Alistair Cooke fue un aclamado periodista y presentador de radio y televisión británico-estadounidense. Su trabajo se caracterizó por una aguda observación y reportajes influyentes, que a menudo ofrecían al público estadounidense perspectivas sobre la vida británica y viceversa. Su estilo distintivo y su habilidad para conectar con los oyentes lo convirtieron en una de las voces más respetadas de su época. A través de sus duraderos reportajes 'Letter from America' para la BBC, moldeó el discurso público y fomentó la comprensión intercultural.
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
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.
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.
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.