Savage Peace: Hope and Fear in America, 1919

Written with the sweep of an epic novel and grounded in extensive research into contemporary documents, Savage Peace is a striking portrait of American democracy under stress. It is the surprising story of America in the year 1919. In the aftermath of an unprecedented worldwide war and a flu pandemic, Americans began the year full of hope, expecting to reap the benefits of peace. But instead, the fear of terrorism filled their days. Bolshevism was the new menace, and the federal government, utilizing a vast network of domestic spies, began to watch over anyone deemed suspicious. Wartime legislation intended to curb criticism of the government was extended and even strengthened. Decorated African-American soldiers, returning home to claim the democracy for which they had risked their lives, were badly disappointed. Weaving together the stories of a panoramic cast of characters, Ann Hagedorn brilliantly illuminates America at a pivotal moment.