Alistair Cooke was a renowned British American journalist and host of television and radio programs. His work was characterized by keen observation and influential reporting, often offering American audiences insights into British life and vice versa. His distinctive style and ability to connect with listeners made him one of the most respected voices of his era. Through his long-running 'Letter from America' broadcasts for the BBC, he shaped public discourse and fostered cross-cultural understanding.
Talks selected from Cooke's radio broadcasts reveal his incisive, illuminating, and witty observations on Watergate, Vietnam, and other news events of the last decade
This collection features Alistair Cooke's key dispatches on pivotal moments and figures in post-war America. As a remarkable reporter and interpreter of his adopted country to Britain and the world, Cooke's journey began with his first broadcast in 1946, capturing the essence of America through significant events like the Korean War, McCarthy witch hunts, Civil Rights, JFK's presidency, the moon landings, Robert Kennedy's assassination, Nixon's resignation, and Clinton's scandals, culminating with the September 11 attacks and the Iraq War. The anthology includes Cooke's insights on notable personalities and the perspectives of everyday Americans, alongside memories from his daughter, Susan. This tribute reflects Cooke's profound connection to the country he cherished. Critics have praised the work as an indispensable record of 20th-century American culture, highlighting Cooke's ability to make sense of decades filled with turmoil and triumph. With a remarkable career spanning print, radio, and television, Cooke served as The Guardian's Senior Correspondent in New York for twenty-five years and hosted influential cultural programs, but he is best known for his long-running BBC series, "Letter from America," which aired 2,869 times over fifty-eight years, making it the longest-running radio series in history.
Photographs taken from the air present striking views of the buildings and monuments in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area
A look at American conservatism by the current editor and Washington bureau chief of The Economist.
Provides a visual record of London through unique aerial photographs and accompanying text.
Classics endure, and Alistair Cooke's history of America is no exception. Nearly thirty years since the original edition—based on his acclaimed thirteen-part television series—this work has sold over a million copies. Cooke's perspective on America's vibrant past and its influence on the evolving present continues to offer profound insights into the nation’s unique character. The years since the first publication have seen dramatic changes: impeached presidents, economic upheavals, collapsed empires, and fallen towers. In response, Cooke has crafted a compelling introduction and final chapter for this new edition, updating his narrative with the wisdom of a seasoned correspondent. The story spans from the European discovery of America to contemporary times, highlighting the struggles for independence, the pioneers who shaped the West, and the slaves who sought freedom alongside the diverse immigrants yearning for a new life. Throughout, Cooke examines the essential forces that drive America’s vitality. This updated edition, reflecting on the September 11th tragedy, features full-color illustrations, enriching the experience. Critics have hailed it as a significant tribute to the nation and a panoramic exploration of its land and people.
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.
Life on the Home Front in the Second World War
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.
Alistair Cooke's essays about the history, personalities and literary works that shaped the programs that have appeared on Masterpiece Theatre.
