Howard Zinn ─ A Life on the Left

Martin Duberman (distinguished professor emeritus, history, CUNY) has more than twenty books to his credit, is a highly experienced biographer, and has been a finalist for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. He has written the first major biography of Howard Zinn, one of the most famous 20th century American historians and a core figure in the history of the modern political left. In this detailed account of Zinn's life and work, Duberman finds much to admire, as well as helping the reader understand the complex social and political currents that surrounded him. The book is not a work of hero worship, however. Duberman is too good a historian, and too skillful a writer, for that. He is also the founder of CUNY's Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies, and he takes Zinn to task for deleting both the women's and the GLBT movements from his most influential book, A People's History of the United States. Duberman has the background and experience to understand the important factors in Zinn's life and history: that he was the child of Polish Jews, the connections between poverty and labor politics, the effects of teaching in a southern black college in the 1950s and 60s, and the relationships between radical teaching and conservative academic administration. Equally important, the author was given full access to Zinn's papers, and he knew how to use them. When he found Zinn had screened out much of his personal life, the author also searched the archives of friends and colleagues, conducted interviews, and got Zinn's friends and family to talk honestly with him. Detailed and readable, this book is a major publication in the field of American history. It will be a core book for any scholarly or general reader interested in biography, the American left, or 20th century US history. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)