Awakening the Spirit of America: FDR’s War of Words with Charles Lindbergh ― and the Battle to Save Democracy
Pegasus Books, 2024

About the book
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, signaling the start of World War II. Franklin D. Roosevelt had long warned that Hitler’s fascist regime posed an existential threat to democracy, but the American public remained stubbornly isolationist while fascist-sympathizing groups and right-wing media promoted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh’s youthful charm and media magnetism earned him a massive following as he led an aggressive attack on FDR’s policies. This is a riveting, inside account of FDR’s victory over the forces aligned against him.

About the author
Paul M. Sparrow is a writer, historical consultant, and former director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York. Previously he served as deputy director and senior vice president at the Newseum in Washington, DC.

Sparrow will be in conversation with Laurie S. Fulton at the event.

Laurie S. Fulton served as U.S. Ambassador to Denmark from 2009 to 2013 and retired in 2014 as a partner in the law firm Williams & Connolly LLP. She serves on the board of the National Archives Foundation and is co-chair of the Ambassadors Circle of the National Democratic Institute. 

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes.

About the Festival
The History Book Festival is the first and only book festival in the United States devoted exclusively to history. With the help of our presenting funding partners — Delaware Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | PenFed Realty — as well as our program and community partners, volunteers, and donors, the 2024 History Book Festival will be full of great discussions with authors of newly published narrative nonfiction and historical fiction. Our Keynote event is presented by Sally Mott Freeman and John K. Freeman, and our Closing event is presented by Griswold Home Care for Sussex and Kent Counties. Saturday’s Spirited Discussion, our gathering for attendees and presenters to celebrate and discuss their day, is presented by Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence.

Special thanks to our Founding Program Partners for their continuing support: the Lewes Public Library, for event promotion and production, and Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Thanks also to: the  Lewes Chamber of Commerce for event promotion, and the Cape Gazette and Delmarva Public Media, our media partners.

Additional thanks to our community partners: CAMP Rehoboth, Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center,  Historic Lewes Farmers Market, Lewes Historical Society, Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach Film Society, Seaside Jewish Community, and Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ).