States of grace
‘THIS IS AN ELECTION THE WORLD IS LOOKING AT'
As the battle for the White House reaches its conclusion, historian Simon Schama tells Malcolm Jack how America's dramatic past will inform everyone's future
ith its military overstretched. natural
resources running dry and markets
fluctuating wildly. America faces the biggest presidential election in generations this November. You might scoff that a country which gave George ‘Dubya' Bush two terms in office deserves to swallow its medicine. but the reality is — as the credit crunch has proven acutely in recent months — American woes are often global problems. and the fallout from this vote could come seeping under everybody‘s door.
So as America prepares to go to the polls. it‘s worth trying to understand what‘s brewing in a historical context. for in times of need no country invokes its past — however short it might be — quite like the USA. Essential reading is The Anwrican Future: A History. the latest masterful study by Simon Schama CBli. British Professor of History at Columbia University New York and much-loved UK TV personality. best known for his limmy-nominated documentary series A History o/‘Brirain. In his new book — which will also screen as a four-part series on BBCZ — Schama casts his eye through the long lens of US history over what he see as a reawakening of American democracy. focusing broadly and vividly on the themes of war. religious fervour. race and immigration and the increasing pinch between expectations of prosperity and environmental constraints.
‘This book is a weave of the moment and the past.‘ Schama explains over the phone from his rural upstate New York home. ‘Every American contemporary moment comes coloured with layers of historical richness. We tend to think of our past in Britain —
32 THE LIST 2—16 Oct 2008
whether it‘s Nelson or Churchill or Bannockburn — as a kind of processional route in Westminster Abbey. In America it‘s as if it‘s happening simultaneously. like ()maha Beach is happening at the same time as lraq. Like ()bama is the closure of a big circle that began with Thomas Jefferson preaching liberty and owning slaves. It‘s very peculiar — not just that American only has 2()() years of history. It‘s very liinsteinian.‘
Schama has long voiced his support for Barack ()bama. and believes that the Democrat candidate has a detailed understanding of the historical context of the election which could give him the edge over John McCain. For citizens. he suggests. that context matters. ‘The sense of what America‘s been and where America's going is very strong in people‘s minds. much stronger than most people in liurope thitka
For this historian. who admits to loving America — his home for almost 30 years — ‘deeply’. what matters above all is that the debate and the White House is won and lost not on the basis of mud slinging but major issues. ‘()bama did say. quite beautifully. “it's always possible to make a big election small: it's worked before. it could easily work again.” says Schama. 'The implication being. what a tragically missed opportunity for America that would be. One hopes that it is a big election. because this is an election that the world is looking at. America is much of the world's safety and prosperity and physical ecological health. If this isn’t a big election. one can't imagine what might be.’
The American Future: A History is published by Bodley Head on Thu 2 Oct. See TV, page 94.
www.|ist.co.uk/books
"ST
THE BEST BOOKS, COMICS & EVENTS
* Writers Read tor Amnesty Anne Donovan (pictured). Ghazi Hussein and Tom Leonard gather up in support of the human rights organisation, with a short film by the Camcorder Guerillas also getting a screening. The Glasgow School of Art, Fri 3 Oct.
* Julie Walters Everyone’s favourite Brummie actress tells her own tale in That’s Another Story featuring her rise from convent girl to household name. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 8 Oct.
3|: David Malout The Australian author of An Imaginary Life and Every Move You Make chats about his all- time favourite poems. Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh, Fri 10 Oct.
3i! Cheeta The legendary simian from the Hollywood Tarzan era brings us his long- awaited autobiography. Chances are that the wonderful Me Cheeta was ghostwritten. See review, page 33. Fourth Estate.
* Simon Schama The history of the US gets filtered through this academic's penetrating lens. See preview, left. Bodley Head. * Mark Doty Theories and Apparitions features the US poet in mood-swinging mode as he reflects movingly and elegantly upon the dilemmas thrown at him by life. See review, page 33. Jonathan Cape.
3!: Garth Ennis & Gary Erskine A seven-part hardback revival of Dan Dare features our leading man in a good old- fashioned war story with a fair bit to say about the subject of heroism. See review, page 34. ngn Comics.
* Nate Powell Subtle storytelling in b&w about the growing pains of step-siblings living it up in small town USA with Swallow Me Who/e. See review, page 34. Top Shelf.
>l<