Empire of Liberty

A History of the Early Republic

By: Gordon S. Wood

Narrated by: Robert Fass

Length: 30 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's 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.

Listen to more of the definitive Oxford History of the United States.

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

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Winner - Best History Audiobook, 2011

Unbiased, clear eyed history of our beginnings

“In 1816…Congress enacted a duty on imported foreign books…. 'Our government,' declared the chairman of the Senate finance committee in defense of the tariff, 'is peculiar to ourselves, and our books of instruction should be adapted to the nature of the government and the genius of the people. In the best of foreign books we are liable to meet with criticism and comparisons not very flattering to the American people. In American editions of these, the offensive and illiberal parts are expunged or explained, and the work is adapted to the exigencies and tastes of the American reader. But withdraw the protection, our channels of instruction will be foreign.'"

Does the spirit of that sound strangely familiar? There is nothing new under the sun. At least not in the history of political discourse and strife in the United States. I’m not sure if listening to this extraordinarily enlightening history of the nation’s first quarter century left me more confident that what we have overcome in the past we can get through again or more depressed that after all these years we are still at one another's throats over the same issues. For ideologues there is ammunition here to defend every doctrinaire viewpoint about the true nature and genius of the American experiment. What I found most interesting, however, was the fact that all the parties to the struggle to define a nation which was still determining its own nature were at some point forced to act counter to their principled pronouncements, not for political considerations but simply because it became clear that to do otherwise would lead to a disaster born of stubborn consistency. In the end these men, and they were, sadly, all men, put the survival and welfare of the nation before their commitment to any inflexible philosophy of government.

It is also fascinating to find that the interests and factions of today were often allied or opposed in very different alignments during those early years, and the gradual shift in these alliances forms some of the central action of this historical account.

Perhaps the most valuable thing about Wood ’s book is the fact that there is no discernible bias in his account. This is ground where we can all meet and wonder at the events and actions which kept a very fragile ship of state off the rocks even before it seemed to be fully seaworthy. Impressively, it deals with every aspect of the American experience in those years, from foreign affairs to manufacturing to religion, education and the arts. It is a hugely worthwhile listen.

Definitive history of the Early Republic

Somehow both the history of America's "great men" (read: Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton) and the history of a new nation and people at the same time. You really get a sense of how the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans shaped America and why different Americans were drawn to each movement. Well-written, and with great narration by Fass.

Very good

Book has a good flow and narration is very good. very interesting I highly recommend

Understanding the mindset of early Americans

Very detailed, digging into the weeds of the American people's way of life and their understanding of the world and their roll in it. This much detail can often make a book seem to drag on endlessly, but the author presented it in a way that makes it entertaining and interesting! The narrator did a great job keeping the subject lively and entertaining. I would definitely recommend this title and it's companion, "The Glorious Cause" as MUST READ/LISTEN materials to any American history enthusiast!

Beyond Good

this was a truly informative and enjoyable read. apparently I need a few more words to make this an authorized review.

Enlightening, brilliantly written

Wood has written a history period review that feels like an excellent novel. I can't remember a history account so full of startling explanations and analyses, and I thought I knew a lot about this era . Wood takes no standard assumptions for granted while sticking with solid factual evidence. He makes villains of actions and cultural mistakes, not personalities. He sees the prejudices and flaws of the times in context without passing judgment or evoking his own prejudices. Wow, this is a classic!

The narration is so perfect I thought Fass and Wood must be twins. Fass' enthusiasm and since of drama never overplay but always charm. BTW: I was led to this work by Wood's also-brilliant The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin.

Comprehensive analysis of the period

I’ve been a great fan of Durant’s “History of Civilization” series, and was looking for a similarly thorough history of the United States. Having read several books regarding the Revolutionary War period, I skipped to volume 2 of the Oxford series on the history of the U.S.

I’m very impressed! This book examines the various aspects of American civilization for this period, including political, cultural, art, literature, and religion. The style is accessible, nonpartisan, and engaging. I’m looking forward to listening to the other volumes in this series.

A comprehensive detailing of our young republic

A very enjoyable read. Dense detail covering a myriad of subjects about the early formation of our country. Gordon Wood covers the politics of the period, while bringing into the foreground the cultural development also, attending in detail matters of religion, women, slavery, education, the arts and military endeavors. At times the reading was a bit tedious though that level of detail is what made this the excellent read it is.

Good book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, very instructive history of a most critical time in the development of the American government and our national story.

Any additional comments?

This was a good book, but not as captivating as some others that I have read that cover this same time frame and same characters.

I gave up too early

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes but not as a fun read. I started it but put it down till I ran out of fun books to read. You might want to keep a thesaurus handy.

What could Gordon S. Wood have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Make it required reading for every college student, politician, and anyone with a care about the current horrors of our government.

Have you listened to any of Robert Fass’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me realize that not a whole lot has changed since the beginning of the nation. It really points out how we never learn.

Any additional comments?

If you care about politics at all read this!