The Man Without a Country, and Other Tales

The most powerful American story you've never heard. "The Man Without a Country" began as a plea for patriotism in the aftermath of the Civil War and became one of the most influential works in American literature, required reading in schools for over a century. Philip Nolan is a young Army officer swept up in Aaron Burr's conspiracy. At his court-martial, in a moment of rash fury, he declares he never wants to hear of the United States again. The court grants his wish. He is sentenced to spend his life at sea, never allowed to hear his country's name mentioned, never allowed to return home. What follows is a meditation on exile, identity, and the wounds we inflict on ourselves through rash words. Nolan's transformation from hot-headed young officer to aging man broken by loss is devastating. The collection includes other tales that explore American identity and what it means to belong to a nation. This book speaks to anyone who has ever questioned the power of words and the deep bonds that connect us to our homeland.