America, Empire of Liberty (v. 1)

Volume One of David Reynolds' major BBC Radio 4 series explores the origins of contemporary USA from its beginnings to the 1860s. This epic narrative tells America's story through the voices of those who lived it - presidents and farmers, mothers and children, settlers and soldiers, slaves and Indians. The series celebrates the country's achievements but also examines its paradoxes by investigating three abiding themes of American life: empire, liberty and faith. These first thirty episodes start with the Native Americans, who arrived from Asia around 15,000 years ago. In a fascinating journey that takes in the impact of Columbus, the founding of Puritan New England, the Declaration of Independence, the slave trade and the forced relocation of the Indians, Reynolds shows how the US expanded to cover a whole continent, laying the foundations of a superpower - if the country could stay united. And that seemed a big 'if' in 1861 as the conflicts over liberty and slavery brought America to the brink of Civil War. 'Reynolds' presentation combines enthusiasm with authority, and his insightful and far-ranging text is augmented by a wealth of archive voices, from speeches to people in the street' - "The Oldie". 'Reynolds' vigorous presentation of his sweep of American history, and the interwoven voices and news reports of the time, make for striking immediacy' - "Observer".

ISBN 1405677805   DEWEY 973 ISBN13 9781405677806 (What's this?)   DEWEY edition DC22 Publisher AudioGO Limited   Part volume Liberty and Slavery Imprint BBC Audiobooks Ltd   Volumes 6 Audio CDs Format Audio CD   Published in Bath Publication date 13 Nov 2008   Academic level General Playing time (mins) 480

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