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Alexis de Tocqueville

Arthur Goldhammer

Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America (LOA #147): A new translation by Arthur Goldhammer (Library of America) Hardcover – February 9, 2004

by Alexis de Tocqueville (Author), Arthur Goldhammer (Translator)

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An award-winning new translation of the most perceptive and influential book ever written about American politics and society.

Alexis de Tocqueville, a young aristocratic French lawyer, came to the United States in 1831 to study its penitentiary systems. His nine-month visit and subsequent reading and reflection resulted in this landmark masterpiece of political observation and analysis.

In Democracy in America, Tocqueville vividly describes the unprecedented social equality he found in America and explores its implications for European society in the emerging modern era. His book provides enduring insight into the political consequences of widespread property ownership, the potential dangers to liberty inherent in majority rule, the vital role of religion in American life, and the importance of civil institutions in an individualistic culture dominated by the pursuit of material self-interest. He also probes the deep differences between the free and slave states, writing prophetically of racism, bigotry, and prejudice in the United States.

Brought to life by Arthur Goldhammer's clear, fluid, and vigorous translation, this volume of Democracy in America is the first to fully capture Tocqueville’s achievements both as an accomplished literary stylist and as a profound political thinker.

Print length

928 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Library of America
Publication date

February 9, 2004
Dimensions

5.2 x 1.2 x 8.1 inches
ISBN-10

1931082545
ISBN-13

978-1931082549
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It's hard to think of a work that has so influenced our understanding of the United States as thisstill the most authoritative, reflective set of observations about American institutions and the American character ever written. That its author was a Frenchman, and an aristocrat at that, and that he was balanced and penetrating has often occasioned rueful surprise. However, de Tocqueville's distance from his subject is precisely what lends his observations such continuing currency. A few decades ago, for instance, we read Tocqueville for his prediction that Russia and the United States would one day contest for pre-eminence. Now, we ought to read him (Iraqis and Afghans should, too) for his classic analyses of the link between political parties and free associations and for his reflections on such matters as religion and public life, and "self-interest properly understood." But many solid translations exist. Why another? Because the Library of America would be incomplete without this canonical work of history and sociology. And this translation by Goldhammer, the dean of American translators from the French, accomplishes what it's hard to believe possible: it lends to this unalterably grave work some zest. Never slipping into slang, it gives a colloquial cast, fitting for our time, to a work normally rendered only with high solemnity. The Library of America claims that its editions will stay in print forever. This one's likely to stand that test.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Winner of the 2004 Translation Prize awarded by the French-American Foundation

“This new translation by Goldhammer gets to the heart of Tocqueville’s words.” — Library Journal

"It's hard to think of a work that has so influenced our understanding of the United States as this—still the most authoritative, reflective set of observations about American institutions and the American character ever written. That its author was a Frenchman, and an aristocrat at that, and that he was balanced and penetrating has often occasioned rueful surprise. However, de Tocqueville's distance from his subject is precisely what lends his observations such continuing currency. A few decades ago, for instance, we read Tocqueville for his prediction that Russia and the United States would one day contest for pre-eminence. Now, we ought to read him (Iraqis and Afghans should, too) for his classic analyses of the link between political parties and free associations and for his reflections on such matters as religion and public life, and "self-interest properly understood." But many solid translations exist. Why another? Because the Library of America would be incomplete without this canonical work of history and sociology. And this translation by Goldhammer, the dean of American translators from the French, accomplishes what it's hard to believe possible: it lends to this unalterably grave work some zest. Never slipping into slang, it gives a colloquial cast, fitting for our time, to a work normally rendered only with high solemnity. The Library of America claims that its editions will stay in print forever. This one's likely to stand that test." — Publishers Weekly

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Library of America; 1st edition (February 9, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 928 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1931082545
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1931082549
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.35 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 1.2 x 8.1 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #35,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #23 in Slavery & Emancipation History
- #82 in Democracy (Books)
- #96 in Political Philosophy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
282 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		84%
4 star		9%
3 star		4%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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Grognard

Review of the Library of America Edition

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is a review of the Library of America 2004 edition of Democracy in America translated by Arthur Goldhammer, found here: Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America: A new translation by Arthur Goldhammer (Library of America) . Unfortunately Amazon lumps together reviews of several different editions from several publishers, so it is difficult to know which edition is being reviewed. For this reason, and because many others have reviewed the content of Tocqueville's amazingly insightful work, I will focus solely on the physical aspects of the Library of America edition.

In my opinion, the Library of America edition is excellent. It is not the least expensive edition, but I believe it is worth the extra dollars, and is really quite reasonably priced given the quality. Considering it contains over 900 pages covering both volumes 1 and 2 of Democracy in America, the book is remarkably compact at 5 inches wide by 8 inches tall by 1.25 inches thick. This is made possible by using thin paper which still appears to be quite durable. The hardbound binding also appears to be very durable, and even contains a built-in ribbon marker. Even the dust jacket is made from heavier than usual stuff. The font used for the text is large and very clear. The 2004 translation by Goldhammer is in what I would call a modern style of English that I found easy to understand. In other words, I didn't have to fight the translation in order to follow and think about what Tocqueville was actually saying.

There are several helps included. The frontispiece contains a map from the original 1835 edition that describes North America as it was when Missouri and Arkansas were the westernmost states. Translated from the French, it proved to be quite helpful at times. The end of the volume contains a chronology that is a pretty thorough biography of Tocqueville himself. There is also an extensive index, along with notes on the text and translation.

All in all, I found this to be an understandable and durable edition that does justice to Tocqueville's timeless work. I recommend it.

99 people found this helpful

Helpful

J. Nowak

Good translation and edition; great read if you know the (French) historic context

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2015

Verified Purchase

Given that I do not speak/read French, I cannot speak to the accuracy of the translation, however, this translation was a pleasure to read in English. Also, the footnotes were helpful, and the chronology section helped put Tocqueville himself in context nicely. I read the kindle edition, and it was well formatted.

Apart from this specific translation/edition, I don't think that I can add much that isn't already out there about Democracy in America other than perhaps to point out that you are much less likely to find it interesting if you are not at least somewhat familiar with 18th and 19th century French history. If this is the case, I would recommend at least reading "Revolutionary France 1770-1880" by François Furet prior to starting Democracy in America.

52 people found this helpful

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Richard

Get a different translation.

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2021

Verified Purchase

The item quality itself is amazing. The book came in good condition and is quite nice, though the pages are very thin and newspaper like. The book itself has a lot of great ideas and concepts, but it is quite hard to read. The translation seems to be very difficult to understand. I would recommend a different translation.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Charles Martell

Book One is an excellent display of the government structure of the USA

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2016

Verified Purchase

If i ran this country this book would be required reading. In fact you would have to prove some level of proficiency in understanding it in order to vote.
Book One is an excellent display of the government structure of the USA. Book Two discusses cultural matters and it is simply amazing how much Tocqueville understood and got totally correct. He foresaw so many of the problems we deal with still. What amazes me as well is that no one paid any attention to what he said and thus we find ourselves where we are on so many fronts....the book is prophetic and revealing.

13 people found this helpful

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Paul Lee

An excellent translation

Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2017

Verified Purchase

The Library of America's edition of Democracy in America is the best translation. Clear and easy to understand. When there's French expression which quote American documents, this edition goes to the original. The same book translated by an English translator does not bother to go to this deep.

11 people found this helpful

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Leo Magellan

Beautiful

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2021

Verified Purchase

Beautiful edition. Delightfully smooth, tissue-papery pages, like a bible, which totally contribute to the quality, but make it suboptimal for marking up pages with marginalia. Goldhammer translation is the best translation.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

LC Gus

PRINT SIZE IS VERY, VERY SMALL. ALMOST UNREADABLE

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2019

Verified Purchase

i THINK I WOULD ENJOY IT ( I DID BUY IT) IT IF I COULD READ THE SILLY THING. WHOEVER PICKED THE FONT SIZE NEED TO BE RETIRED.

4 people found this helpful

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ST

Classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2020

Verified Purchase

They say it's the best book about democracy and the best book about America. Certainly among the ones I've read!

Asger Rahtkens

Stupid print. Total scam.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 24, 2019

Verified Purchase

Stupidly printed. Absolutely worthless. The text is printed so small I didn't even bother reading it... What a waste

George

Bad edition, printed horribly

Reviewed in Germany on April 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is a great and important book for anyone interested in the uniqueness and development of American society and the American political system. This edition is horrible though, it is just a direct print of a free version of the book available online, so the footnotes are not even printed as footnotes, it's hard to distinguish what the main text is, what the footnotes are etc... Don't get this edition, pay a bit more for an actual book

2 people found this helpful

David Hernández

libro interesante

Reviewed in Spain on March 29, 2017

Verified Purchase

libro interesante y enormemente didáctico. Útil para adentrarse en una realidad histórica y política concreta, sin hacerse la lectura demasiado pesada o aburrida.

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Christopher Lennon

very nice clean edition of full text

Reviewed in Canada on July 4, 2016

Verified Purchase

very nice clean edition of full text, good price - no publishing information or notes to put it into context for the first time reader, however, so difficult to recommend this edition.

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