Davis is a widely read author and a contributor to National Public Radio. He has made a career out of writing about the supposedly “hidden” truths that transcend the mythology about American history. Here, he offers a series of essays that covers the period from 1800 to 1850, which witnessed massive territorial expansion, controversy over slavery, and efforts to forge a national identity. Incidents covered include the trial of Aaron Burr for treason, the Seminole War in Florida, a slave uprising in Louisiana, and anti-Catholic riots in Philadelphia. Professional historians may cringe at Davis’ claims of revealing hidden truths, given that virtually all of these topics are familiar to scholars. Still, Davis is a fine writer who uses a fast-moving narrative to tell these stories well. He knows his facts, and his assertions and speculations are generally credible. For general readers who wish to expand their knowledge of the period, this is an informative and enjoyable work.— Jay Freeman

LJ Loves Ken Davis

2009.06.01

Library Journal has written a glowing review of Don’t Know Much About Literature, the latest book in the Don’t Know Much About series. As you might remember from this post, the affection is mutual–Ken is a vocal advocate for libraries. Check out an excerpt from the review below:

In this latest addition to Kenneth Davis’s popular “Don’t Know Much About” series, he and daughter Jenny quiz readers about writers, books, Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, famous first and last lines, and other literary trivia. The book’s scope is broad, with selections ranging from “Children’s Classics” to “Beowulf” and “Fictional First Ladies.” The Davises provide questions, answers, and a summary paragraph for each category but don’t order the material in any predictable way, sandwiching Agatha Christie between Kafka and Melville, a technique that forces each entry to stand in isolation. Some of the questions are true or false; others ask readers to identify a character, book, play, poem, or movie. Meant to make learning about literature entertaining, this guide should refresh memories and may entice readers into exploring some of the books they always meant to check out…—Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo