Irvin Molotsky

A somewhat readable, yet opinionated, overview of the history of the American flag, the national anthem of the United States ("The Star-Spangled Banner"), and coincidentally the War of 1812. There were interesting things included about the flag's history from a textiles perspective. It is very apparent that the author does not like our national anthem, and he tended to make the same points over and over throughout the book in relation to the song. The overview of the War of 1812 was minimal. Those looking for more in-depth and historically accurate treatment should read Donald Hickey's The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict or Walter Borneman's 1812: The War That Forged a Nation.… (más)

This popular history of the original Star-Spangled Banner and the song it inspired began with articles the author wrote for the New York Times about the flag's conservation. It reads exactly like what it is: the work of a journalist rather than a historian. The author refers to sources in the text and includes a short bibliography, but he also relies on interviews with experts in the flag's history and conservation.

A recent article in Smithsonian Magazine covered many of the same details of the flag's history and conservation that Molotsky presents in his book, and experts affiliated with the Smithsonian are some of Molotsky's main interview sources. Readers of this book may want to visit the archives on the Smithsonian Magazine site to see color photographs of the flag and the conservation process since the illustrations in the book are in black and white.… (más)