Series

At a moment of heightened polarization, when distinctions between facts and click-bait news are elusive, this critical new series is committed to reaffirming the indispensable role of the intellectual in the public sphere. History in the Headlines harnesses the accumulated knowledge of leading scholars and academics, capturing their voices in books that are dedicated to informing contemporary debate. Series editors Catherine Clinton and Jim Downs, along with a distinguished advisory board, offer books that contextualize current events and provide essential perspective.

The centerpiece of each book is a lively conversation among highly respected historians—carefully edited for concision, clarity, and relevance—bookended by an informative introduction and an annotated bibliography. Following each conversation, books include a “Top Ten” selection of essays or articles that everyone should read to flesh out understanding of a given issue.

Stripped of jargon and focused on common issues, History in the Headlines informs readers about issues of the day with clear, lively writing and a conversational style. Series books engage prominent scholars with students, journalists, and the public at large.

Themes are selected based on their contemporary importance and lasting scholarly weight and include such topics as Confederate memorialization, the construction of race, the history of epidemics, and the development of mass incarceration. The result positions informed conversation at its center, brings expertise to the fore, and situates History in the Headlines at the heart of pressing debates for years to come.