In the tradition of de Tocqueville′s Democracy in America, James addresses the fundamental question of the "right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Ranging widely across all aspects of American politics, society and culture, he brings together the abstract and the concrete, integrating his analysis of American Society in transition with a broad and fascinating commentary on literature and the popular arts. The book also provides an outstanding discussion of the role of blacks, women, and intellectuals in modern America.
This long–awaited publication may be seen as the most wide–ranging expression of James′s thought, the indispensable link between his mature writings on politics and his semi–autobigraphical masterpiece, Beyond a Boundary.
