American Scripture

Making the Declaration of Independence

By: Pauline Maier

Narrated by: Jonathan Yen

Maier describes the transformation of the Second Continental Congress into a national government, unlike anything that preceded or followed it, and with more authority than the colonists would ever have conceded to the British Parliament.

In Maier's hands, the Declaration of Independence is brought close to us. She lets us hear the voice of the people as revealed in the other "declarations" of 1776: the local resolutions - most of which have gone unnoticed over the past two centuries - that explained, advocated, and justified Independence and undergirded Congress' work. Detective-like, she discloses the origins of key ideas and phrases in the Declaration and unravels the complex story of its drafting and of the group-editing job which angered Thomas Jefferson.

Maier also reveals what happened to the Declaration after the signing and celebration: how it was largely forgotten and then revived to buttress political arguments of the 19th century; and, most important, how Abraham Lincoln ensured its persistence as a living force in American society. Finally, she shows how by the very act of venerating the Declaration as we do - by holding it as sacrosanct, akin to holy writ - we may actually be betraying its purpose and its power.

©1997 Pauline Maier (P)2019 Tantor

Excellent

This book is such a wonderful context of the document I look back to with such admiration. I actually read the author's later work "Ratification" first, which I found harder to push through, due do it's necessarily more detail-laden content, it's substantially increased volume, and the fact that I am a slow reader. This "American Scripture" audiobook however, was a delightful breeze that struck chords in my intellect and heart as I listened. The narrator does a fantastic job setting off the numerous quotations. I can't recommend the book enough, and especially like Maier's conclusion at the end of the epilogue. (I'm not gonna spoil it, just listen to it yourself!)

Outstanding Book. Horrible Narration.

If you enjoy books about the founding of our country including the very interesting people and events, then you will like this superb book. It is well-researched and extremely enjoyable. Pauline Maier is both an outstanding historian and an excellent story teller and this paper book was already in my library.

The book begins just after the first shots of what would become the American Revolution.

Maier is often on the History Channel and she even lectured at my University. I should add that I would read a few excerpts of this text in the American Government class I teach.

I am sorry to report that I did not enjoy the narration which I found both distracting an unpleasant. I hope a new recording is created. Whenever dialogue is read the narrator reads it in a voice that sounds to me like an odd, unclear, cartoon voice.

I don’t hold the poor narration against the author, but I feel bad that it must impact both sales and reaction to the audio version of an outstanding book.