________________________________

From: Richard Labunski [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 9:30
Subject: James Madison and the Bill of Rights


Dear Colleague:
 
I am a professor at the University of Kentucky and the author of the new
book, "James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights."  It will
be published in early June by Oxford University Press in its "Pivotal
Moments in American History" series.  (The series co-editors are James
McPherson and David Hackett Fischer).
 
The book tells the incredible story of how the exceedingly shy Madison
overcame one obstacle after another to help give the nation the
Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Few people, including those
otherwise interested in the founding period, know how close we came to
not having the Bill of Rights then or perhaps ever. 

The book relies heavily on primary sources and will appeal to general
audiences as well as historians and other scholars.  It has 35
illustrations including letters, photos, portraits, legislative
documents, and newspaper commentaries related to the founding and
ratification era.

You can learn more about the book, read an excerpt, advance praise and
reviews, and see some of the illustrations here:
<www.richardlabunski.com <http://www.richardlabunski.com/> >.
 
There is much in the book about Virginia political history, including
discussion of the General Assembly, the Virginia ratifying convention,
and the role that the state's prominent Anti-Federalists played in the
ratification debate.  The political battle between Madison and the
charismatic Patrick Henry is especially interesting and compelling.
Henry did everything he could to keep Madison out of the First Congress
so he could not propose the Bill of Rights.
 
Amazon is currently offering a pre-publication discount of 37 percent.
You can order it through the Amazon link at my Web site.
 
Thank you.  

Richard Labunski 
 
(Would you also please forward this e-mail to someone who may be
interested in the book? Thanks.)


Richard Labunski
School of Journalism and Telecommunications
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0042
Office:  (859) 257-5719
Home fax:  (859) 873-3557
Author of: James Madison and the Struggle
for the Bill of Rights http://richardlabunski.com
<http://richardlabunski.com/>  
Internship Web site http://jatinternships.uky.edu
<http://jatinternships.uky.edu/>  

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