- Published: 14 June 2022
- ISBN: 9781984898517
- Imprint: Knopf US
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 928
- RRP: $55.00
The Engagement
America's Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage
- Published: 14 June 2022
- ISBN: 9781984898517
- Imprint: Knopf US
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 928
- RRP: $55.00
“A lively, encyclopedic survey of the struggle for marriage equality . . . Issenberg emphasizes an overlapping, conflicting and often serendipitous series of events . . . a complex and chaotic chain reaction that thrust same-sex marriage from the realm of conservative conjecture . . . to the forefront of the American consciousness, to the top of the gay political agenda and, eventually, to the halls of the Supreme Court.” —Eric Cervini, The New York Times Book Review “A comprehensive history. . . . Conveys social history as the grand drama it really is, full of intimate details, battling personalities, heated court cases, public persuasion.” —John Williams, The New York Times “Part Grisham-esque legal thriller, part Sorkin-esque political drama, and part Maddow-esque historical yarn.” —O, The Oprah Magazine “A tour-de-force. . . . Engaging, authoritative and impeccably sourced.” —The Guardian “Insightful and breezy . . . Tracing the evolution of both public opinion and politics around marriage equality, the work holds a mirror up to how much America has changed in a short period of time and how those in power actually followed the public embrace of same-sex marriage, rather than lead it.” —Philip Elliot, Time Magazine “Issenberg is a journalist who digs deep, and this sprawling, authoritative, finely detailed book reflects that.” —Frank Bruni “Comprehensive . . . From the 1990 Hawaii same-sex marriage license applications through lawyer Mary Bonauto’s work, Issenberg’s chronicle is an important contribution.” —Washington Post (10 Books to Read in June) “This meticulously reported work sheds new light on just about every aspect of this fraught history . . . It is sure to become the definitive book on one of the most important issues of our time.” —O. Henry Magazine “This lively, thorough and fascinating history reconstructs the fight for gay marriage, tracing how an issue that barely registered among queer activists became, in the wake of outspoken opposition from the religious right, a priority.” —The New York Times (weekly roundup) “Issenberg's nuanced and insightful reporting brings clarity to this important milestone." —Booklist “A definitive portrait of a key victory in the battle for LGBTQ rights." —Publishers Weekly “The Engagement is a sprawlingly rich history of the United States' most transformative equality movement. Issenberg's impressively wide-ranging interviews allow him to go beyond the familiar story of trailblazing lawyers to give lesser-known campaign consultants due credit for their critical contributions to bringing about a sea-change in America's acceptance of gay equality. Likewise, Issenberg's fair-minded treatment of equality opponents further demonstrates The Engagement will be an enduringly significant work of history." —David J. Garrow, author of Liberty and Sexuality: The Right to Privacy and the Making of Roe v. Wade and Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama “In this deeply engaging and comprehensively reported work, Sasha Issenberg traces the story of marriage equality from its beginnings as a nearly impossible dream to its current status as an essential right. This engrossing account of social change, political will and human rights arrives at a moment of great urgency. Issenberg’s narrative will inform the efforts of anyone who strives for a more equal country, and touch the heart of anyone who has see