Democracy in America and Two Essays on America

In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French aristocrat and civil servant, embarked on a 9-month journey across America, covering 7,000 miles. His observations culminated in a profound analysis of 19th-century American life and institutions. Tocqueville viewed the flourishing democratic system in America as a potential model for post-revolutionary France, believing its egalitarian ideals embodied the spirit of the age and even divine will. His exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of this evolving democracy has been referenced by every American president since Eisenhower, making it essential for discussions about the American nation and its democratic framework. This new edition includes all of Tocqueville's writings on America, featuring the rarely-translated Two Weeks in the Wilderness, which recounts his travels in Michigan among the Iroquois, and Excursion to Lake Oneida. For over seventy years, Penguin has been a leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, offering more than 1,700 titles that represent a global bookshelf of significant works across genres and disciplines. Readers rely on the series for authoritative texts, enhanced by introductions and notes from distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as modern translations by award-winning translators.