Today’s addition of The Guardian interviews Heather Cox Richardson. HCR is held in the highest regard by WLBOTT, and has been given the honorary title WYNHO.
[ed. note: nobody here remembers what WYNHO stands for, but we all agree it is a very good thing. UC#1 is researching.]
[ed. note: Ace researcher and archivist UC#1 replied 67 minutes after the initial inquiry: It is “Women You Never Heard Of”. I worry about you spending so much time in front of the computer. It is going to stunt your growth, young man.]
[ed. note: We need a new category. How about WWRNTLTRN – Women We Really Need To Listen To Right Now? And as to UC#1’s concern: it is one of the least of my major malfunctions, but we appreciate the though.]
HCR offers a profound solution to the crisis in America:
The antidote, Richardson argues, is an explicitly democratic history “based in the idea that marginalised populations have always kept the principles of the Declaration of Independence front and centre in our history”.
– The Guardian, Oct 7, 2023
She also offers a very stark warning:
HCR on Facebook
HCR’s Facebook page has 1.7M followers. I was lucky to tune into her page early, and she provided much needed insight and historical context to the dysfunction that descended on our beloved country in 2016. But HCR has pointed out many times that there is nothing new or novel about the malignancies facing our country – there are direct links from today’s problem to the Civil War (and before), and important parallels can be drawn from recent history:
…the crisis in American democracy crept up on many and draws a direct comparison with the rise of Adolf Hitler, achieved through political gains and consolidation.
– The Guardian, Oct 7, 2023
HCR On Wikipedia
Rural and Coastal Maine
Interesting trivia: HCR’s Facebook page often show beautiful photos of rural and coastal Maine.
(all photos are from HCR’s Facebook page)
How the South Won the Civil War
The WLBOTT Literary Society read HCR’s How the South Won the Civil War several years ago.
This book will make steam come out of your ears. It tells of variations on two themes: insatiable greed and intolerance, American style.
Democracy Awakening
HCR’s new book is Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America.
“For the last several turbulent years, millions have looked to Heather Cox Richardson’s daily letters for vital historical perspective, wisdom, and moral clarity. In Democracy Awakening, Richardson goes beyond the news cycle to explain how we got here, placing our current political crisis against the age-old struggle to expand civil rights and economic opportunity. What emerges is a brilliant and honest account of our nation’s past and present. If you care about American democracy—and are engaged in the fight to preserve it—this book is a must-read.”
– Preet Bharara, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
APL members: better queue up fast!
[ed. note: the following screen shots are from the Amazon sample pages for Democracy Awakening]
HCR / Boston College
Ms Richardson is a professor of history at Boston College.
One reply on “Heather Cox Richardson”
Heather Cox’s explanation of the politics behind the speaker of the house situation is the first one I have ever read that actually makes sense. I’ll be looking for the books in the local library.