A review of God's Mercies: Rivalry, Betrayal and the Dream of Discovery by Douglas Hunter. A review of Savage Kingdom: Virginia and the Founding of English America by Benjamin Woolley. A review of Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution by Woody Holton. From American Heritage, a look at the US constitution that failed; and an essay on the radicalism of the Gettysburg Address. A review of American Transcendentalism: A History by Philip F. Gura. From NYRB, a review of Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations by Georgina Howell; Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell, Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia by Janet Wallach; and Gertrude Bell: The Lady of Iraq by H.V.F. Winstone. A review of Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore. From The Moscow Times, a review of The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia by Orlando Figes (and more). Blind optimism: As Hitler shouted his way up the political ranks in Germany, the Guardian and Observer misjudged the extent of his early influence. A review of The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 by Rick Atkinson. A review of Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Rivalries that Ignited the Space Age by Matthew Brzezinski and Iron Curtain: From Stage to Cold War by Patrick Wright. From NYRB, a review of The Father of All Things: A Marine, His Son, and the Legacy of Vietnam by Tom Bissell.
