A Short History of America

In 2026 the United States of America will celebrate its 250th birthday. How did this vast land, long inhabited by diverse indigenous cultures, come to be dominated by English speakers? How has it grappled with the stark contradictions between its ideals of liberty and the grim reality of its ongoing racial divide?

This extraordinary collection of fifty distinct states has weathered immense – and recent – challenges, including a Civil War that was still raging as the first London Underground station opened. And yet the democratic project of the Founding Fathers continues to endure. How did this melting pot of peoples and ideas not only survive but rise to dominate global politics, commerce, culture and warfare? What insights does this rich history offer about an increasingly divided yet, in many ways, still thriving nation – and the world that moves to its rhythm?

A Short History of America is rich with vivid characters – from arrogant conquistadors and idealistic revolutionaries to imperial presidents – and the most foundational and formative events, from Colombus’ arrival and the Declaration of Independence, right through to the War on Terror and a former president facing criminal charges.

This is a gripping must-read, based in part on years of close observation, for anyone seeking to understand our world today