 Their work includes a sweeping history of the American economy, an
examination of Southern society before and after the Civil War, and
an in-depth look at 1862, a fateful year for the nation.The
events are free, but reservations must be made by calling
217-558-8934.
First up is Bruce Levine, a history professor at the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and author of "The Fall of the House
of Dixie: The Civil War and the Social Revolution that Transformed
the South." Levine visits on Jan. 9. Like the other two authors,
he'll sign books at 6:30 p.m. and speak in the presidential museum's
Union Theater at 7.
"The Fall of the House of Dixie" uses diaries, letters,
government documents and more to paint a picture of Southern culture
just before the Civil War and then track that culture's collapse as
the war raged on and slaves won their freedom.
Publisher's Weekly calls the book "a deep, rich, and complex
analysis."
Levine has taught at the University of Illinois since 2006. His
previous book, "Confederate Emancipation," was named one of the best
books of the year by Washington Post Book World in 2006.
On Jan. 16, Michael Lind will be at the presidential museum to
discuss "Land of Promise: An Economic History of the United States."
The book examines two competing philosophies through the years: a
small-government approach that defers to the private sector versus
an active government aggressively trying to stimulate the economy.
Lind concludes that the activist approach has driven much of the
United States' economic success.
The New York Times says Lind's "book is rich with details, more
than a few of them surprising."
Lind is a co-founder of the New America Foundation and the author
of multiple books, including "What Lincoln Believed" and "Made in
Texas: George W. Bush and the Southern Takeover of American
Politics."
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The next day, Jan. 17, David Von Drehle visits the presidential
museum to discuss "Rise to Greatness: Abraham Lincoln and America's
Most Perilous Year." Von Drehle examines the importance of 1862,
when Civil War violence reached new heights, Lincoln lost a son and
searched for a competent general, and Congress looked to the future
by authorizing a transcontinental railroad and land-grant
universities.
"These pages crackle with life and energy," Pulitzer
Prize-winning historian James McPherson wrote in the New York Review
of Books.
A journalist, Von Drehle has worked for the Washington Post, Time
magazine and other publications. His previous book, "Triangle: The
Fire that Changed America," was a New York Times best-seller.
The museum store and galleries will be open during the authors'
visits.
Each author will also take part in "Teacher Talks" for educators
at 5:30 in the classroom of the presidential library. Teachers who
want to participate should call 217-558-8953.
[Text from
Abraham
Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
file received from the
Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency]
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