A New History of Iowa

"Bremer’s history is important because it adds the voices of the often-overlooked people in history, such as formwomen, workers, immigrants, and refugees. [He] does not hesitate to discuss the dark side of Iowa’s past regarding discrimination, segregation, and intolerance. The result is a solid history without glorification."—Middle West Review

“Jeff Bremer’s new history of Iowa captures the many facets of the state: its diversity, complexity, and changeability. It is the story of both elites and ordinary folks of many backgrounds. It takes a hard look at the myths that both the nation and that Iowans tell about place. The breadth and scope of this work make it a welcome addition to the growing literature that chronicles the state and the region.”—Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, distinguished professor of history, Iowa State University, and author of When a Dream Dies: Agriculture, Iowa, and the Farm Crisis of the 1980s

“Iowa is the heart of the American heartland, the beating center of the Midwest, and it has been far too long since Iowa’s history has been given a comprehensive treatment. Bravo to Jeff Bremer, who brings decades of expertise to the task, succeeding brilliantly, and puts Iowa back on the national map. For anyone curious about the history of the forgotten center of the nation, this is a must-read.”—Jon K. Lauck, founding president of the Midwestern History Association, editor in chief of the Middle West Review, adjunct professor of political science, University of South Dakota, coeditor of The Conservative Heartland: A Political History of the Postwar American Midwest, and author of The Good Country: A History of the American Midwest, 1800–1900

“With his impressive scope, brisk pace, and unparalleled knowledge, Bremer has produced the new standard in Iowa history. Readers meet the farmers, politicians, activists, immigrants, and everyday people who have made Iowa what it is today and simultaneously learn how Iowa history connects to themes, people, and events that extend well beyond the state’s borders. A New History of Iowa is, quite simply, a masterclass in state history.”—Andrew Klumpp, editor, Annals of Iowa, State Historical Society of Iowa