The Rise of American Civilization, Vol. 1: The Agricultural Era

A Dusty Tomes Audio Book In Cooperation with Spoken Realms

The Rise of American Civilization by Charles A. Beard and Mary R. Beard. In two volumes. Volume One: The Agricultural Era. The MacMillan Company 1927.

Narrated by Joseph Tabler Note: This book is ‘read as written'. It was published in 1927. It is in the public domain.

Narrator’s note: Published as a very large book … perhaps to show how special it is, and it is that!! I was tempted to split it into two books per volume, but decided to present it as originally published.

Charles A. Beard, a proponent of the “New History", which emphasized the importance of cultural economic developments as opposed to just warfare and diplomacy.

“… synthesizing the political, economic and cultural elements in our history from the colonial days to the present … with such mastery of material, such discrimination in judgment, such vigor and charm of style as characterize Professor and Mrs. Beard’s volumes is a contribution to American historiography which can only be fitly described as epochal.

… it would be invidious to emphasize a few inevitable infelicities and a few slips in proof-reading in a work of such magnificence of conception and skill in execution. The Beards have tackled a most difficult task and achieved it with brilliant success. They have set a new standard in the writing of American history and have put every student of the institutions, the civilization, and the culture of our Republic deeply in their debt.”—David S. Muzzey (Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 42, No. 3 (Sep. 1927), pp. 431–436. Published by: Oxford University Press)

Contents: I. England’s Colonial Secret II. Laying The Structural Base of the Thirteen Colonies III. The Growth of Economic and Political Power IV. Provincial America V. The Clash of Metropolis and Colony VI. Independence and Civil Conflict VI. Populism and Reaction VII. The Rise of National Parties IX. Agricultural Imperialism and the Balance of Power X. The Young Republic XI. New Agricultural States XII. Jacksonian Democracy—A Triumphant Farmer Labor Party XII. Westward to the Pacific XIV. The Sweep of Economic Forces XV. The Politics of the Economic Drift XVI. Democracy: Romantic and Realistic

Dusty Tomes Audio Books are public domain books retrieved from history. If today’s technology had been available when first printed, they would be audio books already. I am grateful for the opportunity to record them now. Read online at archive.org

Narrator’s Note: I read only as written. These old books were once solid sellers for bookmen of their time. I believe they can shed light on their times and ours. I love obscure and remote literature, they are a distinct pleasure for me to read to you. These turn out to be distant and unknown only so long as they remain unread or unheard. Aloha.

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Release date

Audiobook: April 23, 2024