Unfamiliar Fishes (Thorndike Press Large Print Popular and Narrative Nonfiction Series) - Hardcover

Vowell, Sarah

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1410438252 ISBN 13: 9781410438256

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 2011

Synopsis

“Vowell makes an excellent travelling companion, what with her rare combination of erudition and cheek.”
—The New York Times Book Review

Many think of 1776 as the most defining year of American history, the year we became a nation devoted to the pursuit of happiness through self-government. In Unfamiliar Fishes, Sarah Vowell argues that 1898 might be a year just as crucial to our nation’s identity, when, in an orgy of imperialism, the United States annexed Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and invaded Cuba, and then the Philippines, becoming a meddling, self-serving, militaristic international superpower practically overnight.

Of all the countries the United States invaded or colonized in 1898, Vowell considers the story of the Americanization of Hawaii to be the most intriguing. From the arrival of the New England missionaries in 1820, who came to Christianize the local heathen, to the coup d’état led by the missionaries’ sons in 1893, overthrowing the Hawaiian queen, the events leading up to American annexation feature a cast of beguiling if often appalling or tragic characters. Whalers who will fire cannons at the Bible-thumpers denying them their god-given right to whores. An incestuous princess pulled between her new god and her brother-husband. Sugar barons, con men, Theodore Roosevelt, and the last Hawaiian queen, a songwriter whose sentimental ode “Aloha ‘Oe” serenaded the first Hawaii-born president of the United States during his 2009 inaugural parade.

With Vowell’s trademark wry insights and reporting, she lights out to discover the odd, emblematic, and exceptional history of the fiftieth state. In examining the place where Manifest Destiny got a sunburn, she finds America again, warts and all.

About this title

Review

Sarah Vowell is an intellectual melting pot. Her cleverness is gorgeously American " Los Angeles Times"
Its scintillating cast includes dour missionaries, genital-worshiping heathens, Teddy Roosevelt, incestuous royalty, a nutty Mormon, a much-too-merry monarch, President Obama, sugar barons, an imprisoned queen and Vowell herself, in a kind of 50th-state variety show. It s a fun book [a] playful, provocative, stand-up approach to history. "The New York Times Book Review"
As entertaining and personable as it is informative. "Washington Post"
Sarah Vowell is for my money, the best essayist/radio commentator/sit-down comic and pointy headed history geek in the business. "Seattle Times""

-Sarah Vowell is an intellectual melting pot. Her cleverness is gorgeously American...- - Los Angeles Times
-Its scintillating cast includes dour missionaries, genital-worshiping heathens, Teddy Roosevelt, incestuous royalty, a nutty Mormon, a much-too--merry monarch, President Obama, sugar barons, an imprisoned queen and Vowell herself, in a kind of 50th-state variety show. It's a fun book...[a] playful, provocative, stand-up approach to history.---The New York Times Book Review
-As entertaining and personable as it is informative.---Washington Post
-Sarah Vowell is for my money, the best essayist/radio commentator/sit-down comic and pointy headed history geek in the business.---Seattle Times

"Sarah Vowell is an intellectual melting pot. Her cleverness is gorgeously American..." - Los Angeles Times

"Its scintillating cast includes dour missionaries, genital-worshiping heathens, Teddy Roosevelt, incestuous royalty, a nutty Mormon, a much-too--merry monarch, President Obama, sugar barons, an imprisoned queen and Vowell herself, in a kind of 50th-state variety show. It's a fun book...[a] playful, provocative, stand-up approach to history."--The New York Times Book Review

"As entertaining and personable as it is informative."--Washington Post

"Sarah Vowell is for my money, the best essayist/radio commentator/sit-down comic and pointy headed history geek in the business."--Seattle Times

About the Author

Sarah Vowell is the bestselling author of Lafayette in the Somewhat United States, Unfamiliar Fishes, The Wordy Shipmates, Assassination Vacation, and The Partly Cloudy Patriot.

About this edition

• Publisher: Thorndike Pr
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1410438252
• ISBN 13: 9781410438256
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 341