Thursday, July 30, 2009

Author Spotlight and Book Giveaway: Jon Meacham and American Lion


New York Times Bestseller and 2009 Pulitzer Prizewinner for Biography, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
by Jon Meacham is a deeply insightful and eminently readable narrative biography of Andrew Jackson (often called "America's second founding father") and his pivotal years in the White House that shaped the modern presidency.

Andrew Jackson, his intimate circle of friends, and his tumultuous times are at the heart of this remarkable book about the man who rose from nothing to create the modern presidency. Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy. Jackson’s election in 1828 ushered in a new and lasting era in which the people, not distant elites, were the guiding force in American politics. Democracy made its stand in the Jackson years, and he gave voice to the hopes and the fears of a restless, changing nation facing challenging times at home and threats abroad. To tell the saga of Jackson’s presidency, acclaimed author Jon Meacham goes inside the Jackson White House. Drawing on newly discovered family letters and papers, he details the human drama–the family, the women, and the inner circle of advisers–that shaped Jackson’s private world through years of storm and victory.

One of our most significant yet dimly recalled presidents, Jackson was a battle-hardened warrior, the founder of the Democratic Party, and the architect of the presidency as we know it. His story is one of violence, sex, courage, and tragedy. With his powerful persona, his evident bravery, and his mystical connection to the people, Jackson moved the White House from the periphery of government to the center of national action, articulating a vision of change that challenged entrenched interests to heed the popular will–or face his formidable wrath. The greatest of the presidents who have followed Jackson in the White House–from Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt to FDR to Truman–have found inspiration in his example, and virtue in his vision.

Jackson was the most contradictory of men. The architect of the removal of Indians from their native lands, he was warmly sentimental and risked everything to give more power to ordinary citizens. He was, in short, a lot like his country: alternately kind and vicious, brilliant and blind; and a man who fought a lifelong war to keep the republic safe–no matter what it took.

Jon Meacham in American Lion has delivered the definitive human portrait of a pivotal president who forever changed the American presidency–and America itself.


Jon Meacham is the editor of Newsweek and author of American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House and the New York Times bestsellers Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship and American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation. He lives in New York City with his wife and children. You can visit his website at www.jonmeacham.com.






Here are the rules to win a free copy of American Lion by Jon Meacham:

1) Comment here with your working email address so that we can contact you if you win.

2) Get an additional entry for blogging about this contest. Leave a comment here telling us where you are blogged about it.

3) Tweet about this contest and get two additional entries. Don't forget to leave us a comment to let us know you tweeted.

Contest runs from August 1st, 2009 to August 27, 2009. The winner will be announced at this blog on August 28, 2009.

This contest is open to residents of the United States and Canada only.

Good luck!

29 comments:

Leslie said...

1) leslie-lv at hotmail dot com

2) blogged: http://giveawaysaroundthecorner.blogspot.com/2009/07/american-lion-by-jon-meacham.html

3) tweeted: http://twitter.com/thatchickreads/status/2927855334

Lee and Sherry Blackburn said...

Love Meacham and will read this soon whether I win a copy or not!

mindy said...

this sounds wonderful thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

jemscout425 said...

this book sounds fascinating, count me in
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

That looks like an amazing read!


texas_heartland84[at]yahoo[dot]com

Lesley (aka Upper West Side Writer) said...

I'd really love to read this one; thank you!

lesleymfan(at)gmail(dot)com

Lesley (aka Upper West Side Writer) said...

And I just Tweeted about the contest:

http://twitter.com/uwsreader/status/2943218908

Thank you very much!

lesleymfan(at)gmail(dot)com

Nickolay said...

This looks like a awesome book. Thanks for the chance

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Emilie said...

Sounds like a great book--thanks for the chance.

emvark at gmail dot com

Mia J. said...

This sounds like an interesting book. Thanks for the giveaway.

Kelly said...

Books about presidents are the most interesting of all for me! Great giveaway! :)

krtrumpet [at] aol [dot] com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I would love to win this book, the
review is good, many thanks.


cenya2 at hotmail dot com

LittleEagle said...

I wasn't aware of the background of this president. I want to know more. sharonaquilino(at)hotmail(dot)com

Sandra K321 said...

I enjoy books about our country's history. please include me in your giveaway.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Abby said...

I love books about history!!! Yep I'm a nerd like that!










ajcmeyer at go dot com

Renee G said...

Would love to read this.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

wendy wallach said...

I would love to be able to give this to my boyfriend!

madamerkf at aol dot com

wendy

terri142 said...

Sounds like an interesting book, I would love to read. Thanks for the chance to win

Meg said...

My husband and I would have to toss a coin for who gets to read this first. email: mjs1708 at yahoo thanks!

Ellie Wright said...

Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.
eswright18 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

heatherzilla said...

American Lion sounds like and interesting book. Please include me in the giveaway.
heatherzilla(at)care2(dot)com

Miranda Ward said...

Sounds like somthing i woould be grateful to read

Victoria said...

I've always been interested in Andrew Jackson and would love to read this! Thanks. utgal2004[at]yahoo[dot]com

SunnyDaze said...

I've been wanting to read this for a while now. Thanks for the giveaway!

SunnyDaze said...

I blogged: http://sunnydaze99.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-connection-american-lion-giveaway.html

SunnyDaze said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/sunnydaze98/status/3468889910

Entry #1

SunnyDaze said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/sunnydaze98/status/3468889910

Entry #2

CherylS22 said...

I love reading American history - please count me in!
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com