Democracy in America

Unique to this edition is a translation of Tocqueville's other American writings-Two Weeks in the Wilderness and The Excursion to Lake Oneida.In 1831 Tocqueville set out from post-revolutionary France on a journey across America that would take him 9 months and cover 7,000 miles. The result was DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA- a subtle and prescient analysis of the life and institutions of 19th-century America. Tocqueville's study of the strengths and weaknesses of an evolving democratic society has been quoted by every American president since Eisenhower. It remains a key point of reference for any discussion of the American nation or the democratic system.

“"No better study of a nation's institutions and culture than Tocqueville's Democracy in America has ever been written by a foreign observer." The New York Times "The Bradley edition of Tocqueville's classic is the best now available in English." Charles A. Beard "Professor Bradley's edition should remain the standard one for our time." F. O. Matthiessen With an Introduction by Alan Ryan”

“No better study of a nation’s institutions and culture than Tocqueville’s Democracy in America has ever been written by a foreign observer.” –The New York Times

“The Bradley edition of Tocqueville’s classic is the best now available in English.” –Charles A. Beard

“Professor Bradley’s edition should remain the standard one for our time.” –F. O. Matthiessen

With an Introduction by Alan Ryan

The French sociologist and historian, Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-59) was active in the law and served for a time as foreign minister. He also wrote L'Ancien Regime. Gerald Bevan is the translator. Issac Kramnick is Professor of Government at Cornell and edited The Federalist Papers for Penguin.

'A new political science is needed for a totally new world' In 1831 Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French aristocrat and civil servant, made a nine-month journey through eastern America. The result was Democracy in America, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nation's evolving politics. Tocqueville looked to the flourishing democratic system in America as a possible model for post-revolutionary France, believing its egalitarian ideals reflected the spirit of the age - even that they were the will of God. His insightful work has become one of the most influential political texts ever written on America and an indispensable authority for anyone interested in the future of democracy. This volume includes the rarely translated 'Two Weeks in the Wilderness', an evocative account of Tocqueville's travels among the Iroquois and Chippeway, and 'Excursion to Lake Oneida'. This is the only edition that contains all Tocqueville's writings on America, and includes a chronology, further reading and notes. Gerald Bevan's translation is accompanied by an introduction by Isaac Kramnick, which discusses Tocqueville's life and times, and the enduring significance of Democracy in America.

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