The Glory and the Dream

The Glory and the Dream: A Narrative History of America, 1932-1972 is a 1,400-page social history by William Manchester, first published in 1974. Sometimes sold as two volumes, it describes the history of the United States between 1932 and 1972. The Glory and the Dream was listed as a New York Times bestseller in 1975.^[1] The book details both social history and political machinations in the period with a focus on how the New Deal, the Second World War and the Cold War influenced American culture.^[2] Special attention is paid to Roosevelt's New Deal and the lasting effect it has had on the U.S. government. Manchester simplifies the complex political maneuvers and opaque terminology that pervaded Cold War politics to more accessible language.^[3]

The book's title is taken from William Wordsworth's poem "Ode: Intimations of Immortality": "Whither is fled the visionary gleam? / Where is it now, the glory and the dream?"^[4]

References

1. "The Best Sellers of 1975". The New York Times Book Review (The New York Times). 1975-12-07. p. 361. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
2. Bernstein, Adam (2004-06-04). "Author of Military History William Manchester Dies". The Washington Post. pp. B7. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
3. The 1973-1974 edition came in two maroon,navy and gray books with William Manchester's signature on the obverse. The books are labelled 1 and 2 on the sides. "America During, After FDR's Reign". The Lincoln Star. 1975-01-12. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
4. Wordsworth, William. "Intimations of Immortality". Retrieved 2009-12-12.