December’s Best New History Books

The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic, by Michael Medved
It’s not surprising that Medved believes the United States of America to be blessed, and that its history is one of exceptionalism and divine providence. What is interesting, however, is the compellingly long list of events Medved describes wherein nature or random events conspired to lead the United States to victory, to success, and to riches. Medved argues that this blessing by divine providence—by God—continues in the modern day, despite the occasional setbacks and missteps. Whether or not you accept the existence of divine providence itself, Medved’s recounting of American history from this point of view is inarguably fascinating.

The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815-1914, by Richard J. Evans
Understanding the present requires an understanding of the past. Evans tackles the complex task of linking together the events, personalities, advances, and movements of a century, culminating in World War I. Evans argues for an updated understanding of the concept of power—going beyond simple political or military authority and strength to include concepts like scientific and medical advances as part of a tapestry of national personality and ability. This clear-eyed work examines an era essential to understanding to our understanding of what came directly after, and of what might still be in store for us today.

Rasputin: Faith, Power, and the Twilight of the Romanovs, by Douglas Smith
One of history’s most enigmatic figures, Grigory Rasputin was put to death a century ago amidst a flurry of scandals concerning his relationship with the Romanovs, Russia’s last ruling royal family. A peasant who was demonized to an unbelievable extent—he was cast alternatively (or simultaneously) as a seducer of Tzarinas, the true power behind the throne, and a mesmerist who controlled the Romanovs using hypnosis—Rasputin has retained an air of occult mystery into the modern day. Smith crafts a novel-like tale that dispels many of the rumors and offers an intimate portrait of the man as he truly was, based on letters, diaries, and secret police files. It’s more entertaining than any legend.

When We Rise: My Life in the Movement, by Cleve Jones
A personal memoir from a hero of the struggle for LGBTQ rights, a paean to a San Francisco that no longer exists, and an inspiring personal story all rolled into one: Jones recounts his life from his closeted youth, to his work with Harvey Milk, and through his efforts on behalf of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Told by someone who was inside the movement during its earliest years, and who has struggled with the same issues that LGBTQ people still face today, Jones’ story is at once inspiring and a sober reminder that no matter how far we think we’ve come, there is always more work to do.

Game of Queens: The Women Who Made Sixteenth-Century Europe, by Sarah Gristwood
Gristwood makes a compelling argument that the Renaissance should be reconsidered as the titular “Age of Queens,” a historical period dominated by talented, determined, and powerful women. With a cast of characters ranging that includes Spain’s Isabella of Castile, England’s Elizabeth I, Margaret of Austria, Anne Boleyn, Louise of Savoy, Catherine de Medici, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Mary I, her point is well-made, even as she resolutely paints each woman honestly, warts and all. In a time when their legal, political, and personal power were interrelated and maddeningly complex, the fact that these women were able to influence history—for good and otherwise—to the extent that they did makes it easy to reframe the era as a female-centric period of history.

The Wars of the Roosevelts: The Ruthless Rise of America’s Greatest Political Family, by William J. Mann
Who says politics can’t be sexy? Eschewing all those boring policy details, Mann offers up a sizzling soap opera in the form of the Roosevelt family, a sprawling group of people related by blood but separated into two distinct wings defined by location (Oyster Bay versus Hyde Park) and Presidents (Teddy for the former, FDR for the latter). Mann paints a picture of a family of brilliant, alcoholic, and self-interested people who squabble over position, prominence, and power, offering up a range of fascinating and titillating stories, including the long-standing rumor that Elanor Roosevelt may have been bisexual and engaged in long-term affairs with a woman and a man while married to FDR. Writing with assurance and verve, Mann makes a political dynasty into must-read entertainment.

The Man with the Poison Gun: A Cold War Spy Story, by Serhii Plokhy
If you’ve ever watched a TV show like The Americans and thought some of its stories implausible, Serhii Plokhy offers up one that’s got them all beat: the tale of Bogdan Stashinsky, a KGB agent who assassinated two Polish nationalists who had fled to West Germany, executing them with a gun that fired an untraceable liquid poison. Stashinsky defected a few years later, and stood trial for the murders, but received a light sentence after his defense attorneys argued successfully that the true murderers were the Russian authorities who had ordered the killings. Plokhy offers a glimpse into a bone-chillingly true Cold War episode that reminds us that even the most outlandish spy stories are matched by things that actually happened.

Iron Dawn: The Monitor, the Merrimack, and the Civil War Sea Battle that Changed History, by Richard Snow
The Civil War can be said to have not only transformed America, but warfare itself. Many historians consider the era of “modern” warfare to have its roots in the tactics of the Civil War, but often overlooked is the historic encounter of March 9, 1862, when two iron-plated ships, the Merrimack of the South and the Monitor of the North, engaged in battle. The outcome was indecisive, but the Merrimack had been devastating the North’s wooden ships and the Monitor’s arrival held the Union blockade. The age of naval warfare would be changed forever, and Snow’s entertaining and informative book introduces readers to the colorful personalities behind the design, building, and deployment of the first modern-era warships.

Casanova: The World of a Seductive Genius, by Laurence Bergreen
For most people, the name Casanova is simply shorthand for seduction, but there was a real person behind the legend. Seeking to paint an instructive portrait of a life that remains in the public imagination centuries after his death, Bergreen goes into exhaustive detail, beginning with Casanova’s 1725 birth in Venice to parents who neglected him, and on to his studies for the priesthood, and his ultimate dedication to the pleasures of the flesh. The truly remarkable list of sexual conquests serves to add a bit more to the story, and the tale of Casanova’s escape from prison after being convicted by the Inquisition is nail-biting, thriller-level stuff.

The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom: America and China, 1776 to the Present, by John Pomfret
If you’re only aware of the recent history between China (the titular Middle Kingdom) and America (The Beautiful Country), you’re only getting the smallest slice of the picture. Ever since its establishment in 1776, America and China have shared a fascinating history. Coming together, drifting apart, exchanging ideas and goods, America has influenced and, some argue, exploited China historically, resulting in a deep, often deeply conflicted bond between the two countries. Pomfret’s examination of these ever-circling nations is a comprehensive look at a relationship that has been developing for more than two centuries. As China rises to ever-greater prominence in the modern world, there’s no better subject to study.

Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World, by Thomas F. Madden
Great cities embody not only the culture and sensibility of their rulers, but the history and story of the people that live within their limits. Few cities have a story as grand and surprising as Istanbul’s (once Constantinople, and Byzantium before that). For thousands of years, Istanbul has been a center of culture, history, religion, and conquest, and Madden brings his expertise as director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at St. Louis University to bear on this rich subject. Reading about a city that has seen empires, religions, and entire epochs come and go is a perfect way to expand your knowledge of just about everything, and Madden’s well-researched, beautifully written book is the ideal way to accomplish that.