In this absorbing book; George McKenna ranges across the entire panorama of American history to track the development of American patriotism. That patriotism―shaped by Reformation Protestantism and imbued with the American Puritan belief in a providential “errandâ€â€•has evolved over 350 years and influenced American political culture in both positive and negative ways; McKenna shows. The germ of the patriotism; an activist theology that stressed collective rather than individual salvation; began in the late 1630s in New England and traveled across the continent; eventually becoming a national phenomenon. Today; American patriotism still reflects its origins in the seventeenth century. By encouraging cohesion in a nation of diverse peoples and inspiring social reform; American patriotism has sometimes been a force for good. But the book also uncovers a darker side of the nation’s patriotism―a prejudice against the South in the nineteenth century; for example; and a tendency toward nativism and anti-Catholicism. Ironically; a great reversal has occurred; and today the most fervent believers in the Puritan narrative are the former “outsidersâ€â€•Catholics and Southerners. McKenna offers an interesting new perspective on patriotism’s role throughout American history; and he concludes with trenchant thoughts on its role in the post-9/11 era.
#155422 in Books 2007-08-21Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x 2.30 x 6.10l; 2.30 #File Name: 0300122713752 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Everyone's Favorite Monarch!By Reviewer R2D2Heavy in content but gives a clear picture of Henry VIII"s reign. The author's bias towards Henry VIII; overall his love for Tudor England; does not cloud the narrative prose as does some historical biographies. A great; intense and long read of everyone's favorite monarch.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. A welcome change from the wave of over romanticised versions of Tudor historyBy Bill GreenhalfThis is not a light or easy read and there is an assumption that the reader comes with a fairly extensive prior knowledge of the subject (I am afraid I let the author down in this respect). However; it is wonderful to see that perhaps Henry was not an air head ruled from his pantaloons; falling in love like a puppy dog for every bit of skirt. Instead he is shown to be a manipulative and sinister character with very cerebral imperatives - personally I found this both more credible and far more interesting.I surprise myself in writing this; but actually I would have liked more about his wives; their politics and their religion. Catherine is discussed in some detail; but I found myself left curious about what were Anne Boleyn's views on the reformation. I'd also have liked to know a little bit about where her father actually stood in this matter.It is worth the effort to read through and at the end you will have a warm glow of achievement and you will know a lot more about this well known but often over romanticized period of English history.
