Albion's Seed cover art

Albion's Seed

Four British Folkways in America, Vol. 1

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Albion's Seed

By: David Hackett Fischer
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
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About this listen

This fascinating audiobook is the first volume in a projected cultural history of the United States, from the earliest English settlements to our own time. It is a history of American folkways as they have changed through time, and it argues a thesis about the importance for the United States of having been British in its cultural origins.

While most people in the United States today have no British ancestors, they have assimilated regional cultures which were created by British colonists, even while preserving ethnic identities at the same time. In this sense, nearly all Americans are "Albion's Seed," no matter what their ethnicity may be. The concluding section of this remarkable audiobook explores the ways that regional cultures have continued to dominate national politics from 1789 to 1988, and still help to shape attitudes toward education, government, gender, and violence, on which differences between American regions are greater than between European nations.

©1989 David Hackett Fischer (P)2014 Audible Inc. Americas Anthropology Colonial Period Customs & Traditions Religious Studies Social Sciences United States Tradition Middle Ages Capitalism Latin American American History United Kingdom British History

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All stars
Most relevant
I loved this book in written form, and audio backs it up. A groundbreaking theory of how British culture is planted in current USA based on immigration roots over 400 years ago. Very very good if you like cultural studies, history, geography. Applicable to British and American readers. It is serious scholarship and detail oriented (food ways, language, clothing, politics, etc) but well worth it and a good listen.

One of the best

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Would you consider the audio edition of Albion's Seed to be better than the print version?

Definitely, both because of its sheer length and its analysis of local dialects.

What did you like best about this story?

How thorough, deep, erudite and enlightening it is.

Any additional comments?

A must read for anyone interested in American history, culture and civilisation.

A timeless classic!

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Fantastic read - very insightful and easy to digest. Well written and worth spending the time on.

Brilliant

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Great book. Explains the power of culture and its enduring impact through centuries. I highly recommend this book.

Thought provoking

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This was recommended to me, and I see why. It is an extraordinary study of the origins of different cultures in America - fascinating in both scope and detail. It is also superbly narrated.

Brilliant study

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