American Dreamer: A Life of Henry A. Wallace (Norton Paperback): Culver, John C., Hyde, John: 9780393322286: Amazon.com: Books

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American Dreamer: A Life of Henry A. Wallace (Norton Paperback) Paperback – September 17, 2001

by John C. Culver (Author), John Hyde

4.7 194 ratings

Part of: Norton Paperback (19 books)

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The great politician, agriculturalist, economist, author, and businessman―loved and reviled, and finally now revealed.

The great politician, agriculturalist, economist, author, and businessman―loved and reviled, and finally now revealed. The first full biography of Henry A. Wallace, a visionary intellectual and one of this century's most important and controversial figures. Henry Agard Wallace was a geneticist of international renown, a prolific author, a groundbreaking economist, and a businessman whose company paved the way for a worldwide agricultural revolution. He also held two cabinet posts, served four tumultuous years as America's wartime vice president under FDR, and waged a quixotic campaign for president in 1948. Wallace was a figure of Sphinx-like paradox: a shy man, uncomfortable in the world of politics, who only narrowly missed becoming president of the United States; the scion of prominent Midwestern Republicans and the philosophical voice of New Deal liberalism; loved by millions as the Prophet of the Common Man, and reviled by millions more as a dangerous, misguided radical. John C. Culver and John Hyde have combed through thousands of document pages and family papers, from Wallace's letters and diaries to previously unavailable files sealed within the archives of the Soviet Union. Here is the remarkable story of an authentic American dreamer. A Washington Post Best Book of the Year. 32 pages of b/w photographs. "A careful, readable, sympathetic but commendably dispassionate biography."―Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Los Angeles Times Book Review "In this masterly work, Culver and Hyde have captured one of the more fascinating figures in American history."―Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of No Ordinary Time "Wonderfully researched and very well written...an indispensable document on both the man and the time."―John Kenneth Galbraith "A fascinating, thoughtful, incisive, and well-researched life of the mysterious and complicated figure who might have become president..."―Michael Beschloss, author of Taking Charge: The Johnson White House Tapes, 1963-1964 "This is a great book about a great man. I can't recall when―if ever―I've read a better biography."―George McGovern
"[A] lucid and sympathetic portrait of a fascinating character. Wallace's life reminds us of a time when ideas really mattered."―Evan Thomas, author of The Very Best Men: The Early Years of the CIA
"Everyone interested in twentieth-century American history will want to read this book."―Robert Dallek, author of Flawed Giant "[T]he most balanced, complete, and readable account..."―Walter LaFeber, author of Inevitable Revolutions "At long last a lucid, balanced and judicious narrative of Henry Wallace...a first-rate biography."―Douglas Brinkley, author of The Unfinished Presidency
"A fine contribution to twentieth-century American history."―James MacGregor Burns, author of Dead Center: Clinton-Gore Leadership and the Perils of Moderation "[E]minently readable...a captivating chronicle of American politics from the Depression through the 1960s."―Senator Edward M. Kennedy "A formidable achievement....[an] engrossing account."―Kai Bird, author of The Color of Truth: McGeorge Bundy & William Bundy, Brothers in Arms "Many perceptions of Henry Wallace, not always favorable, will forever be changed."―Dale Bumpers, former US Senator, Arkansas 32 pages of black and white photographs

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Part of series

Norton Paperback
Print length

654 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date

September 17, 2001
Dimensions

6.2 x 1.7 x 9.2 inches
ISBN-10

0393322289
ISBN-13

978-0393322286
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A careful, readable, sympathetic but commendably dispassionate biography. -- Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Los Angeles Times Book Review

A fascinating, thoughtful, incisive, and well-researched life of the mysterious and complicated figure who might have become president... -- Michael Beschloss, author of Taking Charge: The Johnson White House Tapes, 1963-1964

At long last a lucid, balanced and judicious narrative of Henry Wallace...a first-rate biography. -- Douglas Brinkley, author of The Unfinished Presidency

Everyone interested in twentieth-century American history will want to read this book. -- Robert Dallek, author of Flawed Giant

In this masterly work, Culver and Hyde have captured one of the more fascinating figures in American history. -- Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of No Ordinary Time

This is a great book about a great man. I can't recall whenif everI've read a better biography. -- George McGovern

Wonderfully researched and very well written...an indispensable document on both the man and the time. -- John Kenneth Galbraith

[A] lucid and sympathetic portrait of a fascinating character. Wallace's life reminds us of a time when ideas really mattered. -- Evan Thomas, author of The Very Best Men: The Early Years of the CIA

[E]minently readable...a captivating chronicle of American politics from the Depression through the 1960s. -- Senator Edward M. Kennedy

[T]he most balanced, complete, and readable account... -- Walter LaFeber, author of Inevitable Revolutions

About the Author

John C. Culver, a former US senator from Iowa, practices law in Washington, DC.

John Hyde, a former reporter for the Des Moines Register, now directs the Fund for Investigative Journalism in Washington, DC.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (September 17, 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 654 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393322289
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393322286
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.61 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 1.7 x 9.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,162,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,290 in Scientist Biographies
- #3,178 in Biographies of Business & Industrial Professionals
- #5,736 in Political Leader Biographies

Customer Reviews:
4.7 194 ratings

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John C. Culver

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4.7 out of 5

194 global ratings

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Important as ever

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

Wallace, as a character, leaps off of the page. He's truly one of history's most unique individuals, inspiring all to be lifelong learners.

Of course, the ending of his political story almost feels tragic. I'm left wondering "what if" the country had been ready to heed his words, rather than succumbing to fear. How quickly and severely non-partisans are dismissed, both then and know. After showing to be one of the most pragmatic American politicians, he was minimized as a dreamer. And for not being willing to stoke the fires of Soviet hatred, he was considered a Communist. I hope reading this account might make the reader less likely to dismiss the next Henry Wallace. This world could use one.

Thanks for the beautifully written account of a brilliant life!

6 people found this helpful

Richard E. Hegner

An engrossing political biography of an understudied leader

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2000

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Rarely have I read such a well-written political biography of a major figure. AMERICAN DREAMER very ably traces the trajectory of Henry Wallace's career from relative obscurity in the Iowa farm belt to its pinnacle in the Vice Presidency, then the fall from grace from Truman's firing of him as Commerce Secretary through the debacle of the 1948 Progressive Party candidacy for President. Especially fascinating are the parts which trace the reasons for FDR's dumping Wallace in favor of Truman in 1944 and Wallace's increasing distance from the American political mainstream, especially after that point. Viewed from the perspective of post-Cold War America, Wallace's views toward the Soviet Union and World Communism seem to have more validity than they did when he expressed them between the end of World War II and the outbreak of the Korean War; but the authors maintain objectivity about Wallace in this regard and rightly suggest how naive or downright subversive some of his political stances seemed at the time. The book is not without its appreciation of the ironies of Wallace's life and career in politics--how a "rock-ribbed Republican" evolved into one of the most radical national politicians of his generation, and how a scientist and businessman who made a minor fortune from the new hybrid strains of corn which he developed came to be regarded as a closet Communist.
The main thing that is lacking from this biography is a full picture of Henry Wallace the man. There are a number of hints that his family life following his marriage was rather troubled and unhappy, but his wife, children, and siblings remain on the periphery of the authors' presentation. (For example, it mentions that his oldest son never forgave him for one particular disagreement, but never elaborates or returns to their relationship. His wife was obviously uncomfortable with his entrance into electoral politics, but the book never explores this in any depth.) The book also seems to compress its account of the final 15 years of his life to a snapshot at best; it would have been nice to know more about how he viewed American politics--both national and international--in the years preceding his death, how he felt about his relative anonymity, and whether he ever felt fully vindicated for taking the rather lonely political path he took.
As a result, the portrayal of his later life in particular seems to be a bit one dimensional. But these are minor flaws in what is otherwise a captivating biography of a very intricate individual. Most people will learn a lot from this book; I certainly did.

32 people found this helpful

Richard D. Roberts

We need more Dreamers like Henry A. Wallace

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2017

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Rather long read, but well worth it. Details the life and beliefs of a true New Deal Democrat. One wonders what the world would be like if he had not been railroaded out of the VP spot in 1944. Instead, we got Harry Truman the father of the cold war. Henry Wallace was Bernie Sanders before Bernie was.........:)

7 people found this helpful

Truly one of the best biographies written.

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2023

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This is truly one of the best biographies ever written. The reader is drawn in immediately to this Iowa agricultural family that bucked the norms and changed American agriculture forever. But you do not need to care a kernal about agriculature or Iowa history to love this book. It was the first book I've read in decades that kept me up past midnight because I did not want to put it down. If you think you understood the causes of the New Deal and how the Cold War came to exist, I dare say you will still learn nuances behind those policies that you simply did not know before. Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America imagines what we would have become as a nation had Lindbergh become president and I now wonder the same about Wallace. Where would we be today had his ideals and not the Cold War had prevailed? Anyone interested in 20th Century history must read this book.

3 people found this helpful

Bruce M. Kerner

What would America Look Like Today If Wallace had become President?

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2013

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Henry A. Wallace was not born into a corporatized American life. As the 19th became the 20th century there was still space for Populists and other social thinkers to experiment and plan for a better society for all. The story of this man's incredible life, including his family's status among the farmers of America long before Agra - Biz and Monsanto, representing the common man in public life, as well as promoting advances in agriculture for community benefit, makes for an exciting read. Go figure.

Who would have thought that FDR's VP, a former Sec. Of Agriculture and an intellectual and published farmer so popular until WWII ended, would have a legacy of being branded a socialist and pinko in post war politics? Well, that's part of the story, and it is fascinating.

10 people found this helpful

He portrays Wallace's successes and failures fairly and in great detail, as well as the events he lived ...

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2018

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Well-written and thorough, Culver really brings his subject to life. He portrays Wallace's successes and failures fairly and in great detail, as well as the events he lived through and the other people in his orbit.

I find Wallace to be a very inspirational man. He may have been overly idealistic, but then if no one shines a light towards the farthest reaches of the good that humans are capable of, how would we know what to strive for?

11 people found this helpful

Hollis L. Stavn

Couldnt put it down

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2013

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I had not heard much about Henry Wallace until mentioned in an Oliver Stone series. This book is deeply researched engagingly written and captures the essence of the man and the times. It includes early influences in Agriculture, and his rise to almost being President of the US instead of Truman. You get a feeling that the world would have been very different- that there may not have been a cold war with the Soviet Union. Henry Wallace wrote about things 80 years ago that turned out to be prescient. If you are a progressive, or just a person interested in politics of the US and the world, this book is a must read.

29 people found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Mark Samuel

A Great but Forgotten American

Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2018

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A wonderful book about a truly amazing American who has been almost erased from 20th Century American history. Decades ago my parents told me of a man named Wallace who came very close to being the first Socialist President of the United States. I commend my Mom and Dad for even knowing a little bit about Wallace and bestowing me with a love of history but their view was far too simple and maybe even quite wrong.
Wallace came from a long line of Republicans dedicated to public service. Yes there was a time when such giants roamed the American landscape. When he joined the Roosevelt Administration he was still a Republican. One of FDR's gifts was looking beyond party patronage and appointing the right man..and occasionally women for top positions in his administration.Henry Wallace, Frances Perkins, Henry Stimson and Frank Knox were appointed on merit alone.
It is hard to describe Mr. Wallace's politics. He had the innate common sense conservatism of his fellow Iowa farmers. He believed in free enterprise and private initiative.As the leading expert on agriculture he was fully cognizant of forces far greater than one man or one family or even one community could handle. Only a strong federal government could remedy the situation. It's hard to even describe him as a politican as he was appointed to every government position he held. He abhorred every aspect of modern democratic politics. He would not bend, glad-hand or cut deals.
He certainly would not ingratiate himself with other powerful men. I think this is why he allowed himself to be cheated out of the vice presidency in 1944 and why he ran a disastrous independent campaign in 1948. He was "too pure" for the give and take of democratic politics.
Revisionist Historians posit that the West was in some ways partly responsible for the Cold War by practicing Containment and taking a very hard stand on Communism. Even if one accepts this in some small way, the authors are objective enough to contend that Wallace, the Internationalist was too soft, trusting and naive regarding Soviet intentions. He was certainly very out of step with conventional wisdom in this regard.
The authors are also very objective in discussing Wallace the man. His unquenchable energy, diverse eclectic interests, including mysticism to the point where for some years he was gulled by an ersatz Guru.When you add to this his total inability to forge meaningful bonds with anybody including his wife and his sometimes strange personality it gives one pause for thought. I am not a trained psychologist or mental health professional but by two-thirds of the way through this rather large book one thought kept reoccurring to me and that was " Could this man be in the Autism or what used to called Asperger Spectrum?" Just some food for thought.
All in all this book was one of the best history and best biography books I have read in a good long time. Kudos to the authors

JFD

Excellent

Reviewed in France on September 29, 2018

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Excellent

Skadhauge

It gnaws at me how easy it has been for conservative thinkers

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2014

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It gnaws at me how easy it has been for conservative thinkers, of both major parties, to destroy the careers (indeed, lifes) of people they simply didn't like, by saying "communist". Henry Wallace was a man who didn't put power or money first, but had genuine empathy for his fellow man, for this he was branded everything from socialist to traitor by people claiming to be leaders of the free world.

The book is well written and shines the light on a man that could have done so much more if given the chance. A must read for anyone who teaches american history and a should read for anyone with an interest in it.

6 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on May 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

Great read

Irl001

Great bio

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2016

Verified Purchase

Excellent bio of unsung US hero. What a pity he didn't make president - what a different world of we could have

One person found this helpful

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