Society in America, Volume 2 (of 2) by Harriet Martineau

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Martineau, Harriet, 1802-1876 Martineau, Harriet, 1802-1876
English
Okay, hear me out. Imagine a whip-smart British woman in the 1830s, traveling across the still-young United States with a notebook and a critical eye. She wasn't just sightseeing; she was conducting a full-blown social autopsy. Harriet Martineau's 'Society in America' is her raw, unfiltered report card. In this second volume, she gets down to the nitty-gritty: politics, religion, and the brutal reality of slavery. Forget dry history—this is a front-row seat to America's growing pains, written by an outsider who saw our contradictions clearer than most people living here. It’s like finding your country’s diary from 200 years ago, and realizing how many arguments we’re still having.
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Revolutionary War, not inserted in the London and Paris editions. (_Nearly Ready._) VI. _Mrs. Shelley's New Work._ FALKNER--A NOVEL. BY MRS. SHELLEY. Authoress of "Frankenstein," "The Last Man," &c. VII. Mr. Dunlap's New Work. MEMOIRS OF A WATER-DRINKER. BY WILLIAM DUNLAP, ESQ. Second Edition, in one vol. VIII. _Mr. Grant's New Work._ THE GREAT METROPOLIS. BY THE AUTHOR OF "_Random Recollections of the Lords and Commons_," &c Fourth Edition. IX. _Mr. Bulwer's New Drama_: THE DUCHESS DE LA VALLIERE _A Play in Five Acts._ Second Edition. RECENT PUBLICATIONS. I. _Miss Landon's New Work._ With a beautiful Portrait of the Author. THE VOW OF THE PEACOCK. II. _Miss Stickney's New Work._ THE POETRY OF LIFE. By the Author of "Pictures of Private Life." III. Third Edition. Bound in Embossed Silk. THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS Revised by the Editor of the "Forget-me-Not." (_With the London colored Plates._) IV. THE INFIRMITIES OF GENIUS. BY DR. MADDEN. V. CITATION OF WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE TOUCHING DEER STEALING. BY WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR, ESQ. VI. SONGS OF THE ALHAMBRA. BY MISS L. B. SMITH. VII. MEMOIRS OF MRS. HEMANS, BY H. F. CHORLEY. 2 vols. beautifully Illustrated. VIII. TOPOGRAPHY OF ROME & ITS VICINITY, BY SIR WM. GELL. With a Beautiful Map to the above. IX. ON CIVILIZATION, &c. BY THE HON. A. H. MORETON. X. ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. Illustrated by Cruickshank. XI. LUCIEN BONAPARTE'S MEMOIRS (_Prince of Canino._) WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. XII. HAZLITT'S LITERARY REMAINS, EDITED BY E. L. BULWER, ESQ. 1 vol. with a Portrait. XIII. MADRID, IN 1835, BY AN OFFICER. With beautiful Plates. XIV. THE CONTINENT IN 1835. BY PROFESSOR HOPPUS. XV. SIR GRENVILLE TEMPLE'S NEW WORK (_Travels in Greece and Turkey._) 2 vols. plates. XVI. ADVENTURES IN THE NORTH OF EUROPE BY EDWARD LANDOR, ESQ. 2 vols. plates. XVII. NEW WORK ON FLOWERS. (_The Floral Telegraph._) With the London Colored Plates. XVIII. TOUR OF A GERMAN ARTIST IN ENGLAND BY M. PASSAVANT. 2 vols. with Plates. XIX. VISIT TO ALEXANDRIA, DAMASCUS AND JERUSALEM, BY DR. HOGG. 2 vols. Plates. XX. RECORDS OF TRAVELS IN TURKEY, GREECE, &c.: BY ADOLPHUS SLADE, ESQ. XXI. _Captain Glascock's New Work._ THE NAVAL SERVICE. XXII. _Mr. Willis's New Work._ INKLINGS OF ADVENTURE. BY N. P. WILLIS, ESQ. Third Edition. XXIII. THE CHEVY CHACE. Illustrated in a series of beautiful Etchings. BY J. FRANKLIN, ESQ. XXIV. RETZCH'S FANCIES. A series of Etchings, with Notes BY MRS. JAMESON. XXV. THE MESSIAH--A POEM. BY THE REV. J. MONTGOMERY. _In eight handsomely-printed Volumes, with additional Notes and Illustrations._ WITH BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVINGS, BY THE FINDENS. FROM DRAWINGS TAKEN ON THE SPOT, EXPRESSLY FOR THE WORK. THE LIFE AND WORKS OF COWPER. THE FIRST AND ONLY COMPLETE AND UNIFORM EDITION. INCLUDING THE WHOLE OF HIS PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. REVISED, ARRANGED, AND EDITED, BY THE REV. T. S. GRIMSHAWE, Author of the "Life of the Rev. Legh Richmond." WITH AN ESSAY ON THE GENIUS AND POETRY OF COWPER, BY THE REV. J. W. CUNNINGHAM. Vicar of Harrow. "The works of Cowper need no recommendation; they are incorporated into our living literature, and will be read as long as men shall read for amusement, or to gather wisdom, of which no poet is a greater teacher. The peculiar merit of the present edition is, that it is the only one which can contain the whole of Cowper's _Private Correspondence_. It being _copyright_ and _exclusively_ appropriated to this edition."--_Courier._ "The handsomest specimen of modern standard works that we have yet seen."--_Monthly Review._ "Of the manner in which this edition has been produced, we can hardly speak too highly. The type, the embellishments,...

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Harriet Martineau wasn't your average 1830s tourist. She arrived in America as a celebrated writer and a keen social observer. This book, the second of two volumes, is where she rolls up her sleeves. She moves past first impressions to dissect the actual machinery of American life. She sits in on political rallies, attends church services, and talks to everyone from factory workers to plantation owners. Her mission? To measure the young nation against its own loudly proclaimed ideals of liberty and justice.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book electric is Martineau's voice. She's direct, often blunt, and refuses to look away. Her chapters on slavery are particularly powerful. She doesn't just condemn it abstractly; she reports on its corrosive effect on society, on families, and on the national character with a journalist's clarity. Reading her critique of American politics and religion feels eerily current—the debates about hypocrisy, sectionalism, and the role of media will give you serious deja vu. It’s a masterclass in seeing your own culture through someone else's eyes.

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for anyone who loves history that feels alive and urgent. It's perfect for fans of Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America but from a fiercely independent female perspective. If you enjoy social commentary, political journalism, or just a brilliantly opinionated travelogue, Martineau is your guide. Be prepared: she doesn't hand out compliments easily, but her insights are worth more than flattery. You'll come away with a deeper, more complicated understanding of how America was built, and the cracks in the foundation we inherited.



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Kenneth Scott
3 months ago

Initially overlooked, this book the content remains relevant throughout without filler. An excellent read overall.

Edward Miller
5 months ago

It’s rare that I write reviews, but the progression of ideas feels natural and coherent. Thanks for making this available.

Lisa Johnson
4 months ago

This came highly recommended and the author demonstrates strong mastery of the topic. Highly recommended for everyone.

George Carter
1 month ago

At first I wasn’t convinced, but the author clearly understands the subject matter in depth. A true masterpiece of its kind.

Donna Martin
3 weeks ago

After looking for this everywhere, it provides a comprehensive overview that is perfect for students and experts alike. I will be reading more from this author.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (5 User reviews )

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