Sam Tanenhaus es un distinguido editor y crítico, conocido por sus perspicaces comentarios sobre literatura y política. Su liderazgo editorial en The New York Times Book Review da forma al discurso literario contemporáneo, ofreciendo a los lectores perspectivas cuidadosamente seleccionadas. A través de sus ensayos críticos, profundiza en las complejidades de los paisajes culturales y políticos, demostrando una aguda visión analítica. El riguroso enfoque de Tanenhaus para escribir y editar lo convierte en una voz importante en las letras estadounidenses.
The author charts the story of Whittaker Chambers, whose transformation from Communist agent to anti-Communist witness climaxed in 1948, when he testified against Alger Hiss, a senior U.S. State Department official, in the controversial trial that shook and changed America.
The book explores the historical evolution of the American conservative movement, highlighting a 75-year ideological divide between two main factions. One group, the consensus-driven "realists," advocates for the government's role in adapting to societal changes, while the other, the movement "revanchists," harbors a deep skepticism of government and societal structures, often positioning themselves in opposition to American values. Sam Tanenhaus's analysis offers a comprehensive examination of these conflicting perspectives and their impact on contemporary politics.