The Capitol: The Surprising Biography of an American Building

The Capitol: The Surprising Biography of an American Building

$42.00

Biographical Note: Brian Jay Jones is the critically acclaimed, bestselling biographer of some of the world's most iconic creative geniuses. Born in the Midwest and raised in the Southwest, Brian has a degree in English...

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Biographical Note:
Brian Jay Jones is the critically acclaimed, bestselling biographer of some of the world's most iconic creative geniuses. Born in the Midwest and raised in the Southwest, Brian has a degree in English from the University of New Mexico. He spent more than two decades as a public policy analyst and speechwriter for thought leaders and elected officials at all levels of government, including nearly ten years in the US Senate. He presently lives in New Mexico.

Review Quotes:
"A fascinating look at the center of American government and the colorful characters who built and have occupied it." --Kirkus

"A remarkable and captivating perspective on our shared American history... Brian Jay Jones leaves no cornerstone unturned in this engrossing biography of an iconic American building. Written with Jones's quintessential wit and brilliant attention to detail, The Capitol is an engaging exploration of a legendary building and its unexpected history, as well as the story of democracy itself." --Denise Kiernan, New York Times bestselling author of The Girls of Atomic City and The Last Castle

"Deftly written and filled with arresting detail, The Capitol tells a story as rich and varied as the nation itself. Brian Jay Jones has given us not only a sweeping history of America's most famous edifice, but a fascinating saga of architectural genius, technological innovation, and, above all, a relentless determination to create a national capitol that matched the spirit of its people." --Scott Ellsworth, bestselling author of MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America

"The Capitol is both the compelling biography of a historic monument and an engaging love letter to an American icon. Thanks to the author's meticulous research, readers learn that this storied structure is as flawed and complex as some of its inhabitants. While the building's fate-and the fate of our nation- seems tenuous at times, this symbol of American democracy endures. Jones's beautifully written and dramatic story is a timely reminder of the ideals upon which this country was built as reflected in one of America's most celebrated landmarks."
--Heath Hardage Lee, author of The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon and The League of Wives

"Washington Irving, Jim Henson, George Lucas, Dr. Seuss--Brian Jay Jones has produced brilliant, compulsively readable biographies of these towering figures in American culture. In The Capitol, he has done it again, this time spinning out in intriguing and insightful detail the fascinating story of a physical American institution. Highly recommended." --Marc Leepson, journalist, historian, and author of Flag: An American Biography

" [The Capitol] argues something both simple and genuinely uncomfortable: The Capitol's greatness lies not in its perfection, but in how its two centuries of conflict, compromise, and rebuilding reflect America itself." --Santa Fe New Mexican

"The Capitol traces three centuries of American history through the building at the center of it, with dramatic stories ranging from assassination attempts and thwarted bombings to ghostly cat prints and "fairy doors." Jones brings in both iconic names -- from George Washington to Ronald Reagan -- and lesser-known characters, with particular attention to the stories and contributions of enslaved people. The result is a portrait of American politics, architecture, and popular culture in one place." --The New Urban Order


Publisher Marketing:
An in-depth exploration of history of the US Capitol building and the incredible personalities who built it, full of dramatic stories and surprising facts; a powerful testament to what the Capitol has meant to generations of Americans and how it has endured.
The Capitol is a unique biography of a place, encompassing architecture, history, politics, popular culture, and race in a fascinating exploration of our Capitol's secret past, one rife with political intrigue, assassination attempts, thwarted bombings, and gunmen on the run. Never mind ghostly cat prints, mysteriously bloodstained steps, and charming "fairy doors" that have delighted visitors for hundreds of years.

Spanning three centuries of American history, the book focuses on iconic and notable names and personalities from the past--from George Washington to Davy Crockett to Ronald Reagan--as well as countless colorful characters readers may not have heard of before, with a focus on restoring the narratives of enslaved people and recognizing their contributions.

The story of the Capitol is the story of America itself, and, for the first time, that story will be told in this sweeping, aspirational biography of the building at the very heart of the American experiment.

Review Citations:

  • Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2026 (EAN 9780593185001, Hardcover)