954
- Product Dimensions: 27.7 x 20.6 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,886,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Alistair Cooke's America
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'This book is as much a monument to a vanishing civilisation as a history ofthe United States.' CONTEMPORARY REVIEW (Feb 03) 'Cooke knows full well thatthe US is no utopia, but is canny enough not to let that spoil the narrative- which is little short of a celebration ... Cooke presents the reader with a feast of erudition which serves only to elevate his reputation' SLN (Scottish Legion News) (Feb/March 03) * * * * 'It is almost thirty years since Alistair Cooke's celebrated America, which acompanied the marvellous TV series. Now comes a new edition, a splendid gift or an opportunity to replace the dog-eared original languishing on the shelf. Cooke's original text stands, for reasons he explains in his preface to this lavish re-issue.' BOOKS MAGAZINE (Dec
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
A new, fully updated edition of the award-winning, bestselling classic from one of the world's most respected correspondents.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There are some books that are just so informative that no library should be without them. There are some books that are written so well that it is a positive joy to read the text. There are some people who have such a way of looking at the world that you feel comfort hearing them speak. There are people who have seen so much that their opinion is something you seek.
All of these traits are combined in this volume that only Foote's Civil War trilogy can compare with. The small stories that are routinely missed (such as the origin of "the real McCoy) and the relevence of these ordinary people making extrodinary things happen are coupled with the tales of the extraordinary people who had their ordinary vices. (Franklin's advice to take an older mistress because they are both more discreet and more grateful) Both named and unnamed he tells their tale as it fits in the piece of this puzzle of America
Unlike much of history which seems to have an agenda, Cooke's masterpiece is classical, telling a story of grandur without fawning and of warts without lambasting. It is a grand overview rather than a list of presidents, wars and laws. He captures the essense of what is importnat. It is as if he wished to give a consice guide to his compatriots in England of what facinates him about this land that he eventually settled as did many in his story.
It captures what America and Americans are very well and would be an excellent guide to any person who wants to understand us. With so many Americans ignorant of their own history it would be an even better guide to todays college or high school students to make them understand this land of their birth and how it came to be what it is.
This book is 30 years old as I write this at the time he wrote this Cooke was in his 27th year of his Letter from America Broadcast for the BBC. When you finish this book you will find yourself wanting more. Have no fear Mr Cooke is now in his 57th year of his broadcasts telling the story of America 15 minutes at a time continues. Lets hope he dictates a sequel filling in these 30 years
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The first review above (A Customer - P. Ingemi?) reflects the quality of penmanship and historical research of a personal kind that is to be found in Cooke's America, so much so that there is little left for me to add. This is no dry retelling of American history, but is a personal journey in words, based on the accompanying 13 part television series (now released on dvd)broadcast in 1974. According to Cooke, his book is more substantial than the documentary series itself because of a lesser restraint on information, but over all each is an excellent complement to the other. If you have the book, but do not yet have the series on dvd, be well advised to buy it. It is both a sheer joy and a sad reflection of how great TV documentary series were once made.
Format:Paperback
This is now a Classic and although it goes back quite some time it kept its freshness and immediacy!
it is timeless.
it is timeless.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Alistaire Cooke
This is a reprint of a previous versian that I had but it has been braught up to date. Well worth having the extra copy.
Published 15 months ago by C. I. St Johnston
Disappointingly dated
In many respects the first chapters of this book are simply wonderful, and condense everything up to the second world war into a very readable potted history of the states. Read more
Published on 9 April 2006
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