Books by Robert V. Remini
Joseph Smith (Penguin Lives)
Robert Remini's work on the Jacksonian epoch has won him acclaim as well as the National Book Award. In Joseph Smith, he employs his keen insight and rich storytelling gift to explore one of the period's major figures. The most important reformer and innovator in American religious history, Joseph Smith has remained a fascinating enigma to many both inside and outside the Mormon Church he founded.
Born in 1805, Smith grew up during the "Second Great Awakening," when secular tumult had spawned radical religious fervor and countless new sects. His contemplative nature and soaring imagination—the first of his many visions occurred at the age of fourteen—were nurtured in the close, loving family created by his deeply devout parents. His need to lead and be recognized was met by his mission as God's vehicle for a new faith and by the hundreds who, magnetized by his charm and charismatic preaching, gave rise to the Mormon Church. Remini brings Smith into unprecedented focus and contextualizes his enduring contribution to American life and culture within the distinctive characteristics of an extraordinary age.
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A Short History of the United States
A much-needed, concise history of the United States of America by National Book Award winner Robert V. Remini
This accessible and lively volume contains the essential facts about the discovery, settlement, growth, and development of the American nation. Beginning with the earliest travelers to landing the Americas, A SHORT HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES is a kind of highlight reel of U.S. history, including the migration of Native Americans, the founding of a republic under the Constitution, the emergence of the United States as a world power, the outbreak of terrorism here and abroad, all the way through the last years of George W. Bush’s presidency—the perfect read for those who are searching for an abbreviated version of our nation’s history, what shaped it, changed it, and what may be to come.
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The House: The History of the House of Representatives
by Robert V. Remini, Library of Congress
An official, narrative history of the U.S. House of Representatives takes a close-up look at the influence of this important political body throughout American history, profiling some of the high-profile figures--including Henry Clay, Tip O'Neill, John C. Calhoun, Shirley Chisholm, and others--who have played important roles in the political process.
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The House: The History of the House of Representatives
by Robert V. Remini, Library of Congress
Throughout America's history, the House has played a central role in shaping the nation's destiny. In this incomparable single-volume history, distinguished historian Robert V. Remini traces the institution from a struggling, nascent body to the venerable powerhouse it has become since America's rise on the world stage. The essential drama of democracy—the struggle between principle and pragmatism—is showcased throughout the book, and through it the history of America's successful experiment with democracy unfurls.
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The Life of Andrew Jackson
"A wonderful portrait, rich in detail, of a fascinating and important man and an authoritative . . . account of his role in American History.” —New York Times Book Review
The classic one-volume abridgement of the National Book Award-winning biography of Andrew Jackson from esteemed historian Robert V. Remini.
As president of the United Sates from 1829 to 1837, Andrew Jackson was a significant force in the nation's expansion, the growth of presidential power, and the transition from republicanism to democracy. A forceful yet sometimes tragic hero, Jackson was a man whose strength and flaws were larger than life, a president whose convictions provided the nation with one of the most influential and colorful administrations in our history.
In this enthralling, meticulously crafted abridgment, Remini captures the essence of the life and career of the seventh president of the United States.
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The Battle of New Orleans: Andrew Jackson and America's First Military Victory
The Battle of New Orleans was the climactic battle of America's "forgotten war" of 1812. Andrew Jackson led his ragtag corps of soldiers against 8,000 disciplined invading British regulars in a battle that delivered the British a humiliating military defeat. The victory solidified America's independence and marked the beginning of Jackson's rise to national prominence. Hailed as "terrifically readable" by the Chicago Sun Times, The Battle of New Orleans is popular American history at its best, bringing to life a landmark battle that helped define the character of the United States.
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Andrew Jackson: A Biography (Great Generals)
The newest addition to Palgrave's Great Generals series focuses on Andrew Jackson's career including his time as a general in Tennessee and his rise up the Army ranks. Jackson's effective use of spies in war time and of martial law in peace time sparked a debate about the curtailing of civil liberties in the name of national security that continues to this day. Most of all, Jackson was a great motivator who could, with a few carefully selected words and by his own brave example, turn around starved, deserting troops, convincing them to fight. With dramatic scenes of fierce battles and victories, Remini reveals here why Jackson's bold leadership as a general led to his election as President of the United States in 1828.
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Fellow Citizens: The Penguin Book of U.S. Presidential Inaugural Addresses (Penguin Classics)
by Robert V. Remini, Terry Golway
The complete American presidential inaugural addresses featuring historical background by a National Book Award winner
A testament to the power of oratory, this stirring and often surprising collection includes all fifty-five United States presidential inaugural addresses, as well as a general introduction and commentary that provides historical context for each speech. Marking pivotal moments in American history, readers will learn:
- How George Washington came to ad-lib 'So help me, God' at the end of his first inaugural address
- Why Thomas Jefferson's first inaugural address is considered one of the finest ever delivered
- The historical background behind Franklin D. Roosevelt's 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself' and John F. Kennedy's 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'
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Henry Clay: Statesman for the Union
"Great biography leaves an indelible view of the subject. After Remini's masterful portrait, Clay is unforgettable." ―Donald B. Cole, Newsday Among the nineteenth-century Americans, few commanded the reverence and respect accorded to Henry Clay of Kentucky. As orator and as Speaker of the House for longer than any man in the century, he wielded great power, a compelling presence in Congress who helped preserve the Union in the antebellum period. Remini portrays both the statesman and the private man, a man whose family life was painfully torn and who burned with ambition for the office he could not reach, the presidency.
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John Quincy Adams (The American Presidents Series)
A vivid portrait of a man whose pre- and post-presidential careers overshadowed his presidency.
Chosen president by the House of Representatives after an inconclusive election against Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams often failed to mesh with the ethos of his era, pushing unsuccessfully for a strong, consolidated national government. Historian Robert V. Remini recounts how in the years before his presidency Adams was a shrewd, influential diplomat, and later, as a dynamic secretary of state under President James Monroe, he solidified many basic aspects of American foreign policy, including the Monroe Doctrine.
Undoubtedly his greatest triumph was the negotiation of the Transcontinental Treaty, through which Spain acknowledged Florida to be part of the United States. After his term in office, he earned the nickname "Old Man Eloquent" for his passionate antislavery speeches.
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