Why read American Radicals?

Book cover of American Radicals: How Nineteenth-Century Protest Shaped the Nation

Book description

A dynamic, timely history of nineteenth-century activists—free-lovers and socialists, abolitionists and vigilantes—and the social revolution they sparked in the turbulent Civil War era

“In the tradition of Howard Zinn’s people’s histories, American Radicals reveals a forgotten yet inspiring past.”—Megan Marshall, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Margaret Fuller: A New American Life…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked American Radicals as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Benjamin Reiss

Author

If you think the 1960s tops the list of eras that experimented with counter-cultural protest movements, utopian societies, and radical social experimentation, think again.

There are more free love advocates, anti-racist rebels, anti-capitalist communes, oversexed vegans, and messianic prophets in this book than you could shake a staff at. Jackson tells their stories with verve, wit, and a perfectly measured assessment of their contributions and failures.

From Benjamin's list on making you rethink 19th-century America.

Christina Ward

Author

English professor Holly Jackson reveals another little-known era of 19th Century American History in American Radicals. She masterfully profiles men and women who “did the work” of making the United States match the promise of her ideals. Jackson is an enthusiastic writer who makes us see how interconnected and how human our great-great parents and their peers were to fundamental social issues we still struggle with today.

American Radicals reveals early women’s rights, civil rights, labor rights, and native rights movements with fresh insights.

From Christina's list on the hidden history of America.