Reviews
Praise for "The Most Famous Man in America" "Henry Ward Beecher was a phenomenon: the scion of an amazing family, the most renowned American preacher of his day, an anti-slavery stalwart -- and the main protagonist in one of the most sensational sex scandals of the Victorian era. If you thought that the personalities and machinations surrounding the Clinton impeachment scandal were interesting, you will find the Beecher expose riveting. More important, Debby Applegate has vividly brought Beecher and his entire era to life, in all of their piety, idealism, pomposity, and pride. I recommend her book highly to lovers of imposing historical figures and their tangled stories." -- Sean Wilentz, winner of the Bancroft Prize for "The Rise of American Democracy" "A wonderful portrait of a charismatic preacher with a deeply flawed private life, this biography vividly conveys the color and contradictions of 19th century America. With a sure grasp of history, penetrating insights into religion, and many marvelous turns of phrase, Applegate brings to life a time that uncannily prefigures our own." -- William Taubman, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography "Khrushchev" "At last, Henry Beecher receives the comprehensive treatment he is due, in this perceptive, engaging and balanced study." -- James MacGregor Burns, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for history and biography "A lively narrative of 19th-century religion, power, passion, and politics, as well as a perceptive study of the elusive preacher who rode them to the top." -- Joan Hedrick, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography "Harriet Beecher Stowe" "Historian DebbyApplegate's "The Most Famous Man in America" is a brilliantly written, judicious, monumental biography of Henry Ward Beecher. The amount of new research material she unearthed is stunning. Chalk it up as a classic." -- Douglas Brinkley, presidential biographer and author of "The Great Deluge " "Debby Applegate brings to life 19th-century America's most influential preacher, who emerges in this full-blooded portrait as a fascinating tangle of all-too-human traits. Drawing off an impressive body of research, the author expertly weaves together biography and history in a riveting narrative that reads like a page-turning novel." -- David S. Reynolds, author of "John Brown, Abolitionist" and "Walt Whitman's America." "The title is not misleading. Thoroughly researched, passionately written, and richly detailed, this book is "the" biography of America's greatest nineteenth-century preacher, Henry Ward Beecher. Through Applegate's discerning eye, the moral strengths and sexual vulnerabilities of the 'most famous man in America' come clearly into view. In the process, Applegate tells the larger story of nineteenth-century America's religious transition from a Puritan and theocratic past to a 'modern' liberal orthodoxy premised on happiness, love, and the banishment of original sin. Applegate's biography is must reading for serious nonfiction readers of American religion, politics, and culture in Victorian America." -- Harry S. Stout, Jonathan Edwards Professor of American Religious History, Yale University, author of "Upon the Altar of the Nation: A Moral History of the Civil War" "Beautifully written...An exceptionally thorough and thoughtful account of aspectacular career that helped shape and reflect national preoccupations before, during and after the Civil War." -- "Kirkus Reviews" (starred review), Praise for "The Most Famous Man in America" "A wonderful portrait of a charismatic preacher with a deeply flawed private life, this biography vividly conveys the color and contradictions of nineteenth-century America. With a sure grasp of history, penetrating insights into religion, and many marvelous turns of phrase, Applegate brings to life a time that uncannily prefigures our own." --William Taubman, author of "Khrushchev " "At last, Henry Beecher receives the comprehensive treatment he is due, in this perceptive, engaging, and balanced study." --James MacGregor Burns "Debby Applegate brings to life nineteenth-century America's most influential preacher, who emerges in this full-blooded portrait as a fascinating tangle of all-too-human traits. Drawing off an impressive body of research, the author expertly weaves together biography and history in a riveting narrative that reads like a page-turning novel." --David S. Reynolds, author of "John Brown, Abolitionist" and "Walt Whitman's America," "Thoroughly researched, passionately written, and richly detailed, this book is the biography of America's greatest nineteenth-century preacher . . . must reading for serious nonfiction readers of American religion, politics and culture in Victorian America." --Harry S. Stout, Jonathan Edwards Professor of American Religious History, Yale University "A lively narrative of nineteenth-century religion, power, passion, and politics, as well as a perceptive study of the elusive preacher who rode them to the top." --Joan D. Hedrick, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Harriet Beecher Stowe ""Henry Ward Beecher was a phenomenon: the scion of an amazingfamily, the most renowned American preacher of his day, an anti-slavery stalwart--and the main protagonist in one of the most sensational sex scandals of the Victorian era. If you thought that the personalities and machinations surrounding the Clinton impeachment scandal were interesting, you will find the Beecher expose riveting. More important, Debby Applegate has vividly brought Beecher and his entire era to life, in all of their piety, idealism, pomposity, and pride." --Sean Wilentz, author of "The Rise of American Democracy", Praise forThe Most Famous Man in America "A wonderful portrait of a charismatic preacher with a deeply flawed private life, this biography vividly conveys the color and contradictions of nineteenth-century America. With a sure grasp of history, penetrating insights into religion, and many marvelous turns of phrase, Applegate brings to life a time that uncannily prefigures our own." -William Taubman, author ofKhrushchev "At last, Henry Beecher receives the comprehensive treatment he is due, in this perceptive, engaging, and balanced study." -James MacGregor Burns "Debby Applegate brings to life nineteenth-century America's most influential preacher, who emerges in this full-blooded portrait as a fascinating tangle of all-too-human traits. Drawing off an impressive body of research, the author expertly weaves together biography and history in a riveting narrative that reads like a page-turning novel." -David S. Reynolds, author ofJohn Brown, AbolitionistandWalt Whitman's America. "Thoroughly researched, passionately written, and richly detailed, this book is the biography of America's greatest nineteenth-century preacher . . . must reading for serious nonfiction readers of American religion, politics and culture in Victorian America." -Harry S. Stout, Jonathan Edwards Professor of American Religious History, Yale University "A lively narrative of nineteenth-century religion, power, passion, and politics, as well as a perceptive study of the elusive preacher who rode them to the top." -Joan D. Hedrick, Pulitzer Prizewinning author ofHarriet Beecher Stowe "Henry Ward Beecher was a phenomenon: the scion of an amazing family, the most renowned American preacher of his day, an anti-slavery stalwart-and the main protagonist in one of the most sensational sex scandals of the Victorian era. If you thought that the personalities and machinations surrounding the Clinton impeachment scandal were interesting, you will find the Beecher exposé riveting. More important, Debby Applegate has vividly brought Beecher and his entire era to life, in all of their piety, idealism, pomposity, and pride." -Sean Wilentz, author ofThe Rise of American Democracy, Praise for "The Most Famous Man in America" " A wonderful portrait of a charismatic preacher with a deeply flawed private life, this biography vividly conveys the color and contradictions of nineteenth-century America. With a sure grasp of history, penetrating insights into religion, and many marvelous turns of phrase, Applegate brings to life a time that uncannily prefigures our own." -- William Taubman, author of "Khrushchev " " At last, Henry Beecher receives the comprehensive treatment he is due, in this perceptive, engaging, and balanced study." -- James MacGregor Burns " Debby Applegate brings to life nineteenth-century America's most influential preacher, who emerges in this full-blooded portrait as a fascinating tangle of all-too-human traits. Drawing off an impressive body of research, the author expertly weaves together biography and history in a riveting narrative that reads like a page-turning novel." -- David S. Reynolds, author of "John Brown, Abolitionist" and "Walt Whitman's America," " Thoroughly researched, passionately written, and richly detailed, this book is the biography of America's greatest nineteenth-century preacher . . . must reading for serious nonfiction readers of American religion, politics and culture in Victorian America." -- Harry S. Stout, Jonathan Edwards Professor of American Religious History, Yale University " A lively narrative of nineteenth-century religion, power, passion, and politics, as well as a perceptive study of the elusive preacher who rode them to the top." -- Joan D. Hedrick, Pulitzer Prize- winning author of "Harriet Beecher Stowe "" Henry Ward Beecher was a phenomenon: the scion of an amazing family, the most renowned American preacher of his day, an anti-slavery stalwart-- and the main protagonist in one of the most sensational sex scandals of the Victorian era. If you thought that the personalities and machinations surrounding the Clinton impeachment scandal were interesting, you will find the Beecher expose riveting. More important, Debby Applegate has vividly brought Beecher and his entire era to life, in all of their piety, idealism, pomposity, and pride." -- Sean Wilentz, author of "The Rise of American Democracy", Praise forThe Most Famous Man in America "A wonderful portrait of a charismatic preacher with a deeply flawed private life, this biography vividly conveys the color and contradictions of nineteenth-century America. With a sure grasp of history, penetrating insights into religion, and many marvelous turns of phrase, Applegate brings to life a time that uncannily prefigures our own." -William Taubman, author ofKhrushchev "At last, Henry Beecher receives the comprehensive treatment he is due, in this perceptive, engaging, and balanced study." -James MacGregor Burns "Debby Applegate brings to life nineteenth-century America's most influential preacher, who emerges in this full-blooded portrait as a fascinating tangle of all-too-human traits. Drawing off an impressive body of research, the author expertly weaves together biography and history in a riveting narrative that reads like a page-turning novel." -David S. Reynolds, author ofJohn Brown, AbolitionistandWalt Whitman's America. "Thoroughly researched, passionately written, and richly detailed, this book is the biography of America's greatest nineteenth-century preacher . . . must reading for serious nonfiction readers of American religion, politics and culture in Victorian America." -Harry S. Stout, Jonathan Edwards Professor of American Religious History, Yale University "A lively narrative of nineteenth-century religion, power, passion, and politics, as well as a perceptive study of the elusive preacher who rode them to the top." -Joan D. Hedrick, Pulitzer Prizewinning author ofHarriet Beecher Stowe"Henry Ward Beecher was a phenomenon: the scion of an amazing family, the most renowned American preacher of his day, an anti-slavery stalwart-and the main protagonist in one of the most sensational sex scandals of the Victorian era. If you thought that the personalities and machinations surrounding the Clinton impeachment scandal were interesting, you will find the Beecher exposé riveting. More important, Debby Applegate has vividly brought Beecher and his entire era to life, in all of their piety, idealism, pomposity, and pride." -Sean Wilentz, author ofThe Rise of American Democracy, Praise for The Most Famous Man in America "A wonderful portrait of a charismatic preacher with a deeply flawed private life, this biography vividly conveys the color and contradictions of nineteenth-century America. With a sure grasp of history, penetrating insights into religion, and many marvelous turns of phrase, Applegate brings to life a time that uncannily prefigures our own." -William Taubman, author of Khrushchev "At last, Henry Beecher receives the comprehensive treatment he is due, in this perceptive, engaging, and balanced study." -James MacGregor Burns "Debby Applegate brings to life nineteenth-century America's most influential preacher, who emerges in this full-blooded portrait as a fascinating tangle of all-too-human traits. Drawing off an impressive body of research, the author expertly weaves together biography and history in a riveting narrative that reads like a page-turning novel." -David S. Reynolds, author of John Brown, Abolitionist and Walt Whitman's America . "Thoroughly researched, passionately written, and richly detailed, this book is the biography of America's greatest nineteenth-century preacher . . . must reading for serious nonfiction readers of American religion, politics and culture in Victorian America." -Harry S. Stout, Jonathan Edwards Professor of American Religious History, Yale University "A lively narrative of nineteenth-century religion, power, passion, and politics, as well as a perceptive study of the elusive preacher who rode them to the top." -Joan D. Hedrick, Pulitzer Prizewinning author of Harriet Beecher Stowe "Henry Ward Beecher was a phenomenon: the scion of an amazing family, the most renowned American preacher of his day, an anti-slavery stalwart-and the main protagonist in one of the most sensational sex scandals of the Victorian era. If you thought that the personalities and machinations surrounding the Clinton impeachment scandal were interesting, you will find the Beecher exposé riveting. More important, Debby Applegate has vividly brought Beecher and his entire era to life, in all of their piety, idealism, pomposity, and pride." -Sean Wilentz, author of The Rise of American Democracy
