" Kazin brings a politically complex Bryan to life and vividly
re-creates the political milieu in which his supporters and
opponents operated... Kazin leaves no doubt as to his pivotal role
in the forging of modern American politics."
--Eric Arnesen, "The Chicago Tribune"
" Bryan emerges from Kazin's new biography as the founding father
of the modern Democratic Party and maybe even of modern American
politics... Kazin's attempt to see him in a modern light is
instructive, illuminating -- and engagingly written."
--David M. Shribman, "The Boston Globe"
" Kazin, a superb political historian, trains a powerful
searchlight on Bryan's career and the social and political trends
of the time."
--Richard Lingeman, "The New York Times Book Review"
" A must read... Michael Kazin, already our leading scholar of
populism, is now our best interpreter of its greatest practitioner.
It would be difficult to imagine a biography of any early 20th
century political leader more relevant to the early 21st century
than this one."
--Alan Wolfe, "The Washington Post Book World"
" A superb biography and a challenging reconsideration of Bryan's
place in U.S. political history."
--Matthew Price, "The L.A. Times Book Review"
" A powerful, timely re-evaluation... Kazin argues that Bryan's
faith-based liberalism reshaped the Democratic party and made the
New Deal possible."
--"The New Yorker"
" Most Americans, when they think of Bryan, think of the fictional
character rather than the real person. In his excellent biography,
Michael Kazin... portrays the real William Jennings Bryan, a
politicianbeloved by millions." --Leonard Boasberg, "The
Philadelphia Inquirer"
" One of the finest political biographies I have read in many
years. It might be called the passion of Bryan: a shrewd chronicle
of triumph, rejection, wandering, and finally triumph again --
although Bryan would not live to see the victory of his most
influential ideas in the New Deal. There is no better way to begin
understanding the politics of the turn of the last century than to
read this book."
--Sean Wilentz, Dayton-Stockton Professor of History and Director
of the Program in American Studies, Princeton University, and
author of "The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to
Lincoln"
" Michael Kazin's William Jennings Bryan is far more than the best
biography ever written about this titanic figure in American
history. It is a window into the aspirations, the passions, the
ideals, and the resentments of millions of rural and working-class
people for whom Bryan was, for many decades, a shining champion. It
is also a brilliant portrait of the slow evolution of populism from
a democratic vision to a defense of exclusive traditions."
--Alan Brinkley, author of "The End of Reform: New Deal Liberalism
in Recession and War"
" To understand the politics of our own time we must first
understand William Jennings Bryan. Michael Kazin gives us an
elegant study of this forgotten but seminal figure, a hero to
liberals and evangelicals alike. " --Thomas Frank, author of
"What's the Matter with Kansas"
" At a time of national retreat from leaders devoted to the common
good and a faith in government to advance social justice, Michael
Kazin's William Jennings Bryanis a superb reminder of the virtues
of the American populist tradition. Despite Bryan's flaws, which
Kazin thoughtfully analyzes, the " Great Commoner" remains an
inspiration to those who believe that we may yet fulfill the
promise of American life. "
--Robert Dallek, author of "An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy"
(1917-1963)
" Kazin' s vivid prose brings Bryan vibrantly to life as a tireless
progressive and old-school gospel evangelist. This lucid biography
gives us gripping back-story for current science-religion warfare
and suggests a possible future for religiously-inspired reform.
Must-reading for all students of American politics yesterday or
today. "
--Richard Wightman Fox, author of "Jesus in America: Personal
Savior, Cultural Hero, National Obsession"
" Kazin traces the life of this brilliant, charismatic, and flawed
giant from his boyhood in Illinois to his exciting, if futile,
campaigns for the presidency... This superbly written biography
greatly enhances our knowledge of the man and a recurring movement
in American politics."
--Jay Freeman, "Booklist" (starred)
" History that remains solidly relevant today, and a real
eye-opener for anyone who thinks that fierce debates over tax
reform, corporate power, imperialism and evolution are recent
developments in American politics and culture." --"Kirkus" (starred
review)
" Strongly recommended for public and academic libraries."
--"Library Journal," (starred review)
"Kazin brings a politically complex Bryan to life and vividly
re-creates the political milieu in which his supporters and
opponents operated... Kazin leaves no doubt as to his pivotal role
in the forging of modern American politics."
--Eric Arnesen, "The Chicago Tribune"
"Bryan emerges from Kazin's new biography as the founding father of
the modern Democratic Party and maybe even of modern American
politics... Kazin's attempt to see him in a modern light is
instructive, illuminating -- and engagingly written."
--David M. Shribman, "The Boston Globe"
"Kazin, a superb political historian, trains a powerful searchlight
on Bryan's career and the social and political trends of the
time."
--Richard Lingeman, "The New York Times Book Review"
"A must read... Michael Kazin, already our leading scholar of
populism, is now our best interpreter of its greatest practitioner.
It would be difficult to imagine a biography of any early 20th
century political leader more relevant to the early 21st century
than this one."
--Alan Wolfe, "The Washington Post Book World"
"A superb biography and a challenging reconsideration of Bryan's
place in U.S. political history."
--Matthew Price, "The L.A. Times Book Review"
"A powerful, timely re-evaluation... Kazin argues that Bryan's
faith-based liberalism reshaped the Democratic party and made the
New Deal possible."
--"The New Yorker"
"Most Americans, when they think of Bryan, think of the fictional
character rather than the real person. In his excellent biography,
Michael Kazin... portrays the real William Jennings Bryan, a
politician beloved by millions." --Leonard Boasberg, "The
Philadelphia Inquirer"
"One ofthe finest political biographies I have read in many years.
It might be called the passion of Bryan: a shrewd chronicle of
triumph, rejection, wandering, and finally triumph again --
although Bryan would not live to see the victory of his most
influential ideas in the New Deal. There is no better way to begin
understanding the politics of the turn of the last century than to
read this book."
--Sean Wilentz, Dayton-Stockton Professor of History and Director
of the Program in American Studies, Princeton University, and
author of "The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to
Lincoln"
"Michael Kazin's William Jennings Bryan is far more than the best
biography ever written about this titanic figure in American
history. It is a window into the aspirations, the passions, the
ideals, and the resentments of millions of rural and working-class
people for whom Bryan was, for many decades, a shining champion. It
is also a brilliant portrait of the slow evolution of populism from
a democratic vision to a defense of exclusive traditions."
--Alan Brinkley, author of "The End of Reform: New Deal Liberalism
in Recession and War"
"To understand the politics of our own time we must first
understand William Jennings Bryan. Michael Kazin gives us an
elegant study of this forgotten but seminal figure, a hero to
liberals and evangelicals alike." --Thomas Frank, author of "What's
the Matter with Kansas"
"At a time of national retreat from leaders devoted to the common
good and a faith in government to advance social justice, Michael
Kazin's William Jennings Bryan is a superb reminder of the virtues
of the American populist tradition. Despite Bryan's flaws, which
Kazin thoughtfullyanalyzes, the "Great Commoner" remains an
inspiration to those who believe that we may yet fulfill the
promise of American life. "
--Robert Dallek, author of "An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy"
(1917-1963)
"Kazin's vivid prose brings Bryan vibrantly to life as a tireless
progressive and old-school gospel evangelist. This lucid biography
gives us gripping back-story for current science-religion warfare
and suggests a possible future for religiously-inspired reform.
Must-reading for all students of American politics yesterday or
today."
--Richard Wightman Fox, author of "Jesus in America: Personal
Savior, Cultural Hero, National Obsession"
"Kazin traces the life of this brilliant, charismatic, and flawed
giant from his boyhood in Illinois to his exciting, if futile,
campaigns for the presidency... This superbly written biography
greatly enhances our knowledge of the man and a recurring movement
in American politics."
--Jay Freeman, "Booklist" (starred)
"History that remains solidly relevant today, and a real eye-opener
for anyone who thinks that fierce debates over tax reform,
corporate power, imperialism and evolution are recent developments
in American politics and culture." --"Kirkus" (starred review)
"Strongly recommended for public and academic libraries."
--"Library Journal," (starred review)
Ask a Question About this Product More... |