EMPIRE OF LIBERTY A History of the Early Republic

An emeritus history professor explains how the Constitution became functional after the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The complexity of his thinking and the scope of his narrative recommend the audiobook primarily to scholars well informed on the period. The difficulty comes from the author’s method of making his points using hundreds of quotes from Aristotle to Jefferson. Although included to support his case, the overdose of citations becomes distracting rather than informative. Since narrator Robert Fass does little to distinguish the many sources included in the author’s narrative, he doesn’t help to simplify the intricate thinking. Fass’s measured and distinct diction remains the most positive aspect of bringing this book to our ears. J.A.H. 2011 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011]