1789

Tom Allen-author, biographer, and student of the human heart- has given us a rare, through the keyhole of history look at the character and complexities of our Founding Fathers and the political turbulence that threatened to tear our young country apart. 1789 is must reading for those who want to grasp the relevance of todayâs political turbulence with that faced by George Washington during the first year of his presidency.
â" William S. Cohen, former Secretary of Defense

Allen (1929-2018) accepts the myth that Americans disliked the weak Articles of Confederation, which guided the Colonies through and after the Revolution. In fact, most Americans, from farmers to city workers, had few objections. Only the educated eliteâ"northern lawyers and businessmen, southern plantersâ"hated dealing with 13 separate currencies, banks, commercial regulations, and legal systems. Assembling in 1787, they cobbled together the Constitution, a mixture of specific and ambiguous guidelines for a more or less democratic central government. That was the easy part. Assembling a functioning government from these guidelines was exceedingly difficult. However, itâs fun to read about, and readers will enjoy Allenâs lively account of what followed as the first Congress assembled in New York in spring 1789 and welcomed the first president.
â" Kirkus Reviews

Tories: Fighting for the King in Americaâs First Civil War

Allens thorough research and fast-paced narrative provide fresh ways of thinking about the Revolutionary War and shed new light on the lives of those, from bankers to small tradesmen, who remained loyal to the throne in the face of vigorous opposition and persecution.
â" Publishers Weekly

Tories: Fighting for the King in Americaâs First Civil War

Not for the faint of heart or for those who prefer revolutions in ideas. Recruiters of spies as well as the spies themselves faced the gallows, and Allen tells us who kicked the box and how the body swayed. Bayonets in these pages run with blood.
â" The New York Times Book Review

The Bonus Army: An American Epic

Dickson and Allen highlight the sacrifices these women and men made on our own soil to win fair treatment for veterans of future wars. Their important and moving work will appeal to both professional historians and casual readers interested in the history of Americas changing attitudes towards its soldiers.
â" Publishers Weekly

The Bonus Army: An American Epic

A feat of research and analysis-a thoughtful, strong argument that these marches were among the most important demonstrations of the 20th century.
â" Bookmarks Magazine