1776, 1861, 1929. Any high-school student should know what these years meant to American history. But, wars and economic disasters are not our only pivotal events, and other years have, in a quieter way, swayed the course of our nation. 1831 was one of them, and in this striking new work, Louis Masur shows us exactly how. The year began with a solar eclipse, for many an omen of mighty changes, and for once, such predictions held true. Nat Turner's...

"In Lincoln's Last Speech, renowned historian and author Louis P. Masur offers insight into this critical address and its vision of a reconstructed United States. Coming two days after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox and a week after the fall of Richmond, Lincoln's speech was expected to be a victory oration. Instead, he looked to the future, discussing how best to restore the seceded states to the national government, and even endorsing limited...

Springsteen prefers to let his music do the talking; his songs and his guitar provide the most direct line to his fans' hearts. When he does decide to sit down and talk, the conversations tend to be momentous. Here are more than thirty different interviews spanning from 1973 to 2013, showcasing his development as an artist, a thinker, and a public figure.