The Penguin History of the United States of America by Hugh Brogan

Hence, my attempt on this vast one-volume history of the whole shebang. It struck me that all my American history (up to LBJ, anyway) has been told to me by singers, actors, novelists, poets, sculptors, painters, dancers, directors, everyone except historians. Politically and economically, America isn’t cosy at all, not for non-Americans, and not for quite a few Americans too. At the same time, America’s politics scare me, both the internal and the external variety. Who invented – and continues to invent – modern life? America. It’s not that I’m an Americaphile, except insofar as the whole world is. And that’s okay, if it wasn’t I wouldn’t do it.

I may be English to the core, but more than half of everything I read is American probably three quarters of what I listen to is American, and, I don’t know, 90% of all the movies I watch. The first is Disney, Hollywood and rock and roll, the second Iraq, Vietnam and Fox News.

Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.America has the world caught in two unbreakable embraces, one soft, exciting, where we all want to stay and the other militarist, violent, careless of other peoples’ countries.

In a broad sweep of America's triumphant progress, it explores the period leading to Independence from the American and the British points of view, touching on permanent features of 'the American character' - the good and the bad. From early British colonisation to the Reagan years, this title captures an array of dynamic personalities and events. Hugh Brogan looks at the period leading to Independence from the American and British points of view, explores the permanent features, both good and bad, of the 'American character' and produces a synthesis of all the current research to show how the USA developed so rapidly from small beginnings to global dominance. This one-volume history - from early British colonization to the fall of President Nixon - captures all the vivid personalities and events as well as the broad sweep of America's triumphant progress.

The Penguin History of the United States of America by Hugh Brogan