On Democracy [B1806]

2019 HCDJ in nice clean condition. "I am a member of a party of one, and I live in an age of fear." These words were written by E. B. White (1899-1985) in 1947. Decades before our current political turmoil, White crafted eloquent yet practical political statements that continue to resonate. "There's only one kind of press that's any good-" he proclaimed, "a press free from any taint of the government." He condemned the trend of defamation, arguing that "in doubtful, doubting days, national morality tends to slip and slide toward a condition in which the test of a man's honor is his zeal for discovering dishonor in others." And on the spread of fascism he lamented, "fascism enjoys at the moment an almost perfect climate for growth-a world of fear and hunger." Anchored by an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham, this concise collection of essays, letters, and poems from one of this country's most eminent literary voices offers much-needed historical context for our current state of the nation-and hope for the future of our society. Speaking to Americans at a time of uncertainty, when democracy itself has come under threat, he reminds us, "As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman . . . the scene is not desolate."

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Although these essays were written more than 50 years ago, it could be written now. I enjoyed the way he wrote, and he had good things to say. It was definitely worth reading."; "Reading this book a few months into Trump's second term feels surreal. I highlighted entire paragraphs of some of these essays as we are repeating the same things that White was writing about a half a century ago. I felt so much frustration at some of these because it is exactly what the administration is doing. Overall, I recommend this collection a lot. The essays are mostly short, digestible, spark thought, and provide relevance to the world around us."; "This book makes me happy to be an American and had me feeling hopeful by its conclusion. I loved this collection of essays, editorials, poems, letters, etc. from E.B. White, most often remembered for his children's books Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. This collection reminded me that history repeats itself and there are always people who are standing up for what's right, defending people that aren't like them, holding on to their beliefs throughout their lives, using their creative powers and platforms to ask questions and protest."