Commager on Tocqueville

From the Publisher

"In an eloquent and insightful search for portents and counsel for modern America, the distinguished historian revisits the classic Democracy in America. . . . Consistently wise, sobering, and profound."--Kirkus Reviews

"Pulling no punches, Dr. Commager achieves three things in his invaluable little book. He makes us want to read or reread Tocqueville's 1835 classic, he tells us what's lasting and what's flawed about 'Democracy in America' and, more than many of the historians in academe, he speaks about some imperfections of the United States."--Herbert Mitgang, New York Times

"Henry Steele Commager's brilliant new interpretation of Alexis de Tocqueville's 'Democracy in America' offers this astute comment: 'He had an instinct for the jugular vein in history.'

"The same can be said for Dr. Commager, the author of major works on the American mind and dream and now professor emeritus of history at Amherst College. For in 'Commager on Tocqueville,' our premier historian allows the reader to see America today through the critical vision of Commager on Commager.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

A formidable pair are united as Commager applies Tocqueville to today's world. (Dec.)

Library Journal

That Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America has remained for over a century and a half one of the most important commentaries on American society and government is ironical. The Frenchman's primary interest lay in deriving lessons for France. Furthermore, as Commager (history, emeritus, Amherst) notes in this candid and engaging commentary, Tocqueville often did not present a single example or piece of evidence to support some of his generalizations. Commager offers wide-ranging and occasionally vituperative analyses on four broad topics: democracy and the tyranny of the majority, the balancing of equality with individualism, the reconciliation of liberty with central authority, and the role of the military in a democracy. He expertly notes Tocqueville's successes and failures as a prognosticator of later developments. Commager sometimes lashes out at a few of his betes noires, but in general he offers both lay readers and specialists an invigorating and balanced overview of American society and government over the past century.-- Thomas J. Schaeper, St. Bonaventure Univ., N.Y.

Booknews

Commager explores the themes of Tocqueville's classic Democracy in America, his concern not so much with what Tocqueville says about America and democracy in the 1830s as with how his work illuminates the same subjects in the 1990s. The essays are based on a series of lectures. No bibliography or index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)