{"product_id":"1938-sheldon-spear-9781665740272","title":"1938: American Historical Panorama","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Erika Funke, WVIA Senior Producer\/Program Host, recommends this book: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"The word \"panorama\" was introduced in the 1780s by Irish Artist Robert Barker, \u003cbr\u003e derived from Greek roots suggesting \"a complete view.\" Barker hoped the viewer\u003cbr\u003e would \"feel as if really on the spot.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In titling his study 1938: American Historical Panorama, Dr. Spear\u003cbr\u003e signals his aim in examining this pivotal year, giving us the \"big picture\"\u003cbr\u003e but also human stories that allow us to \"feel as if really on the spot.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e And clarity is a hallmark of his writing. The complex, multilayered\u003cbr\u003e Spanish Civil War is narrated with all its contradictions.\u003cbr\u003e The factions, alliances and consequences are explained with\u003cbr\u003e straightforward comprehensibility, and we feel the suffering of the civilians. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Dr. Spear gives us a strong grounding in a critical year while evoking echoes in our own times. He addresses matters of race, gender, justice and the media\u003cbr\u003e in the big picture and through people's stories, so we feel the impact.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Summary: \u003cbr\u003e Isolationism kept the U. S. out of war, but several thousand left-leaning Americans volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil. There was also the diversion of a radio \"war\" as actor-director Orson Welles orchestrated an on-air version of the H. G. Wells 1890s science fiction classic about a Martian invasion of Earth.\u003cbr\u003e Advances in aviation were indeed real, however. The most successful effort belonged to Howard Hughes. Nineteen thirty-eight also marked the advent of the first \"superhero,\" Superman. But the Great Depression was still on-going.\u003cbr\u003e Yet misery in America was not universal. The advent of Swing, pioneered by bandleaders such as Benny Goodman, made the latter thirties a new Jazz Age. And baseball, seemed more exciting than ever. It included the efforts of Detroit's Hank Greenberg to break Babe Ruth's record of sixty homeruns set in 1927.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Sheldon Spear\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1665740272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781665740272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Archway Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/09\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 282\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.84lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.59d","brand":"Sheldon Spear","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44181114061055,"sku":"9781665740272","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_6d38bbe6-852e-4d42-823d-c66d69d8fefc.jpg?v=1690258632","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/1938-sheldon-spear-9781665740272","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}