New Books in History

Robert D. Bland, an Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies, discusses his book focused on the pivotal Reconstruction era in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. He highlights the resilience of Black leaders like Robert Smalls and William Whipper, who navigated a landscape filled with challenges. Bland explores the significance of Black newspapers in shaping counternarratives, the impact of the 1876 election, and the racial origins of gerrymandering. His insights prompt a reflection on how these historical echoes resonate in contemporary America.

In this discussion, Matthijs Lok, a Senior Lecturer in Modern European History at the University of Amsterdam, delves into the complex interplay between conservatism and the Enlightenment. He explores how counter-revolutionary thinkers framed European identity amidst fears of nationalism and global changes. Lok illuminates how both revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries vied for Enlightenment ideals. He also discusses the paradoxical use of Enlightenment rhetoric, touching on topics like empire, colonialism, and the concept of a European Republic, offering insights into today's political landscape.

Cooperative Evangelist: Kagawa Toyohiko and His World, 1888-1960 (University of Hawai’i Press, 2025) by Bo Tao uncovers the extraordinary world of a Japanese man who was once described as the “Saint Francis” or the “Gandhi” of Japan. A renowned religious figure on the world stage, Kagawa Toyohiko (1888–1960) received wide acclaim for his work as a street preacher in the slums of Kobe as well as his espousal of nonviolent methods of social reform. His reputation as a pacifist figure, however, rested uneasily with his wartime actions, which became increasingly supportive of the Japanese government and its expansionist policies. Reluctant to speak up against Japan’s increasing aggression in the late 1930s, he emerged as a full-blown apologist during the Pacific War, appearing on several Radio Tokyo broadcasts as a propagandist defending the interests of the state. Adopting a transnational approach that accounts for the rapid flow of information between Japan and the United States, Bo Tao examines the career of Kagawa as it unfolded within the context of the wars, imperialism, and economic depression of the early to mid-twentieth century. Using official documents and personal correspondence that have received scant attention in previous works, Tao reveals, for the first time at this level of detail, the extent of Kagawa’s cooperative relationship with the Japanese government, as well as the ways in which his idealized image was carefully constructed by his ardent missionary supporters. This book provides a window into the global dimensions of broader cultural shifts during the interwar period, such as the rise of Christian internationalism and the Depression-era popularity of cooperative economics. Offering a holistic and nuanced exploration of the tensions resulting from Kagawa’s hybrid identity as a Japanese Christian, Cooperative Evangelist adds a new layer to our understanding of religion, empire, and politics in the shaping of social and international relations. Bo Tao is Lecturer in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Chiba University in Chiba, Japan. His research interests include global history, U.S.-Japan relations, religion and politics, modern Japanese history, and the history of Christianity. Shatrunjay Mall is a PhD Candidate in the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He works on transnational Asian history, and his dissertation explores intellectual, political, and cultural intersections and affinities that emerged between Indian anti-colonialism and imperial Japan in the twentieth century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Stuart Carroll, an early modern historian and professor at the University of York, delves into enmity and violence in Europe from 1500 to 1800. He explores how ordinary people dealt with enemies and the escalation of violence in personal and political realms. Carroll contrasts public and private enmities, analyzes changing language around conflict, and discusses regional differences in conflict resolution. He argues that Europe's unique debate culture fostered both violence and pluralism, challenging notions of a steady decline in violence.

Philip J. Stern, an Associate Professor of History at Duke University, dives into the pivotal role of corporations in British colonialism. He reveals how entities like the East India Company were not just accomplices to empire but key drivers of global expansion. Stern discusses the blurred lines between formal and informal imperialism, along with the frequent failures of corporate ventures. He highlights the paradox of corporate power, intertwined with state authority, and how this legacy continues to shape notions of British identity today.

Join Andrew S. Curran, a William Armstrong Professor of the Humanities at Wesleyan University, as he explores how Enlightenment thinkers influenced the concept of race. He discusses pivotal figures like Louis XIV and Jefferson, revealing the intertwining of Enlightenment ideals with systems of oppression. Curran examines how taxonomy transformed human classifications and highlights counterarguments from thinkers like Diderot. The conversation unpacks the moral complexities of these historical figures, making it both enlightening and thought-provoking.

W. Ralph Eubanks, an award-winning writer and scholar, delves into the complex history of the Mississippi Delta, a region often misrepresented as merely impoverished. He discusses the dynamic interplay between economic oppression and grassroots resilience, spotlighting figures like Gloria Carter Dickerson, who fought for desegregation. Eubanks also examines the lasting impacts of historical injustices, the myth-making surrounding the Delta, and the nuanced relationships between politics, race, and economic instability, providing a thought-provoking perspective on the region's legacy.

In this engaging discussion, Kerry Brown, a prominent Chinese studies professor, explores four centuries of Britain-China relations from Queen Elizabeth I's failed attempts to establish trade to the more complex dynamics of the 19th century. He highlights the significance of the East India Company and the Macartney embassy, alongside the intriguing tale of tea 'intellectual property' theft by Robert Fortune. Brown also delves into Britain's evolving relationship with China post-1949, emphasizing the striking shift of power favoring a rapidly rising China.

Theodore J. Karamanski, a historian and professor specializing in the environmental history of the Great Lakes, discusses his new book on Lake Michigan. He explores the deep connections between human history and the lake, from Indigenous peoples' sustainable practices to the drastic changes brought on by Euro-American settlement. Karamanski highlights the lake's evolving role—from a vital resource to a recreational hub—while examining the ecological impacts of invasive species and climate change. He advocates for real-world engagement with the lake to inspire stewardship and protection.

Conventional wisdom holds that tradition and history meant little to nineteenth-century American Protestants, who relied on common sense and "the Bible alone." The Old Faith in a New Nation: American Protestants and the Christian Past (Oxford UP, 2023) challenges this portrayal by recovering evangelical engagement with the Christian past. Even when they appeared to be most scornful toward tradition, most optimistic and forward-looking, and most confident in their grasp of the Bible, evangelicals found themselves returning, time and again, to Christian history. They studied religious historiography, reinterpreted the history of the church, and argued over its implications for the present. Between the Revolution and the Civil War, American Protestants were deeply interested in the meaning of the Christian past. Paul J. Gutacker draws from hundreds of print sources-sermons, books, speeches, legal arguments, political petitions, and more-to show how ordinary educated Americans remembered and used Christian history.Lane Davis is an Instructor of Religion at Huntingdon College. Find him on Twitter @TheeLaneDavis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history