April’s Best New History Books

Most Blessed of the Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination, by Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter S. Onuf
Thomas Jefferson is one of our most fascinating and puzzling founding fathers, a man who soared to amazing heights while simultaneously diving to dark lows. This important work from Pulitzer Prize-winner Gordon-Reed and esteemed Jefferson scholar Onuf seeks to examine what Jefferson made of himself. Following his philosophical and intellectual development from childhood to his years as a self-described “patriarch,” it takes readers on an unprecedented journey through Jefferson’s mind. It will fascinate anyone interested in our third president and the founding of the United States.

First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies, by Kate Andersen Brower
Focusing on the ten first ladies that have held the position since 1960, from Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama, First Women paints a fascinating portrait of the modern first lady—a position that demands the holder be everything from a politician to a hostess to a wife and mother. Including in-depth profiles of the women who’ve held the position, the book relies on behind-the-scenes sources like friends and staff to unearth new stories and details about its subjects, and pays special attention to the campaign of Hilary Clinton and the history-making possibility of a first husband.

Worth Dying For: A Navy Seal’s Call to a Nation, by Rorke Denver and Ellis Henican
The latest from Navy SEAL commander and bestselling author of Damn Few, Worth Dying For asks why we fight and what makes a hero. Applying his experiences as a SEAL commander to nine big-picture questions, Denver attempts to broaden the discussion about war and the military beyond the political tangle, allowing readers to approach the questions from new directions. An excellent book for those interested in modern warfare.

The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero, by Timothy Egan
In the Great Famine of the 1840s, a charismatic young Irishman named Thomas Francis Meager led a failed revolt against the British and was sent to a prison colony in Tasmania for his troubles. Shortly thereafter he escaped to the United States, where he went on to lead New York’s Irish Brigade in the Civil War, become a general, get shot off his horse twice during battle, and eventually end up as the territorial governor of Montana. The incomparable Timothy Egan’s latest is a colorful, larger-than-life portrait of a colorful, larger-than-life man.

Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams, by Louisa Thomas
When it comes to first ladies, it’s usually another Adams, Abigail, who takes the spotlight, so this elegant, detailed portrait of Louisa Catherine Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams, is both welcome and unusual. Born to an American father and a British mother shortly before the Revolutionary War, Louisa spent much of her life learning to define herself, a journey Thomas documents with empathy and sensitivity. A lovely, moving book, perfect for anyone who enjoys American history.

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond
This widely praised examination of poverty and housing from Harvard sociologist Desmond, which has already been compared to Barbara Ehrenreich’s seminal book Nickel and Dimed, is based on years of ethnographic research conducted in some of Milwaukee’s poorest areas. Evicted follows eight families struggling—and sometimes failing—to avoid homelessness, interweaving their stories with painstaking policy research and clear calls to action, resulting in a poignant, timely, and important work.

Pale Horse: Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101st Airborne Division, by Jimmy Blackmon
Written by the commander of the Pale Horse aviation task force during the Afghan War, Pale Horse takes readers inside the world of airborne support. Although Blackmon writes that he never questioned the need for the American presence in Afghanistan, he also engages honestly with the psychological stress soldiers endure, dwelling on the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder alongside accounts of friendship, bravery, and sacrifice. Praised by the likes of General (Ret.) David Petraeus and Bob Woodward, Pale Horse is a good addition to any military buff’s library.

Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939, by Adam Hochschild
Around 3,000 Americans participated in the Spanish Civil War—most famously Hemingway, who is also responsible for For Whom the Bell Tolls, the war’s most lasting account—and Americans at home breathlessly followed newspaper accounts of the struggle overseas. Spain in Our Hearts, written by the author of the critically acclaimed To End All Wars, follows a dozen historical figures as they participate, on one side or another, with the war effort, from Hemingway, to Orwell, to the Texas oilman in charge of Texaco who sold Franco fuel at lowered prices and on credit. A fascinating, powerfully written account.