Flag

This is one of those books that seem as though someone should have written it years ago--but better late than never. Flag: An American Biography is a must-read for scholars, history buffs, patriotic organizations, flag wavers, flag burners, or anyone who owns an American flag or has seen one in the last forty-eight hours. This iconic symbol of the nation, which is so ubiquitous in our lives, needs a history, and this is the definitive history of the flag of the United States of America. Marc Leepson has done a wonderful job of making this inanimate object come alive and speak to us--from the preface by Nelson. No other country worships its flag with quite the intensity of the people of the United States of America. It is a rallying symbol for all of us, whether we're cheering or protesting, during good times and bad. To understand the U.S.A. and her citizens, it is necessary to understand the origins, the legends, and the meaning of our flag. Marc Leepson's Flag is a grand book, worthy of its grand subject.--Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys/October Sky and The Keeper's Son. The nation turns to it as an emotional, political, and patriotic symbol in good times and bad. Americans fly it everywhere we live and everywhere we go, from front porches in Florida to pickup trucks in Alaska. We display the red-white-and-blue American flag at festive events to celebrate and, at times of national tragedy, to grieve and show our resolve. We wrap ourselves in it in displays of patriotism, politics, nationalism, and jingoism. The thirteen-stripe, fifty-star flag is as familiar an American icon as any that has existed in the nation's history. It stirs something in the hearts of Americans like no other symbol. Yet the history of the flag, especially its origins, is cloaked in myth and misinformation. Flag: An American Biography rectifies that situation by presenting a lively, comprehensive, illuminating look at the history of the American flag from its beginnings to today. Journalist, historian, and author of the highly acclaimed Saving Monticello, Leepson uncovers scores of little-known, fascinating facts as he traces the evolution of the American flag from the Colonial period to its prominent role as a symbol of American resolve in today's war against terrorism. Flag sifts through the historical evidence to--among many other things--uncover the truth behind the Betsy Ross myth and to discover the true designer of the stars and stripes. The book also shines informing li

Year

2005

Language

English

Publisher

Thomas Dunne Books

Editions

4

Pages

352

ISBN

9780312323080

Data source: Wikidata