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  • Empire of Liberty

  • A History of the Early Republic
  • By: Gordon S. Wood
  • Narrated by: Robert Fass
  • Length: 30 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (22 ratings)
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Empire of Liberty cover art

Empire of Liberty

By: Gordon S. Wood
Narrated by: Robert Fass
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Summary

In Empire of Liberty, one of America's most esteemed historians, Gordon S. Wood, offers a brilliant account of the early American Republic, ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812.

As Wood reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American life - in politics, society, economy, and culture. The men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future, but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected. They hated political parties but parties nonetheless emerged. Some wanted the United States to become a great fiscal-military state, like those of Britain and France; others wanted the country to remain a rural agricultural state very different from the European states. Instead, by 1815 the United States became something neither group anticipated. Named a New York Times Notable Book, Empire of Liberty, part of The Oxford History of the United States series, offers a marvelous account of this pivotal era when America took its first unsteady steps as a new and rapidly expanding nation.

The Oxford History of the United States is considered the gold standard for serious historians and general readers (and listeners) alike. Three of the titles have won the Pulitzer Prize for history; two have been Pulitzer Prize finalists, and all of them have enjoyed critical and commercial success.

Please note: The individual volumes of the series have not been published in historical order. Empire of Liberty is number IV in The Oxford History of the United States.

©2009 Gordon S. Wood (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

  • Audie Award Winner - Best History Audiobook, 2011

What listeners say about Empire of Liberty

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Good history well read

"Empire of Liberty" by Godron Wood is a history of the US from the end of the war of independence until 1815.The author explains how the American Republic changed over that time and seems to make reasonably sound judgements. The narrator reads clearly. If you are interested in this period of American history you should listen to this book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Clear, accessible, great history

Huge credit to Gordon S Wood, thoroughly enjoyed this illuminating and clearly written history. Full of characters, stories and enthralling anecdotes, as well as big political and philosophical ideas, always well explained. In short, a masterpiece.

The narrator is excellent too.

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