‘Winchester achieves something remarkable here … ‘The Men Who United the States’ is not only readable, it’s compelling and quite marvellous reading’ Literary Review‘Winchester pioneered the genre of popular narrative history … His admiration for his adopted homeland, and respect for those who forged it, shine out from every page … [he] understands that specificity is what counts, as it always does in writing’ Sunday Telegraph‘Simon Winchester is a literary impresario … The subtitle promises readers a sackful of exciting tales – and the author delivers. This is a clever, engaging and original look at what would seem well-trodden historical paths; but Winchester, delightfully, breaks a fresh trail’ Economist‘A rousing tribute to the alliances, agencies, and inventions – from Lewis and Clark to the Internet – that underpin our more perfect union. A stunning, highly original feast of a book.’Stacy Schiff‘Simon Winchester never disappoints, and ‘The Men Who United the States’ is a lively and surprising account of how this sprawling piece of geography became a nation. This is America from the ground up. Inspiring and engaging.’Tom Brokaw