Books Item ID: #2975Flag: An American BiographyProduct Information:
Item DescriptionThe thirteen-stripe, fifty-star flag is as familiar an American icon as any that has existed in the nation’s history. 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 and historian Marc Leepson uncovers scores of little-known, fascinating facts as he traces the evolution of the American flag from the colonial period to the twenty-first century. 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. It details the many colorful and influential Americans who shaped the history of the flag.
“Flag,” as the novelist Nelson DeMille says in his preface, “is not a book with an agenda or a subjective point of view. It is an objective history of the American flag, well researched, well presented, easy to read and understand, and very informative and entertaining.”
“Our love for the flag may be incomprehensible to others, but at least we now have a comprehensive guide to its unfolding.”
—The Wall Street Journal “The fascination of history is in its details, and the author of Flag : An American Biography knows how to find them and turn them into compelling reading…. This book brings out the irony, humor, myth, and behind-the-scenes happenings that make our flag’s 228-year history so fascinating.” —The Saturday Evening Post “Timely and insightful.” —The Dallas Morning News Related posts: Item Reviews5 Responses to “Flag: An American Biography”Leave a Reply |
|
English 
French 
Bulgarian 
German 
Spanish 
Russian 
Persian 
Portuguese 
Norwegian 
Bookmark This Page 
Email A Friend 
Print This Page 
Help With This Item 
This delightful book brings the history of the American flag to life. Yes, the details are there with all the necessary names and dates, but it is the combination of the human element with the historical that kept me turning the pages. For example, the story of the Union veteran marching with an unfurled U.S. flag through the South after the Civil War, who, contrary to the opinion of Mark Twain and presumably many others, managed not only to survive his four-month trek uninjured but also to be treated with great respect and have that same respect shown to the flag, that is, till he arrived in Washington, D.C.
I compliment Mr. Leepson for writing a book that added greatly to my knowledge of the American flag not only as a symbol but as a context of struggles and dreams within America, some quite beautiful and others despicably sad (mob actions). And while it was a joy to read, it was at times disheartening to think that my ignorance of some great American men and women had lasted so long.
This is a good book — there was a recent book by Michael Corcoran (also for sale here) titled: For Which It Stands — very good writing, very interesting book. I highly recommend it!
“Flag” is the kind of book serious students of American history will love. Marc Leepson has written an account of our nation’s most enduring symbol that includes all the scholarly elements but still brings a popular history to those of us that wouldn’t know a monograph from a monorail. The book begins with the initial uses of flags in our nation’s history through the controversey surrounding its creation up through its modern day use as a statement of patriotism and politics. The book hits all the highlights and some of the abuses without being overly pedantic or preachy. Leepson has accomplished a rare feat – bringing scholarship to the masses and doing so in a delightfully entertaining way. It is exactly the kind of history that should be read by everyone who has an interest in our nation’s history – and that should be all of us.
This is a history of the American flag–the Stars and Stripes. It’s not about the Confederate flag or the Lone Star or Bear Republic flags, although the author does mention them.
This book is a really well written, deeply researched, fact-filled history of Old Glory from the beginnings to today. It’s also objectively written. What we get are the facts, lots and lots of them. There’s something fascinating on every page.
This ‘flag’ book sifts throughthe historical evidence to uncover the truth behind the Betsy Ross myth; she did sew the original flag with cloth she had for her friend, George Washington, but was not the designer. The amount of stars has varied over the years, as the number of states increasd. My favorite was that with 48 stars.
How can you do a biography of an object? It’s more a chronological history of the beginning, selecting the design, using Britain’s color scheme. It was honored by the Union soldiers during the Civil War and the marines’ raising it on Iwo Jima was a photograhic memory.
Mary Pickergill chose the star-spangled banner. Samuel Driver gave it the name ‘Old Glory.’ Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem. Francis Bellamy is father of the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. School teacher from Wisconsin, B. J. Cigrand, is credited with starting ‘Flag Day.’ Austronaut Buzz Aldrin planted it on the moon in June, 1969 during Apollo 11′s voyage into outer space.
During a national tragedy, the flag is lowered to half staff. Politics always display the flag as patriotism and nationalism. Liberal or conservative, Democrtat or Republican — we all use the same stars and stripes. During the Viet Nam War, it was a devisive emblen of a devided nation, almost along the lines of the American Civil War (only the South had their own fighting flag), and was burned as a form of resistance.
Marc Leepson wrote SAVING MONTICELLO and researched his subject well with an Index and Bibliography. I once had a flag which had flown over the U. S. Capitol back in the Seventies, from the office of my representative, Robin Beard.
The American flag means different things to different people. Lee Greenwoood paid homage to it in “God Bless the U.S.A.” John Wayne did a recitation of that marvelous old flag, and Neil Diamond was most appreciated of it in his song, “Coming to America.’ Kate Smith used it as a background (as did Patton) shen she sang “God Bless America.” It is our most obvious symbol of freedom.