Sensing the Past explores perennial themes in American culture as manifested through the works of six of Hollywood's biggest movies stars: Clint Eastwood, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Jodie Foster. Sensing the Past will change the way readers think about movie stars and American history. Through a series of penetrating profiles, Jim Cullen examines how actors have embodied the central themes of our past and weds them to the present. Every page glistens with insights about actors we admire and movies we think we know.