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In 1831 Tocqueville set out from post-revolutionary France on a journey across America that would take him 9 months and cover 7,000 miles. The result was DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA: a subtle and prescient analysis of the life and institutions of 19th-century America. Tocqueville's study of the strengths and weaknesses of an evolving democratic society has been quoted by every American president since Eisenhower. It remains a key point of reference for any discussion of the American nation or the democratic system.
About the Author
The French sociologist and historian, Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-59) was active in the law and served for a time as foreign minister. He also wrote L'Ancien Régime. Gerald Bevan is the translator. Issac Kramnick is Professor of Government at Cornell and edited The Federalist Papers for Penguin.
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North America gives us, in its external contours, general features easily discernible at first glance. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
North America gives us, in its external contours, general features easily discernible at first glance. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
How amazing that this book is so up-to-date about America, its attitude to religion, foreign affairs, women, education, race relations, the presidency and government! Gerald Bevan's new translation covers the famous text together with the accounts of Tocqueville's two excursions in America. This translation reflects the fluency of the original French and is, in my opinion, by far the best version to chose for this century.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a truly outstanding work, which was written in the 1830s but still has much to teach us about democracy and about America. If those two subjects were better understood today the world would be a far pleasanter place to live! In the course of his enquiry Tocqueville examines history, legal and political systems, the economy, the arts, relationships between the races and much more, in what amounts to a general reflection on human institutions under democracy. Everyone should read this book, not only Americans or those interested in America, as the need for urgent reflection on the democratic project goes much wider. And in fact, one could say that the work itself is democratic in the sense that it is jargon-free and a pleasure to read, and thus accessible to (nearly) all. Of course, no one thinker sees everything, but this is a major contribution to understanding human societies, on the way to improving them.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Tocqueville is a genius. This has everything you would want to know in it, although it is surprising sparce as regards his own first hand experiences. You must start with this book if you are learning about America, France or democracy generally. It is fascinating to see how Tocqueville evolved his argument between this book and his "Ancien Regime and the French Revolution". A masterpiece, practically history in itself.
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