The Forever War

America's Unending Conflict with Itself

Nick Bryant

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English

Viking
04 June 2024

History; Politics & government

ABBEY'S BOOKSELLER PICK ----- If, like me, you find the current state of the US political landscape a baffling and worrying enigma then Nick Bryant's survey of American history will put a lot of the puzzle pieces into place. Instead of coming from a viewpoint of America as a story of progress from lawless beginnings to shining beacon of democracy, Bryant reveals the violence and political unrest that underlie America today, rather than being a new and disturbing occurrence, are tightly woven into the country's fabric. Same as it ever was. Working through aspects such as the Constitution, race, the Supreme Court, and gun control, the ebb and flow is apparent. The takeaway is that America will therefore just go on being America, lurching left and right, in an abusive relationship with itself. Both fascinating and disturbing. Craig

The Forever War tells the story of how America's political polarisation is 250 years in the making, and argues that the roots of its modern-day malaise are to be found in its troubled past.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the American experiment is failing. Division, mistrust and misinformation are now its defining characteristics. The storming of the Capitol, the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the increasing spotlight on Second Amendment rights raise the spectre of further political violence, and even the possibility of a second civil war.

Nick Bryant argues that the hate, divisiveness and paranoia we see today are in fact a core part of America's story. Combining brilliant storytelling with historical research, Bryant argues that insurrections, assassinations and massacres - from the American Civil War through to JFK and the inner-city race riots of the late '60s, up to the more recent school shootings and the murder of George Floyd - should sadly not be seen as abnormalities.

The compromises originally designed to hold the union together - the Amendments made in the Reconstruction era to give rights back to former enslaved people, the apportionment of political power - have never truly been resolved. Today, a country that looked confidently to the future has become captive to its contentious past.

'Bryant writes as both a keen political reporter and a first-class historian, interweaving past and present to supremely powerful effect. It's a superb achievement.' DOMINIC SANDBROOK, host of The Rest is History

By: Nick Bryant
Imprint: Viking
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 233mm, Width: 154mm, Spine: 37mm
Weight: 500g
ISBN: 9781761048623
ISBN 10: 1761048627
Pages: 416
Publication Date: 04 June 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Nick Bryant is one of the BBC's most trusted and senior foreign correspondents. He has been posted in Washington, South Asia, Australia and, most recently, New York. He is a regular contributor to several Australian magazines and newspapers, including The Australian, The Spectator and The Monthly. Nick studied history at Cambridge and has a doctorate in American politics from Oxford. He now lives in New York City with his wife and children.