Masur's book is both sweeping and concise, offering an immersion in American history, from the pre-colonial era to the current moment, and covering all of the main themes and defining events. At its core the book is guided by those whose vision of America's potential has been fulfilled, as well as by those whose dreams remained unrealized but still essential to the country's identity.
Set against the backdrop of Boston's racial tensions in 1976, the narrative centers on a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph capturing a violent protest moment. Louis P. Masur delves into the lives of those involved, providing a comprehensive exploration of the incident's impact on race relations in Boston and beyond. By examining the photograph's significance, the book highlights the broader themes of identity, power, and the role of imagery in shaping societal change during a turbulent era in American history.
More than one hundred and fifty years after the Civil War began, its hold on the American imagination has not abated. This Very Short Introduction offers a concise history of the era and serves as a necessary introduction to dramatic events that fundamentally reshaped the nation.
Focusing on the year 1831, Louis Masur explores its significant yet often overlooked impact on American history. While major events like wars and economic crises are well-known, this book highlights the quieter moments that have shaped the nation. Masur delves into the cultural and social changes of the time, revealing how 1831 played a crucial role in influencing the trajectory of the United States. Through detailed analysis, he uncovers the interconnectedness of historical events and their lasting effects on American society.
A rich history of Springsteen’s greatest album, celebrating its themes of youth, escape, and possibility, just in time for the Boss’s sixtieth birthday. To millions of listeners, Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run is much more than a rock-and-roll album—it’s a poetic explosion of freedom and frustration. It confirmed Springsteen’s status as a quintessential American performer: the rocker who, more than any other, gives voice to our hopes, fears, and aspirations. Runaway Dream chronicles the making of the album that launched Springsteen and his E Street Band into the firmament of American art, deftly sketching the ambition, history, and personalities that combined to create the enduring Born to Run.Springsteen wanted Born to Run to be the greatest rock record ever made. For a musician with just two modest-selling LPs to his credit, it was an extraordinary ambition, and session by session, track by track, Masur shows just how much grit, as well as genius, went into realizing it. Runaway Dream offers an expert tour of the trials and triumphs of Springsteen’s work. In addition to the story of the album itself, Masur masterfully places Born to Run within American cultural history, showing why the girls, hot rods, and Jersey nights of the album still resonate, even for listeners born years after its release.
April 5, 1976. As Boston simmered with tension over forced school busing, one photo made headlines. Examine the power of photography and the iconic value of the flag, as it opens a dramatic window onto the turbulent issue of race in America.
Eine Handvoll großer Alben gibt es, die mehr sind als nur eine Platte – ein Wendepunkt, Zeugnis des Lebensgefühls einer Generation, ein Stück Geschichte sogar. Bruce Springsteens drittes Werk Born to Run ist all das. Als es 1975 erschien, zeigten das Time-Magazine und Newsweek den damals 26-jährigen, fast unbekannten Springsteen gleichzeitig auf ihren Titelbildern. Bis heute hat sich an der überragenden musikalischen Qualität und an der erstaunlichen gesellschaftlichen Bedeutung dieses Albums nichts geändert. In den USA war Born to Run für mehr Menschen der Soundtrack zum Erwachsenwerden als irgendeine andere Platte. Der Geschichtsprofessor Louis P. Masur widmet sich neben der musikalischen Bedeutung vor allem der Frage nach dem kulturellen Stellenwert des Albums. Born to Run öffnet einen direkten Blick in die traumatischen Aspekte der siebziger Jahre, in die Zeit nach Watergate und Vietnam, und verkörpert gleichzeitig die Vision des amerikanischen Traums so exemplarisch wie kein anderes Album. BORN TO RUN beleuchtet Musikgeschichte aus einer größeren historischen Perspektive und erscheint zum 60. Geburtstag von Bruce Springsteen.
