Sean Wilentz: His book named by New York Magazine among "best nonfiction" of 2005

‘The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln,’ by Sean Wilentz. This barge of a book (992 pages) confirms Sean Wilentz as the Richard Hofstadter of our day—the supreme political historian. But where Hofstadter wrote history in dazzling generalities, Wilentz both expounds on massive themes and pillages the archives for little-known characters and forgotten movements. (Long live the Locofocos!) He tells a story that parallels George Packer’s book about Iraq—the sweaty, excruciating delivery of democracy—except with a happy ending