Alistair Cooke Books

Alastair Cooke's Letter from America: 1946-2004 is a defining collection from his legendary BBC Radio broadcasts that guides us through nearly sixty years of changing life in the United States. Alistair Cooke's Letter from America interpreted nearly sixty years of changing US life for the rest of the world. Covering key moments from the assassination of Kennedy through Vietnam and Watergate to September 11, Iraq and anticipating the 2004 elections, this book provides a defining collection of Letters from his legendary BBC Radio 4 broadcasts. Encompassing portraits of the great and the good from Charlie Chaplin to Martin Luther King and topics as varied as civil rights, golf, jazz and the changing colours of a New England fall, each Letter contributes a captivating portrait of a nation - and of a man. 'Cooke was the special relationship' Daily Mail 'Such experience, wisdom and education are unlikely ever again to combine in one journalist' Mark Lawson 'There is never going to be anyone else like Cooke, a chronicler of amazing times' Daily Telegraph 'The range of Cooke's experiences was awesome but he always had the personal touch' Jeremy Vine 'No one else succeeded in explaining to the English-speaking world ... the idiosyncrasies of a country at once so familiar, and yet so utterly foreign' Independent Alistair Cooke (1908-2004) enjoyed an extraordinary life in print, radio and television. The Guardian's Senior Correspondent in New York for twenty-five years and the host of groundbreaking cultural programmes on American television and of the BBC series America, Cooke was, however, best known both at home and abroad for his weekly BBC broadcast Letter from America, which reported on fifty-eight years of US life, was heard over five continents and totalled 2,869 broadcasts before his retirement in February 2004, far and away the longest-running radio series in broadcasting history.

Photographs taken from the air present striking views of the buildings and monuments in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area

The book focuses on the revival of classic literature from the early 1900s and earlier, highlighting the scarcity and rising costs of these works. It aims to make these timeless texts accessible by republishing them in high-quality, modern editions that retain the original text and artwork. This initiative celebrates the importance of preserving literary heritage while ensuring affordability for contemporary readers.

Provides a visual record of London through unique aerial photographs and accompanying text.

When Alistair Cooke retired in March 2004 and then died a few weeks later, he was acclaimed by many as one of the greatest broadcasters of all time. His Letters from America, which began in 1946 and continued uninterrupted every week until early 2004, kept the world in touch with what was happening in Cooke's wry, liberal and humane style. This selection, made largely by Cooke himself and supplemented by his literary executor, gives us the very best of these legendary broadcasts. It is a remarkable portrait of a continent - and a man.

A new edition of Alistair Cooke's classic work, which has sold more than 2 million copies. Full of Cooke's signature erudition, this is an incisive and illuminating history of the United States. Republished to mark the 50th anniversary of the classic BBC series and this title's first publication.

The book offers a unique perspective on American life during a pivotal transition, capturing the shift from civilian activities to military involvement. It highlights the change in production focus from consumer goods to war materials, reflecting the broader societal changes occurring at the time. This record provides valuable insights into the historical context surrounding Cooke's death and the evolving American identity amidst conflict.

Alistair Cooke, recognized a great story to be told in investigating at first hand the effects of the Second World War on America. Within weeks of the Pearl Harbor attack, Cooke set off on a circuit of the entire country to see what the war had done to people. This unique travelogue celebrates an important American character and the indomitable spirit of a nation that was to inspire Cooke's reports and broadcasts for some sixty years.