The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain,
and the Birth of American Empire, by Stephen Kinzer
Monday, November 6, 2017—Noon to 1:00pm
State Library of Massachusetts—Room 341, Massachusetts State House
Published earlier this year, The True Flag tells the story of America’s “first and greatest” debate about the possibility of imperial expansion, which occurred over a century ago at the end of the Spanish-American War. This question of America’s role in the world was hotly debated by some of the country’s best-known political and intellectual leaders, including Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, Booker T. Washington, and Mark Twain. According to the publisher’s description of the book, “All Americans, regardless of political perspective, can take inspiration from the titans who faced off in this epic confrontation. Their words are amazingly current. Every argument over America’s role in the world grows from this one.”
Author Stephen Kinzer worked for more than twenty years as a foreign correspondent for the New York Times, writing from and serving as the bureau chief in such locations as Nicaragua, Germany, and Turkey. After leaving the Times in 2005, Mr. Kinzer taught at Northwestern University and Boston University, and he is now a senior fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University. Additionally, Mr. Kinzer currently writes a column on world affairs for the Boston Globe.
Mr. Kinzer will be offering copies of The True Flag for sale and signing at the conclusion of his talk at the State Library.
Laura Schaub
Cataloging Librarian
