Joseph J. Ellis spoke about his book, Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence, at Politics & Prose on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. The summer of 1776 was a busy time for the American colonies. As the Continental Congress discussed an independent future, Britain sent a massive armada, which cruised menacingly off Staten Island in July. Ellis, the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning biographer and historian, traces the chain of events that built momentum for the Revolution. |
Steve Vogel spoke about his book, Through the Perilous Fight: Six Weeks That Saved the Nation, at Politics & Prose on Friday, June 7, 2013. Before 9/11, before Pearl Harbor, there was the burning of Washington in 1814. Led by British Admiral Cockburn, English soldiers looted the capital, forcing President Madison to flee. For six weeks the fate of the nation hung in the balance. Vogel, a Washington Post reporter specializing in military affairs and author of The Pentagon, recounts in vivid detail how the U.S. emerged victorious, with a renewed sense of purpose—and a national anthem. |
Thomas Dyja spoke about his book, The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American Dream, at Politics & Prose on Wednesday, April 24, 2013. What do Second City, Muddy Waters, Studs Terkel, and Nelson Algren have in common? Chicago roots. Hailing from Chicago himself, Dyja, an award-winning novelist, looks back at his hometown’s central role in defining post-war America, from its music, architecture, and business to its racial divisions and urban blight. You can also watch our interview with Dyja, who discusses the personality of Chicago and the national role Chicago has played, in the short interview below. |