Hellfire Nation: The Politics of Sin in American History

I am a 50 year old German, who lived in the Southern United States from 1980 to 1990. Is has always intrigued me, why religion plays such a prominent role is the USA, while it plays essentially no role at all in Germany (and in most of Western Europe ). This book explains why this is so. On the way, one learns a few interesting facts, e.g. that it was King George, who had to tell the settlers to leave the Quakers alone (before, the Puritans took great pride in persecuting and killing them..so much for the quest of freedom of religion...) The author never leaves any doubt, as to which side he is on, and this renders the book even more believable. I highly recommend it!

If, like me, you are a bit of a history buff who regrets having paid scant attention in those American history courses, this is an essential book.Professor Marone reconsiders our national history, in its more wrenching periods, as the struggle for a shifting moral high ground. The result is literally stunning, uprooting, and wise.History buffs support an entire industry that is spinning out "how-then, what-now" books about the founders, the civil war and the current hit parade of latter day pols. Professor Marone delivers something very different: a brilliant archeology of the winner-take-all contest for righteousness that has so thoroughly characterized our national life, from John Winthrop to yesterday afternoon.And he can write: in places a little breezily, in others quite densely, but always clearly and engagingly.Professor Morone's personal political stance is clear enough, and yes, it's left of Fox News. I can only hope that people who don't share his views on the present will take time to relish this masterful, sweeping interpretation of our past.

By far the most interesting book I've read in a *long* time, Morone's _Hellfire Nation_ examines the 200+ years of America's history, but takes a wholly different approach from the norm; instead of seeing the early Puritan settlements as an anomaly that would gradually fade as history progressed, he cites the Puritanistic "us versus them" outlook of morality as being an integral part of most of American history.And yes, this is a very refreshing and fascinating way in which to view history. Morone's basic thesis is that a) "popular" American morality is frequently cited as the only thing that can protect "us" from "them," whether "they" are blacks, the Irish, Jews, et cetera, and b) that this emphasis on those frightening Un-Americans is what fuels "moral fanaticism," like prohibition, Comstockery, the VD/social hygiene movement, c) and from this, laws are put into place which persist long after their spawning social movements have died down, leaving them in the hand of fanatics. The thesis doesn't just hold up; it *thrives*, adequately explaining many facets of much of American moral history, and while Morone's constant repetition of the final point stated above (that fanaticism eventually dies down, leading a select few to continue its legacy to the detriment of a no-longer-incensed society) becomes a bit wearisome, it really does show how *well* so many social events fit into this pattern.Verdict? Yes, Morone's clearly "biased," if one must use that term, to a classical liberal side of things (i.e. don't expect any sympathy for Jim Crow here), yet he is certainly open-minded, wondering for example how prohibition would have turned out if its emphasis had been on the positive nature of sobriety instead of punishing and routing bootleggers (he has similar semi-misgivings about the social hygiene movement's relentless pursuit of prostitutes). But that doesn't dimish Hellfire Nation's power. If you have a passing interest in the intersection of morality and society, you must give this one a shot!

Morone presents an intriguing view of American politics in "Hellfire Nation" (an appropriate follow up to his previous book, "The Democratic Wish").The book is a unique look at the history of America, which expounds the moral fervor that has ignited the fiercest social conflicts and engendered major social movments. "For better and for worse, moral conflicts made America," says Morone.At the end, Morone presents an insightful and inspiring call to a different type of moral politics (which was unfortunately misunderstood by Garrow in his New York Times review).This book is recommended to those interested in attaining a better understanding of American politics and our post 9/11 world.

Hellfire Nation is the best book I have ever read! And I love how Professor Morone drives the crowd wild with his tight black jeans, black sneakers, crazy ties and red shirts. We love you Professor Morone!