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On Democracy

AUTHOR Meacham, Jon; White, E. B.
PUBLISHER Harper Perennial (06/30/2020)
PRODUCT TYPE Paperback (Paperback)

Description

A New York Times Book Review New & Noteworthy Book

"For democracy's weary champions, White's time-tested prose is a shot of adrenaline."--Madeleine Albright

A collection of essays, letters, and poems from E. B. White, "one of the country's great literary treasures" (New York Times), centered on the subject of freedom and democracy in America. The special book includes an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham.

"I am a member of a party of one, and I live in an age of fear."

These words were written by E. B. White in 1947. Decades before our current political turmoil, White crafted eloquent yet practical political statements that continue to resonate. "There's only one kind of press that's any good--" he proclaimed, "a press free from any taint of the government." He condemned the trend of defamation, arguing that "in doubtful, doubting days, national morality tends to slip and slide toward a condition in which the test of a man's honor is his zeal for discovering dishonor in others." And on the spread of fascism he lamented, "fascism enjoys at the moment an almost perfect climate for growth--a world of fear and hunger."

This concise collection of essays, letters, and poems from one of this country's most eminent literary voices offers much-needed historical context for our current state of the nation--and hope for the future of our society. Speaking to Americans at a time of uncertainty, when democracy itself has come under threat, he reminds us, "As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman . . . the scene is not desolate."

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Product Format
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9780062905451
ISBN-10: 0062905457
Binding: Paperback or Softback (Trade Paperback (Us))
Content Language: English
More Product Details
Page Count: 240
Carton Quantity: 28
Product Dimensions: 5.20 x 0.60 x 7.90 inches
Weight: 0.40 pound(s)
Feature Codes: Bibliography, Price on Product
Country of Origin: US
Subject Information
BISAC Categories
Literary Collections | Essays
Literary Collections | Political Ideologies - Democracy
Literary Collections | United States - 20th Century
Dewey Decimal: 973.9
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
jacket back

"I am a member of a party of one, and I live in an age of fear."

These words were written by E. B. White in 1947.

Decades before our current political turmoil, White crafted eloquent yet practical political statements that continue to resonate. "There's only one kind of press that's any good--" he proclaimed, "a press free from any taint of government control." He condemned the trend of defamation, arguing, "In doubtful, doubting days, national morality tends to slip and slide toward a condition in which the test of a man's honor is his zeal for discovering dishonor in another." And on his staunch opposition to tyranny he maintained, "If it is boyish to believe that a human being should live free, then I'll gladly arrest my development and let the rest of the world grow up."

Anchored by an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham, this concise collection of essays, letters, and poems from one of this country's most eminent literary voices offers much-needed historical context for our current state of the nation--and hope for the future of our society. Speaking to Americans at a time of uncertainty, when democracy itself has come under threat, he reminds us, "As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman . . . the scene is not desolate."
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jacket front

"I am a member of a party of one, and I live in an age of fear."

These words were written by E. B. White in 1947.

Decades before our current political turmoil, White crafted eloquent yet practical political statements that continue to resonate. "There's only one kind of press that's any good--" he proclaimed, "a press free from any taint of government control." He condemned the trend of defamation, arguing, "In doubtful, doubting days, national morality tends to slip and slide toward a condition in which the test of a man's honor is his zeal for discovering dishonor in another." And on his staunch opposition to tyranny he maintained, "If it is boyish to believe that a human being should live free, then I'll gladly arrest my development and let the rest of the world grow up."

Anchored by an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham, this concise collection of essays, letters, and poems from one of this country's most eminent literary voices offers much-needed historical context for our current state of the nation--and hope for the future of our society. Speaking to Americans at a time of uncertainty, when democracy itself has come under threat, he reminds us, "As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman . . . the scene is not desolate."--Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Letters of E.B. White
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publisher marketing

A New York Times Book Review New & Noteworthy Book

"For democracy's weary champions, White's time-tested prose is a shot of adrenaline."--Madeleine Albright

A collection of essays, letters, and poems from E. B. White, "one of the country's great literary treasures" (New York Times), centered on the subject of freedom and democracy in America. The special book includes an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham.

"I am a member of a party of one, and I live in an age of fear."

These words were written by E. B. White in 1947. Decades before our current political turmoil, White crafted eloquent yet practical political statements that continue to resonate. "There's only one kind of press that's any good--" he proclaimed, "a press free from any taint of the government." He condemned the trend of defamation, arguing that "in doubtful, doubting days, national morality tends to slip and slide toward a condition in which the test of a man's honor is his zeal for discovering dishonor in others." And on the spread of fascism he lamented, "fascism enjoys at the moment an almost perfect climate for growth--a world of fear and hunger."

This concise collection of essays, letters, and poems from one of this country's most eminent literary voices offers much-needed historical context for our current state of the nation--and hope for the future of our society. Speaking to Americans at a time of uncertainty, when democracy itself has come under threat, he reminds us, "As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman . . . the scene is not desolate."

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Paperback