Customer Reviews

Flag: An American Biography

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Flag: An American Biography (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2005)

In his latest work of popular historiography, Marc Leepson - author of Saving Monticello - takes on the daunting challenges of writing a concise, comprehensive and objective "biography" of the flag of the Untied States of America. His special attention is directed to the symbolic value which the flag has held for Americans since it was first authorized by Congress on 14 June 1777.

In terms of concision, comprehensiveness and objectivity, Mr. Leepson has done remarkably well and has produced a readable, entertaining volume which contains within its 266 pages a small ocean of educational information about the American flag. With a view specifically towards objectivity, the author does not air-brush from his narrative incidents which show lovers of the American flag in a less than favorable light. The hanging of William Mumford (1862) or of Paul Prager (1918) for flag desecration would not have made it into a less well-balanced book.

Mr. Leepson, a Vietnam War veteran, also exhibits considerable empathy with the anti-war movement of those days, going so far as to include a John Prine lyric as one of the book's two epigraphs: "Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore". He is aware, too, of the jingoism and commercialism - crass or otherwise - which have frequently attended the American flag and duly records their place in the "life" of the flag. Flag, it might be noted, is, in its own quiet way, another all-American commercial product, exploiting the enduringly popular, quintessential symbol of the USA.

Mr. Leepson is aware that he is an American writing for Americans about an American icon, but he maintains, for the most part, a third-person approach to his material. He is a journalist and an historian, a recorder of fact and a debunker of myth - not a cheerleader. He writes, almost always, about "the flag" not "our flag". He is conscious that his book might, perhaps, be read by non-Americans. The pride of place, however, the first of the book's two epigraphs, belongs to Harriet Ward Beecher. Its highly charged rhetoric, from 1861, is the one that resonates more strongly with the author: "our flag carries American ideas, American history and American feelings. It is not a painted rag. It is a whole national history. It is the Constitution. It is the Government. It is the emblem of the sovereignty of the people. It is the NATION."

Mr. Leepson's hope in writing this book was, he says, "to throw an informing light on what has become an object of veneration for so many Americans and the very visible symbol of this amazing nation". He diligently records the various changes made to the actual flag over the years to accommodate the accession of new states into the union. He also diligently records the changing meanings attached to the flag over the years. One detects, however, an understated sense of awe beneath the entire narrative.

Mr. Leepson has chosen for the end-papers of his book an 18-point diagram which illustrates how to fold the flag into a triangle, as is done at U.S. military funerals today. This diagram is an analogue to the 18 chapters into which Mr. Leepson has folded the story of the flag's "life" to date. The diagram is also a testament to his sense of propriety and reverence. One imagines that he has attended a number of U.S. military funerals and seen "Old Glory" folded, tight as swallowed tears.

His excellent, compact volume of U.S. vexillogical lore strongly suggests that for Mr. Leepson, the "Stars and Stripes", the "Star-Spangled Banner" is, primarily, the Battle Flag of the Republic. His book's one word title is sharp as a surname at roll-call or a summons to attention. The book itself is a crisp salute to that demanding national emblem.

"Flag" is the kind of book serious students of American history will love. Marc Leepson has written an account of our nation's most enduring symbol that includes all the scholarly elements but still brings a popular history to those of us that wouldn't know a monograph from a monorail. The book begins with the initial uses of flags in our nation's history through the controversey surrounding its creation up through its modern day use as a statement of patriotism and politics. The book hits all the highlights and some of the abuses without being overly pedantic or preachy. Leepson has accomplished a rare feat - bringing scholarship to the masses and doing so in a delightfully entertaining way. It is exactly the kind of history that should be read by everyone who has an interest in our nation's history - and that should be all of us.

I picked this book up because I was curious about how the author would handle the history of the flag. I was happily surprised that he did so objectively, even when dealing with the most politically charged issues such as flag desecration laws. Plus, the book was readable and told many fascinating stories--and ones I hadn't known.

I now know why, for example, Francis Scott Key was in Baltimore harbor during the British bombardment of Ft. McHenry. I know that Francis Hopkinson likely designed the American flag. I know that Betsy Ross more than likely did not make the first one. I know the origins and the strange history of the Pledge of Allegiance. Plus a whole lot more.

I'd highly recommend this to anyone interested in our nation's history and in the history of the Stars and Stripes.

I've always been interested in the flag and I've read several books about it. But this book is different than any of the others. It tells the whole story, from the beginnings to today.

I learned a great deal of information and really enjoyed reading the book, especially the stories about people like Sgt. Bates, the Union veteran who walked across the South after the Civil War, carrying the flag and who was greeted as a hero everywhere he went, from Mississippi to Virginia. Five star rating well deserved.

When I began Flag: An American Biography, I was not sure the author would be able to sustain my interest in this topic for over 200 pages. As I read, I quickly became captivated by how much I did not know about the American flag, as well as questions Leepson raises about why the mythology surrounding the flag (even the clearly inaccurate stories) have been so important and meaningful to generations of Americans. Ultimately, what Flag does is bring together a wealth of historical information that provides context and meaning to a national symbol that has captivated American attention for more than 200 years. What is the historical validity of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance? How have politicians used the flag to define themselves and sometimes their opponents? Why is the flag our national symbol of choice for moments of triumph (Iwo Jima), moments of conflict (Vietnam protests), and moments of mourning (9/11), and what does it mean that we are the only nation who has stitched together a symbol dedicated to national values of liberty and democracy?

Like the design of stars and stripes itself, Leepson's book weaves together the many strands of our historical, philosophical, and political traditions. His treatment is objective and honest, not neglecting the ironic ways the flag has served groups interested in mudslinging and exclusion. But patriotism and respect are also pervasive qualities of Leepson's book, and particularly for readers who have never fought under the flag or personally witnessed the sacrifices so many have made for their country, it provides a compelling rationale for the deep emotion the flag inspires in many Americans. Scholarly and engaging, Flag: An American Biography offers a wealth of information and careful thought about the meaning of a unique national symbol.

This is a history of the American flag--the Stars and Stripes. It's not about the Confederate flag or the Lone Star or Bear Republic flags, although the author does mention them.

This book is a really well written, deeply researched, fact-filled history of Old Glory from the beginnings to today. It's also objectively written. What we get are the facts, lots and lots of them. There's something fascinating on every page.

Dear Marc, I just finished reading your book 'Flag'. It was 'Great'. I was fascinated with all the information about the flag that I did not know. I must commend you on the way you put all the facts together so that it was an easy read. I find myself telling others how informative the book is but I won't lend them my copy because of the personal note you wrote in it and I want to make sure It stays in my library.

It was nice seeing you in Reno.

Take Care and keep writing.

Semper Fi!..........................Pat Toro, President, VVA Chapter #32

Today, the American flag is nearly ubiquitous in this country. Flown from buildings and houses, seen on TV, and printed on numerous products. Indeed, it has become one of the most recognizable symbols in the entire world.

In Flag: An American Biography, Marc Leepson explores the history of the U.S. flag and the role it has played in American society. He first explores its rather murky origins in the Flag Resolution of 1777. The exact reasoning of why the colors were chosen, or even the overall design of the flag, are not really known. He also takes an entire chapter to debunk the famous Betsy Ross story.

From its first creation to the Civil War, the flag was not really the national symbol it was today. During that period, it mostly used by the military and flown from government buildings. When the Civil War broke out, the popularity of the flag exploded and it became a symbol of unity against the Confederacy in the North. Even after the war ended, anger from the South did not extend to the flag itself.

Again, during both world wars, the flag became a prominent symbol of unity among Americans in the war effort.

That sentiment changed during the 1960s and 70s during the Vietnam War. Some saw the flag differently. While those that supported the war flew flags, some of those that opposed the war saw the flag as a symbol of it and chose instead to burn or desecrate it.

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the flag once again became the symbol of national unity. Flag sales shot through the roof in the aftermath and flags (and similar designs) were to be found on every type of product from candy to underwear.

All in all, this was a pretty interesting overview of the American flag. The history of its own design and the place it has had in society over the years. A good read for those interested in American history.

Mr. Leepson has done a wonderful job in a very unique way...Biography(s) are usually the domain of people, persons or groups...he has done this with our American Flag.
He handles the controversial in a very understandable way (dare I say "Fair and Balanced", but I digress)...While nothing can gas up a crowd a veterans faster than someone abusing our Flag, Mr. Leepson even handles the Flag burning issue with an excellent review of court review to date...

For the historians in the crowd, he has put to rest the alot of the fiction about the developement of the first flag ('a.k.a. the Betsy Ross Flag')...for one who has read a lot about our First President, George Washington, he has 'Weemed' out the falsehoods of the original developement.

He is the author of many books, but his latest on the Marquis LaFayette is also a wonderful read...see my review of that book!

Ed652Gray

"Flag" is a wonderful overview of many of the aspects and much of the history associated with our Stars and Stripes. It is an easy read and filled with information that should be part of high school American History courses.

But, it did not meet my own hopes. As I am already versed in much of the flag's general history, I was only impressed by the book's discussion of the Pledge of Allegiance. I was hoping for a more concrete history of star patterns and so forth, and I certainly wanted more information about the period between the War of 1812 and the Civil War. I guess, for once, I wanted something more academic.

Still, I would recommend this book because it has some well-told stories and also dispells many myths (including that of Betsy Ross). It is a well-written quick read, and I think that it covers a lot of the issues that still relevant to today's political climate.