Description
—M’hamed Oualdi, Sciences Po–Paris
“Linda Colley has an unparalleled ability to bring together the histories of ideas, politics, and people, and to distill prodigious learning into a narrative that is at once incisively argued and an immense pleasure to read. Rippling with fresh interpretations, startling connections, and remarkable stories, this is a masterpiece of global history by one of the greatest historians working today.”
—Maya Jasanoff, author of The Dawn Watch
“Linda Colley’s central proposition—that the pillars of modern nationhood arose chiefly from the catastrophes of war—may surprise as well as enlighten. The book’s astonishing intercontinental scope, though, coupled with Colley’s brilliance, make it a masterpiece.”
—Sean Wilentz, author of The Politicians and the Egalitarians
“In this ambitious work, Linda Colley seeks to rethink the ‘long’ nineteenth century through the prism of the many constitutions it produced. Written with characteristic vigor and clarity, her book shows the continued validity of ‘big picture’ history in asking searching questions and providing unexpected answers.”
—Sanjay Subrahmanyam, author of Europe’s India
“In this bold, lucid, and wide-ranging book, Linda Colley reveals the international dialogue that created our age of constitutions.”
—Alan Taylor, author of Thomas Jefferson’s Education
“Despite their lofty ideals, constitutions’ many guises across the world repeatedly failed to meet their stated aspirations. Remarkable therefore are our centuries of persistent belief in these documents. With her characteristic skill, erudition, and creativity, Linda Colley, one of our greatest historians, explains this seeming conundrum through a history of the durability of human hope, war, and political imagination. This is a monumentally important book.”
—Alan Mikhail, author of God’s Shadow
“A marvelous tour with a brilliant guide through world history in search of the early adopters of written constitutions—a thoroughly enjoyable read!”
—Mary Sarah Bilder, author of Madison’s Hand
Number of pages: 512
Dimensions: 240 x 162 x 44 mm
