Sean Wilentz,
the George Henry Davis 1886 Professor of American History, has been
selected to receive a Bancroft Prize for his 2005 book, "The Rise of
American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln."
The award, among the most prestigious in the field of history, carries
a $10,000 prize and will be presented in April. It is given annually by
the trustees of Columbia University to the authors of books of
exceptional merit in the fields of American history, biography and
diplomacy.
Other recipients this year are Erskine Clarke's "Dwelling Place: A
Plantation Epic" and Odd Arne Westad's "The Global Cold War: Third
World Interventions and the Making of Our Times."
Wilentz's book, published by W.W. Norton, is a chronicle of political
and social changes from the American Revolution to the Civil War. The
author, who also is director of Princeton's Program in American
Studies, specializes in early national and Jacksonian history. His
other books include "Chants Democratic: New York City and the Rise of
the American Working Class. 1788-1850," "The Key of Liberty: The Life
and Democratic Writings of William Manning. 'A Laborer.' 1747-1814"
(with Michael Merrill) and "The Kingdom of Matthias: A Story of Sex and
Salvation in 19th-Century America" (with Paul E. Johnson).
A Princeton faculty member since 1979, Wilentz also recently has
received a Deems Taylor Award from the American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers and a Grammy Award nomination, both for his
liner notes for a 2004 Bob Dylan recording, "Live 1964: Concert at
Philharmonic Hall -- The Bootleg Series Volume 6."
