Product Description: The American Revolution―an event that gave America its first real "story" as an independent nation, distinct from native and colonial origins―continues to live on in the public's memory, celebrated each year on July 4 with fireworks and other patriotic displays...read more

Product Description: "Within the short period of a year she was a bride, a beloved wife and companion, a mother, a corpse," reported The National Intelligencer on the death of Elizabeth Buchanan in 1838.Such obituaries fascinate us. Few of us realize that, when examined historically, they can reveal not only information about the departed but also much about American culture and about who and what we value...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)