
Empire of Liberty
A History of the Early Republic
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Narrated by:
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Robert Fass
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By:
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Gordon S. Wood
In Empire of Liberty, one of America's most esteemed historians, Gordon S. Wood, offers a brilliant account of the early American Republic, ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812.
As Wood reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American life - in politics, society, economy, and culture. The men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future, but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected. They hated political parties but parties nonetheless emerged. Some wanted the United States to become a great fiscal-military state, like those of Britain and France; others wanted the country to remain a rural agricultural state very different from the European states. Instead, by 1815 the United States became something neither group anticipated. Named a New York Times Notable Book, Empire of Liberty, part of The Oxford History of the United States series, offers a marvelous account of this pivotal era when America took its first unsteady steps as a new and rapidly expanding nation.
The Oxford History of the United States is considered the gold standard for serious historians and general readers (and listeners) alike. Three of the titles have won the Pulitzer Prize for history; two have been Pulitzer Prize finalists, and all of them have enjoyed critical and commercial success.
Please note: The individual volumes of the series have not been published in historical order. Empire of Liberty is number IV in The Oxford History of the United States.
Listen to more of the definitive Oxford History of the United States.©2009 Gordon S. Wood (P)2009 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
- Audie Award Winner - Best History Audiobook, 2011
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Very good
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Beyond Good
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Understanding the mindset of early Americans
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Does the spirit of that sound strangely familiar? There is nothing new under the sun. At least not in the history of political discourse and strife in the United States. I’m not sure if listening to this extraordinarily enlightening history of the nation’s first quarter century left me more confident that what we have overcome in the past we can get through again or more depressed that after all these years we are still at one another's throats over the same issues. For ideologues there is ammunition here to defend every doctrinaire viewpoint about the true nature and genius of the American experiment. What I found most interesting, however, was the fact that all the parties to the struggle to define a nation which was still determining its own nature were at some point forced to act counter to their principled pronouncements, not for political considerations but simply because it became clear that to do otherwise would lead to a disaster born of stubborn consistency. In the end these men, and they were, sadly, all men, put the survival and welfare of the nation before their commitment to any inflexible philosophy of government.
It is also fascinating to find that the interests and factions of today were often allied or opposed in very different alignments during those early years, and the gradual shift in these alliances forms some of the central action of this historical account.
Perhaps the most valuable thing about Wood ’s book is the fact that there is no discernible bias in his account. This is ground where we can all meet and wonder at the events and actions which kept a very fragile ship of state off the rocks even before it seemed to be fully seaworthy. Impressively, it deals with every aspect of the American experience in those years, from foreign affairs to manufacturing to religion, education and the arts. It is a hugely worthwhile listen.
Unbiased, clear eyed history of our beginnings
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Definitive history of the Early Republic
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The narration is so perfect I thought Fass and Wood must be twins. Fass' enthusiasm and since of drama never overplay but always charm. BTW: I was led to this work by Wood's also-brilliant The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin.
Enlightening, brilliantly written
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I’m very impressed! This book examines the various aspects of American civilization for this period, including political, cultural, art, literature, and religion. The style is accessible, nonpartisan, and engaging. I’m looking forward to listening to the other volumes in this series.
Comprehensive analysis of the period
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A comprehensive detailing of our young republic
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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, very instructive history of a most critical time in the development of the American government and our national story.Any additional comments?
This was a good book, but not as captivating as some others that I have read that cover this same time frame and same characters.Good book
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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes but not as a fun read. I started it but put it down till I ran out of fun books to read. You might want to keep a thesaurus handy.What could Gordon S. Wood have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Make it required reading for every college student, politician, and anyone with a care about the current horrors of our government.Have you listened to any of Robert Fass’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
NoDid you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Made me realize that not a whole lot has changed since the beginning of the nation. It really points out how we never learn.Any additional comments?
If you care about politics at all read this!I gave up too early
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