For more than 60 years Alistair Cooke wrote and broadcast on every aspect of American life. Recently reissued to mark its 50th anniversary, his best-selling ‘personal history’ of America, is an irresistibly readable guide to the country, covering the pioneers who tamed the west, the soldiers who fought for independence, the slaves who fled north and the tycoons, immigrants, inventors and farmers who made a life there. In this exclusive excerpt, he shines a light on some of the key characters behind the Declaration of Independence, and reminds us of its revolutionary power.
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