Overview

British politician Daniel Hannan's Inventing Freedom is an ambitious account of the historical origin and spread of the principles that have made America great and their role in creating a sphere of economic and political liberty that is as crucial as it is imperiled. The ideas and institutions we consider essential to maintaining and preserving our freedoms-individual rights, private property, the rule of law, and the institutions of representative government-are the legacy of a very specific tradition that was born in England and was inherited by Americans, along with other former British colonies. By the tenth century, England was a nation-state whose people were already starting to define themselves with reference to inherited common-law rights. The story of liberty is the story of how that model triumphed: How it was enshrined in a series of landmark victories-the Magna Carta, the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, the US Constitution-and how it came to defeat every international rival. Today we see those ideas abandoned and scorned in the places where they once went unchallenged. Inventing Freedom is a chronicle of the success of Anglosphere exceptionalism, and it is offered at a time that may turn out to be the end of the age of political freedom.

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9781483007311

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Reviews

Freedom, parliamentary democracy, and equality before the law are not universal values but products of a specific English-speaking civilization. Here is a powerful and convincing thesis put across in vivid, rich, and enjoyable prose. -- Charles Moore, official biographer of Margaret Thatcher Hannan, a well-known conservative writer and politician in Great Britain, tells the story of English contributions to the modern world and the rise of what he calls the 'Anglosphere'...Hannan's book adds up to an entertaining, readable narrative of English triumphs in law, religion, and freedom and celebrates the Anglosphere's 'sublime tradition.' At the finish, he encourages his readers to act as stewards of their rich legacy. -- Publishers Weekly Hannan's well-written book is an excellent politically incorrect history of England. -- Washington Free Beacon Equal parts history and political theory, Inventing Freedom is a thought-provoking and stirring read for the holidays. -- Blaze With the eloquence of Macaulay or Trevelyan-both of whom are liberally quoted here-Hannan sweeps us through English history to show the triumph of law-based liberty and 'that total understanding which can only exist between people speaking the same tongue.' -- Telegraph (London) Daniel Hannan reminds us of what it means to be Americans. Our rights were not invented overnight. They had deep roots in the English liberal tradition. Hannan traces those roots-from the Philadelphia Convention through the Magna Carta-back to their earliest origins. Every American, and especially supporters of the current administration, should read this book. -- Sean Hannity, Fox News Daniel Hannan is admired and respected for the clarity of his convictions and his ability to articulate them with profundity and pragmatism. His intellect is unmatched, his wit softens the blows of his stinging assessment of the decline of Western civilization, and his courage to take on pompous political correctness is a joy to behold! -- Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and New York Times bestselling author The story of the English-speaking peoples is the story of freedom-across the globe, across the generations, to a degree unknown in any other culture. It is a great tale, and there is no one better to tell it than Daniel Hannan. -- Mark Steyn, New York Times bestselling author This is a distinguished, perceptive, and helpful contribution to the political debate. -- Paul Johnson, New York Times bestselling author

Author Information

Daniel Hannan is a writer and blogger, and he has been a member of the European Parliament representing South East England for the Conservative Party since 1999. He graduated with a double first in history from Oriel College, Oxford, and worked as a speechwriter and journalist before standing for election. His book The New Road to Serfdom: A Letter of Warning to America was a New York Times bestseller. Shaun Grindell, actor and Earphones Award-winning narrator, was born and raised in Southampton, England. His training includes the Calland School of Speech and Drama and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in London. He has been seen on stage in London and Las Vegas.

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