As America undergoes global scrutiny, acclaimed novelist Russell Banks contemplates the questions of our origins, values, heroes, conflicts, and contradictions with conversational ease and the insightful historical observation found in his works of fiction.

Drawing on politics, literature, film, and a deep knowledge of American history, Banks traces the first colonists' differing motives, their points of intersection through the centuries, and the inevitable influence of the existing cultures they encountered or enslaved, building a vision of an empire built upon destructive — though also creative — forces.

"Two years ago, novelist Banks was interviewed by French television for a documentary about American history. His testimony so impressed Banks's French publisher that he made a book out of his remarks, translated into French, co-released with the documentary. Now Banks's words have returned stateside. Unfortunately, they do not travel well. Letting a gifted storyteller like Banks have a go at telling the story of America isn't a bad idea — his voice is appealing, and the brevity and scope of his tale are bracing. As condensed histories go, this is a good one. Banks creates a clear and simple dynamic, identifying three original dreams — for profit, for religious freedom, for eternal youth — that have struggled within our body politic throughout our history. His text, however, betrays a dogmatic agenda — left of center, antiwar and self-righteous — undermining the simplicity that might otherwise be a virtue. Fuzzy generalizations like 'Americans have always believed in the almost spiritual beauty of machinery' give way to harsh indictments of presidents Wilson, Reagan and the Bushes, as the charming historical survey turns shrill ('Rockefeller didn't believe in the American dream, but everyone who worked for him did'). Banks is eloquent here, but in a sense perhaps unintended, he's dreaming. (June)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Drawing on politics, literature, film, and a deep knowledge of American history, Banks traces the first colonists' differing motives, their points of intersection through the centuries, and the inevitable influence of the existing cultures they encountered or enslaved.

“Russell Banks is not only one of our great novelists but also a courageous and visionary citizen....His first nonfiction book is a gem.”—Cornel West

“Highly entertaining . . . and deeply affecting. . . . Like the best novels of Nadine Gordimer, it makes us appreciate the dynamic between the personal and the political, the public and the private, and the costs and causes of radical belief.”—The New York Times, on Cloudsplitter

As America undergoes global scrutiny, acclaimed novelist Russell Banks contemplates the questions of our origins, values, heroes, conflicts, and contradictions with conversational ease and the insightful historical observation found in his works of fiction. Drawing on politics, literature, film, and a deep knowledge of American history, Banks traces the first colonists’ differing motives, their points of intersection through the centuries, and the inevitable influence of the existing cultures they encountered or enslaved, building a vision of an empire built upon destructive—though also creative—forces.

Russell Banksis the author of sixteen works of fiction, many of which depict seismic events in US history, such as the fictionalized journey of John Brown in Cloudsplitter. His work has been translated into twenty languages and has received numerous international prizes, and two of his novels—The Sweet Hereafterand Affliction—have been made into award-winning films. His forthcoming novel, The Reserve, will be published in early 2008. President of the International Parliament of Writers and former New York State Author, Banks lives in upstate New York.

Russell Banks is the author of sixteen works of fiction, many which depict seismic events in US history, like the fictionalized journey of John Brown in Cloudsplitter. His work has been translated into twenty languages and has received numerous international prizes. He is president of the International Parliament of Writers.