Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Mentor / New American Library (1956), Paperback, 320 pages
Description
The complete edition based on the revised and corrected text of the 1961 French edition Originally penned in the mid-eighteenth century by Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America remains the most penetrating and astute picture of American life, politics, and morals ever written, as relevant today as when it first appeared in print nearly two hundred years ago. This edition, meticulously edited by the distinguished de Tocqueville scholar J. P. Mayer, is widely recognized as the preeminent translation.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Carolfoasia
Loved this! It was so interesting to read an outsiders perspective of America in between the American Revolution and Civil War.
LibraryThing member Wprecht
If you want to read about how a pompous, arrogant ass of a Frenchman viewed ‘the Great Experiement’ in Democracy, read this book. Otherwise, skip it. I had to read it in a government class as an undergraduate student (therefore, this image isn’t of the printing that I read, but since the guy
Of course, a Frenchman is a judge of democracy? Yes, they had their revolution in 1789 that started an orgy of blood letting against the noblity (at first) and then (after the realized that they already killed everyone who actually knew how to run a country) each other. Then you get a charismatic military dictator who gives France 15 glorious years in the sun (militarily) while he ran the economy into the ground and pissed off the rest of the continent. Then you get some sort of mismash constitutional monarchy. Yeah good background.
I found the tone annoying and his observations unsurprising. If you are a student of government and the theory thereof, give it a go, otherwise give it a pass.
Show More
has been dead for 150 years, I don’t think much has changed. The intent (I believe) was for us to get some insight as to how America was perceived by Europeans of the age. At that time, we had yet to show our greatness in any way. We were a struggling agrarian society that had gotten our butts kicked recently by the British and were working over the American Indians in order to settle the West.Of course, a Frenchman is a judge of democracy? Yes, they had their revolution in 1789 that started an orgy of blood letting against the noblity (at first) and then (after the realized that they already killed everyone who actually knew how to run a country) each other. Then you get a charismatic military dictator who gives France 15 glorious years in the sun (militarily) while he ran the economy into the ground and pissed off the rest of the continent. Then you get some sort of mismash constitutional monarchy. Yeah good background.
I found the tone annoying and his observations unsurprising. If you are a student of government and the theory thereof, give it a go, otherwise give it a pass.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsLee
I started to read this, but didn't finish. My interest in political theory is zero at this stage of my life. I found it interesting to see his thoughts and predictions, and at another stage of my life I could have enjoyed this very much. He gives insights not only on Democracy in America, but also
Show More
how it worked and developed in other parts of the world up to the time of his writings in 1835. The introduction was very informative as well. For anyone interested in the development of Democracy, this would be a fascinating book because his predictions of its course for the future are insightful. Show Less
Language
Original language
French
Original publication date
1956 {thus}
Physical description
320 p.; 6.9 inches
ISBN
0451628012 / 9780451628015