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NEW YORK — During a recent meeting with staff editors, Random House Publisher Andrew Ward discussed the potential for new book projects, which naturally led to conversations about the current political landscape and the Trump administration.
“It became clear that reflecting on the nation’s foundational texts was essential,” Ward noted. “We aimed to expedite their release.”
On Wednesday, Random House unveiled plans to publish a hardcover edition in July that will combine the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Following this, in November, they will release a hardcover version of the Federalist Papers. Each book will feature introductions by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham, whose notable works include biographies of figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson.
The publications from Random House, under its Modern Library imprint, are set to enter a rapidly expanding market for such texts. According to Circana, which monitors a significant portion of the print retail market, editions of the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and the U.S. Constitution are experiencing their highest sales levels since the company began tracking this data in 2004.
Up to mid-April, approximately 162,000 copies of these texts have sold, a significant rise from the 58,000 sold during the same timeframe the previous year, and a notable increase from about 33,000 copies sold in 2023. For comparison, sales reached around 92,000 during the early months of Trump’s first term in 2017, more than doubling the figures from 2016.
Brenna Connor, a book industry analyst at Circana, remarked that the surge in sales “is likely a response to the recent change of administration” and pointed to a growing interest in literature focusing on democracy and governance. This includes works like Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny” and the collection of essays titled “Who Is Government?” edited by Michael Lewis, featuring contributions by writers such as Dave Eggers and Sarah Vowell.
“This quest for political understanding is manifesting in several ways,” Connor added.
In a recent interview, Meacham reflected on the founders’ efforts to navigate a transformative period in history, whether it was about severing ties with England or shaping a federal government that wielded sufficient power without the authoritarian overreach that had angered the colonies.
He asserted that engaging with these foundational texts could provide today’s society with valuable insights and a sense of direction.
“We find ourselves in a deeply tumultuous moment,” Meacham stated. “One approach to countering the chaos of our times—what Saint Paul might term the ‘tribulations’—is to re-engage with the fundamental texts integral to constructing a system still deserving of our defense.”
Despite the promise of Random House’s offerings, the Modern Library books will face stiff competition. All three texts from the 18th century are in the public domain, allowing for free online access and enabling various publishers to produce their own editions. Circana has noted that popular versions have been made available by publishers such as Skyhorse, Penguin, and Barnes & Noble.
“We typically observe a spike in sales for editions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution during election years, particularly this cycle,” remarked Shannon DeVito, Barnes & Noble’s senior director of book strategy. “This could be attributed to several factors, including next year marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, alongside the current intense political discourse and policy shifts.”
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