The late British-born American journalist, Alistair Cooke, traces the history of America - from the eve of discovery to the modern day.

Through his BBC Radio series, 'Letters From America', Alistair Cooke reported on every aspect of life in the United States for over 50 years. In 1973 he wrote and presented 'Alistair Cooke's America', his critically acclaimed TV series, which became a hit on both sides of the atlantic, generated a best-selling book and earned Cooke an invitation to address congress during the bicentennial celebrations in 1976. Cooke died in March 2004, just a month after his last-ever letter from America