“A great scholar of the American past, David O. Stewart has brilliantly mined what has come before to guide us in our own, all-too-urgent American present. An important and timely volume.”
—Jon Meachem, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The American Struggle
ON SALE MAY 26, 2026
About the Book
What did America's founders say about democracy-and can we remain true to their vision for America?
Two hundred fifty years ago, passionate men attempted to create something the world had never seen before: a nation built not on kings or armies, but on ideas where the people ruled.
In The Democracy We Must Keep, historian David O. Stewart takes readers inside the nine key documents that shaped the formation of the United States-from Patrick Henry's thunderous cry for liberty to the carefully crafted design of a government chosen by the people, with limits on all officials holding power under the Constitution.
About David
Author of five widely-acclaimed, award-winning books of American history, three bestselling historical mysteries and two more historical novels, David O. Stewart is a popular speaker and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Washington Independent Review of Books. He honed his storytelling skills as a trial and appellate lawyer and newspaper reporter.
Praise for the Author
[An] outstanding biography
“An outstanding biography” with “clear, often superlative” writing and “a narrative drive such a life deserves.”
—The Wall Street Journal, on George Washington: The Political Rise of America’s Founding Father
Terrific
“[A]nother terrific Fraser and Cook mystery.”
—The Washington Post on
The Paris Deception
... full of deft characterizations and drama
“Briskly written, full of deft characterizations and drama. . . this is a splendid rendering of [the Constitution’s] creation . . . descriptive history at its best.”
—Publishers Weekly on
The Summer of 1787
... an acknowledged master of narrative history.
“Stewart is an acknowledged master of narrative history. He can explain a political crisis or an ideological debate with perfect clarity and exactly the sense of urgency required to capture and hold the reader’s attention.”
—The Washington Post on
Madison's Gift
Fast-paced and smartly researched
"This fast-paced and smartly researched first novel is astonishingly good, complete with sharp and colorful characters, nicely drawn by Stewart."
—Stephen L. Carter Bloomberg View on
The Lincoln Deception
The rare historical novel...
“The rare historical novel that has it all. A family love story, a panoramic war story, victories and losses in the daily struggle for survival.”
—Patricia O'Toole on
The New Land
"I wish today's political leaders, especially in Washington, would show the courage and willingness to fight for what they believe in, but possess an understanding of the need to compromise to solve the nation's problems. They all need to... read The Summer of 1787."
—General Colin Powell, New York Times Book Review
On Sale Now!
