The flag the poet and the song : the story of the Star - Spangled Banner

Synopsis

Americans have long stood to salute the flag and sing the national anthem, but in the wake of September 11, it has become more than a ritual at the beginning of a baseball game. Our flag has been on proud display in nearly every home, car, and shop window across the country and our national anthem has never been more popular.

Despite this resurgence in patriotism, few know the real story behind "The Star Spangled Banner" -- neither the song nor the flag that inspired it. In this remarkable book, New York Times reporter Irvin Molotsky tells the story of what really inspired Francis Scott Key, a Washington lawyer, to pen this historic ode. Brimming with fascinating Americana, The Flag, the Poet and the Song brings historical events and figures, both legendary and unknown -- from the flag's seamstress to the military heroes of the War of 1812 -- to vivid life. In witty, accessible language and brimming with little known facts, Molotsky gives readers a book to be read and reread.