Empire and Liberty: The Tied Histories of Two American Landmarks
Vaneesa Cook
Jun 2026 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross
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9 hr 46 min
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A sweeping cultural history of two iconic landmarks that reflect the spirit, character, and values of the US—the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty—and the role they play in shaping American culture, US history, and international relations
In Empire and Liberty, historian Dr. Vaneesa Cook explores how the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty have served as lightning rods for debates about the irreconcilable tensions between empire and liberty that have existed since American independence, defining the contours of American identity.
The two landmarks, typically considered separately not comparatively, reflect much about the struggle of American identity. When studied in tandem, it becomes clear that they represent touchpoints for debates over ideas and ideals about who Americans are and what they want.
Empire and Liberty raises questions such as:
- How could women embrace a Statue of Liberty that was erected before they had the right to vote?
- How could African Americans believe in a nation dedicated to liberty that deliberately left them out?
- How much freedom could immigrants feel while stuck in low-wage jobs, facing discrimination and racism? How much could they appreciate the benefits of empire when they rarely reaped its fruits?
Cook illuminates how this story of two tied landmarks is essentially about the American people and their experiences—how they construed the structures as symbols of empire and liberty and how they imbued the structures with spirit and character.
In Empire and Liberty, historian Dr. Vaneesa Cook explores how the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty have served as lightning rods for debates about the irreconcilable tensions between empire and liberty that have existed since American independence, defining the contours of American identity.
The two landmarks, typically considered separately not comparatively, reflect much about the struggle of American identity. When studied in tandem, it becomes clear that they represent touchpoints for debates over ideas and ideals about who Americans are and what they want.
Empire and Liberty raises questions such as:
- How could women embrace a Statue of Liberty that was erected before they had the right to vote?
- How could African Americans believe in a nation dedicated to liberty that deliberately left them out?
- How much freedom could immigrants feel while stuck in low-wage jobs, facing discrimination and racism? How much could they appreciate the benefits of empire when they rarely reaped its fruits?
Cook illuminates how this story of two tied landmarks is essentially about the American people and their experiences—how they construed the structures as symbols of empire and liberty and how they imbued the structures with spirit and character.
A sweeping cultural history of two iconic landmarks that reflect the spirit, character, and values of the US—the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty—and the role they play in shaping American culture, US history, and international relations
In Empire and Liberty, historian Dr. Vanees...
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About the author
Vaneesa Cook holds a doctorate in U.S. history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2015). Her first book Spiritual Socialists: Religion and the American Left was published in fall 2019 by the University of Pennsylvania Press. She has also published articles in the LA Review of Books, Religion & Politics, Dissent, Sojourners, The Washington Post, Aeon, Raritan, and more. She lives in Wisconsin and works as a writer, historian, and freelance editor.
Vaneesa Cook holds a doctorate in U.S. history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2015). Her first book Spiritual Socialists: Religion and the American Left was published in fall 2019 by the University of Pennsylvania Press. She has also published articles in the LA Review of Books, Religi...
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