David S. Brown Livres

"Henry Adams is perhaps the most eclectic, accomplished, and important American writer of his time. His autobiography and modern classic The Education of Henry Adams was widely considered one of the best English-language nonfiction books of the 20th century. The last member of his distinguished family--after great-grandfather John Adams, and grandfather John Quincy Adams--to gain national attention, he is remembered today as an historian, a political commentator, and a memoirist. Now, historian David Brown sheds light on the brilliant yet under-celebrated life of this major American intellectual. Adams not only lived through the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution but he met Abraham Lincoln, bowed before Queen Victoria, and counted powerful figures, including Secretary of State John Hay, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and President Theodore Roosevelt as friends and neighbors. His observations of these men and their policies in his private letters provide a penetrating assessment of Gilded Age America on the cusp of the modern era. The Last American Aristocrat details Adams's relationships with his wife (Marian "Clover" Hooper) and, following her suicide, Elizabeth Cameron, the young wife of a senator and part of the famous Sherman clan from Ohio. Henry Adams's letters--thousands of them--demonstrate his struggles with depression, familial expectations, and reconciling with his unwanted widower's existence. Presenting intimate and insightful details of a fascinating and unusual American life and a new window on nineteenth century US history, The Last American Aristocrat shows us a more "modern" and "human" Henry Adams than ever before."-- Provided by publisher

F. Scott Fitzgerald is portrayed as a complex moralist influenced by the post-WWI cultural shifts, rather than just a Jazz Age figure. David Brown explores Fitzgerald's connections to his antebellum roots and his feelings of alienation within the elite social circles. The biography delves into Fitzgerald's early life, tumultuous marriage to Zelda Sayre, and his notable friendship with Hemingway. It also highlights the contrast between his literary successes, like "Gatsby," and his struggles with alcoholism and financial decline during personal and national crises.

This encyclopedia delves into the life of Thomas Jefferson, exploring the significant issues, events, and influential figures that molded his character and political philosophy. It offers a comprehensive look at his contributions to American history, providing valuable insights into his ideals, achievements, and the complexities of his legacy.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this book explores the dissenting voices of midwestern historians who opposed the dominant narrative of America's role in the world, as popularized by Henry Luce. Figures like Charles Beard and William Appleman Williams criticized the imperial presidency and interventionist policies, warning that these trends threatened the core values of American democracy. Through personal papers and interviews, David S. Brown presents an engaging intellectual history that connects these historians' ideas to contemporary issues, making it relevant today.