The American Bible : how our words unite, divide, and define a nation / Stephen Prothero.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Prothero, Stephen R.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

National characteristics, American.

Speeches, addresses, etc., American--History and criticism.

Speeches, addresses, etc., American.

National characteristics, American, in literature.

Rhetoric--Political aspects--United States--History.

Rhetoric.

Literature and society--United States--History.

Literature and society.

Language and culture--United States.

Language and culture.

Nationalism and literature.

History.

Rhetoric--Political aspects.

United States.

Nationalism and literature--United States.

United States--Civilization.

Civilization.

Group identity in literature.

Physical Description:

vii, 533 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : HarperOne, 2012.

Summary:

"America has been a nation that has unfolded as much on the page and the podium as on battlefields or in statehouses. Here Stephen Prothero reveals which texts continue to generate controversy and drive debate. He then puts these voices into conversation, tracing how prominent leaders and thinkers of one generation have commented upon the core texts of another, and invites readers to join in. Prothero takes the reader into the heart of America's culture wars. These 'scriptures' provide the words that continue to unite, divide, and define Americans today."--Book jacket.

Contents:

Genesis. The Exodus story ; John Winthrop: "A model of Christian charity" (1630) ; Thomas Paine: Common sense (1776) ; The Declaration of Independence (1776) ; Noah Webster: The blue-back speller (1783- )

Law. The Constitution (1787) ; Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ; Roe v. Wade (1973)

Chronicles. Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom's cabin (1852) ; Mark Twain: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) ; Ayn Rand: Atlas shrugged (1957)

Psalms. Francis Scott Key: "The star-spangled banner" (1814)

Irving Berlin : "God bless America" (1938) ; Woody Guthrie: "This land is your land" (1940)

Proverbs. Benjamin Franklin: "Remember that time is money" (1748) ; Benjamin Franklin: "God helps those who help themselves" (1758) ; Patrick Henry : "Give me liberty or give me death" (1775) ; Abigail Adams: "Remember the ladies" (1776) ; Sojourner Truth: "Ain't I a woman?" (1851) ; Abraham Lincoln: "With malice toward none, with charity for all" (1865) ; Chief Joseph : "I will fight no more forever" (1877) ; Calvin Coolidge: "The business of America is business" (1925) ; Franklin Delano Roosevelt: "I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people" (1932) ; John F. Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country" (1962) ; Ronald Reagan: "evil empire" (1983)

Prophets. Henry David Thoreau: "Civil Disobedience" (1849) ; Dwight Eisenhower: Farewell Address (1961) ; Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I have a dream" (1963) ; Malcolm X: The autobiography of Malcolm X (1965)

Lamentations. Abraham Lincoln: Gettysburg address (1863) ; Maya Lin: Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1982)

Gospels. Thomas Jefferson: First inaugural address (1801) ; Franklin Delano Roosevelt: First inaugural address (1933) ; Ronald Reagan: "The speech" (1964)

Acts. The Pledge of Allegiance (1892, 1954)

Epistles. George Washington: Farewell address (1796) ; Thomas Jefferson: "Letter to the Danbury Baptists" (1802) ; Martin Luther King Jr.: "Letter from Birmingham jail" (1963).

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 491-510) and index.

ISBN:

9780062123435

0062123432

OCLC:

757484128

Online:

Cover image