“A concise, well-researched biography of a self-righteous, opinionated man who embodied the convictions and contradictions of his tumultuous times.” —Kirkus

“Marc Leepson makes the story flow and offers an interesting snapshot of one of the best-known--and least-known--figures in American history.” —Hank H. Cox, Washington Post, June 29, 2014

“We all know the name of the man who wrote our National Anthem, but we know little or nothing about the man himself, and as Marc Leepson shows us, there is a lot to know about Francis Scott Key – much of it surprising, and all of it engrossing. A wonderful and long-overdue biography, and worth the wait.” —Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Night Fall

“As an opponent of war who would nonetheless write the most patriotic of all our national songs, Francis Scott Key is an American enigma. In What So Proudly We Hailed, Marc Leepson has done a first-rate job of capturing the contradictions, conflicts and courage that make Key such a fascinating figure.” —Steve Vogel, author of Through the Perilous Fight

“For the 200th anniversary of Francis Scott Key's inspired verses, Marc Leepson's What So Proudly We Hailed tells the multifaceted story of the author of The Star-Spangled Banner with clarity, precision, and passion – a literary performance akin to a great soloist nailing the high notes in the land of the free and home of the brave.” —Jon Kukla, author of Mr. Jefferson's Women and A Wilderness So Immense: The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America

“Marc Leepson provides us with a thoughtful, perceptive biography of one of the more elusive figures in American history, Francis Scott Key. Key, as Leepson amply demonstrates, was both a man of his times and a significant contributor to the professionalization of the law, one of the cornerstones of American Democracy. Marc Leepson sings both his praise and exposes his faults.” —Edward Papenfuse, Maryland State Archivist and Commissioner of Land Patents