Beverly Gage's 'This Land Is Your Land' Explores American History Through Road Trips Amidst Polarization
Beverly Gage, a professor of American political history at Yale University and Pulitzer Prize winner, has released her new book, 'This Land Is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History.' The book, which follows her extensive research for 'G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century,' is a journey through 250 years of American history, starting from Philadelphia and concluding in California. Gage embarked on a series of road trips across the contiguous United States, visiting numerous historical sites, both serious and commercial. Her approach aims to navigate the current polarized historical dialogue by presenting a 'critical patriotism' that acknowledges both the virtues and flaws of the nation. The book is structured around thirteen journeys, each combining a specific place with a period of American history, allowing for a chronological and geographical exploration of the country's past. Gage's methodology involved experiencing these sites as an ordinary tourist, fostering conversatio...
