About the Author

Gordon S. Wood is the Alva O. Way University Professor Emeritus at Brown University. His 1969 book, "The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787," received the Bancroft and John H. Dunning prizes and was nominated for the National Book Award. His 1992 book, "The Radicalism of the American Revolution," won the Pulitzer Prize and the Emerson Prize. His 2009 book, "Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815," won the New-York Historical Society Prize in American History. In 2011 Wood was awarded a National Humanities Medal byPresident Obama. Wood contributes regularly to the "New Republic "and the "New York Review of Books."

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Reviews

Mr. Wood is the premier student of the Founding Era.
"Wall Street Journal"
Gordon S. Wood is more than an American historian. He is almost an American institution. Wood has done more than anyone to make the era of the Revolution and early Republic into one of the liveliest periods in American history.
"The New York Times Book Review"
When Gordon Wood says anything about America, people listen. Especially when he talks about the lessons of history, as he has for more than half a century now.
"Providence Journal"
Exceptional... a remarkable study of the key chapter of American history and its ongoing influence on American character.
"Publishers Weekly "(starred review)
Cogent, beautifully written essays... A superb collection.
"Booklist "(starred review)
It s difficult to conjure another writer so at home in the period, so prepared to translate its brilliant strangeness for a modern audience. Sound, agenda-free analysis, gracefully presented.
"Kirkus Reviews"
Intellectually expansive and elegantly woven, Wood s writings are the closest thing we have to an elegant mediation between today s readers and the founding generation. Required reading for Revolutionary War enthusiasts on all levels.
"Library Journal"
[A] collection of nuanced, elegant essays. It s hard to imagine a historian better trained to write on this subject.
"American Heritage""

"Mr. Wood is the premier student of the Founding Era."
--"Wall Street Journal"

"Gordon S. Wood is more than an American historian. He is almost an American institution. Wood has done more than anyone to make the era of the Revolution and early Republic into one of the liveliest periods in American history."
--"The New York Times Book Review"

"When Gordon Wood says anything about America, people listen. Especially when he talks about the lessons of history, as he has for more than half a century now."
--"Providence Journal"

"Exceptional... a remarkable study of the key chapter of American history and its ongoing influence on American character."
--"Publishers Weekly "(starred review)

"Cogent, beautifully written essays... A superb collection."
--"Booklist "(starred review)

"It's difficult to conjure another writer so at home in the period, so prepared to translate its brilliant strangeness for a modern audience. Sound, agenda-free analysis, gracefully presented."
--"Kirkus Reviews"

"Intellectually expansive and elegantly woven, Wood's writings are the closest thing we have to an elegant mediation between today's readers and the founding generation. Required reading for Revolutionary War enthusiasts on all levels."
--"Library Journal"

"[A] collection of nuanced, elegant essays. It's hard to imagine a historian better trained to write on this subject."
--"American Heritage"

"["The Idea of America"] represent[s] the incredible range of this eminent scholar's contributions to the historiography of the Revolutionary era... Intellectually expansive and elegantly woven, Wood's writings are the closest thing we have to an elegant mediation between today's readers and the founding generation. Required reading for Revolutionary War enthusiasts on all levels."
-"Library Journal"

"It's difficult to conjure another writer so at home in the period, so prepared to translate its brilliant strangeness for a modern audience. ... Sound, agenda- free analysis, gracefully presented."
-"Kirkus Reviews"