Blacklisted by History

[7thson]

I looked up Blacklisted By History on Amazon. It is number 25. Below is the review by Publishers Weekly. I bolded certain text that – in my opinion – attempts to deflate the importance of the book and the author. There are nine reviews – eight favorable and one not-so-favorable. That one was by a Charles Miller and here it is - This book is pure bull. Don't be taken in. McCarthy ruined innocent lives. As you can see, Mr. Miller is quite eloquent in his review. That was sarcasm, in case anyone missed it.

Evans's lively book seeks, first, to demonstrate that Communists worked, often successfully, to undermine American security during the Cold War. It tries, second, to defend Sen. Joseph McCarthy, the egregious scourge of American Communists and fellow travelers, against those who, in Evans's (The Theme Is Freedom) view, have unjustly ruined his reputation. On the first point, save for some new details, Evans, a contributing editor to Human Events, treads worn ground. Most scholars, having also used Soviet archives, concede his position and argue now only over secondary matters, like the guilt of Alger Hiss. On the second point, Evans has a tougher case, which he seeks to make as a defense attorney would: by conceding nothing to McCarthy's detractors. Evans is also given to conspiracy thinking—an approach that, by its nature, yields claims that can neither be confirmed nor falsified. Defense attorneys and debaters like Evans follow different rules than historians—they try to score points, not to advance knowledge. Evans is good at the former, his propulsive style carrying much of the argument's burden. But the history Evans relates is already largely known, if not fully accepted. 20 illus. (Nov. 6)

I’m getting a little backlogged as to what I want to read. Right now I am reading Laura Ingraham’s Power To The People. On deck are books by An Coulter, Clarence Thomas, Mark Levin, and Vince Flynn. Now I have to add this one.

[Huck]

...treads worn ground. Most scholars, having also used Soviet archives, concede his position ...But the history Evans relates is already largely known, if not fully accepted.

Funny. Ann Coulter comments on this tactic in her latest column:

"Evans' book is such a tour de force that liberals are already preparing a "yesterday's news" defense -- as if they had long ago admitted the truth about McCarthy. Yes, and they fought shoulder to shoulder with Ronald Reagan to bring down the Evil Empire. Thus, Publishers Weekly preposterously claims that "the history Evans relates is already largely known, if not fully accepted." Somebody better tell George Clooney." http://www.anncoulter.com/

[7thson]

You’re right. I read this yesterday in her column and completely forgot it. I feel stupid!