daniel allen is the leading philosopher and scholar at the institute for advanced cities, she feels that we don't know what the declaration of independence is about. we never studied it. and talented undergraduates. she says the declaration is much about equality as it is about personal liberty and she has discovered errors in the version of the declaration we used and some of it will be revealed at the next one and an extraordinary figure and you will hear a lot about this book and the primary document, one of the most important in world history, not only american history. >> host: how long have you been working with daniel allen on this book? >> guest: two to three years. i have known her a bit longer. it is a major work. the serious historian and critics paying attention to it, the news material in it will surprise people land make scholars, debate, why does the declaration mean something to everyone? she shows that it really is about equality in this country and why it works as successfully. >> host: what is your background in publishing? >> guest: i have been publishing for 35 years

daniel, thank you so much for joining us on "after words." >> guest: thank you. >> booktv will be live today from the national book festival in washington, d.c. this year's group of featured authors include jonathan allen doris kearns goodwin, congressman james clyburn. live coverage start attending eastern here on c-span2. over on c-span will have more from the event with authors of books about science and space, live all day starting at 10 a.m. eastern. >> c-span to provide live coverage of the u.s. senate floor proceedings, and key public policy defense. and every weekend booktv, now for 15 years the only television network devoted to nonfiction books and authors. c-span2 created by the cable tv industry and brought to you as a public service by local cable or satellite provider. watch us in hd, like us on facebook and followers on twitter. .. for more information about this weeke's

danielle allen is the leading philosopher and scholar at the institute for advanced studies at princeton. she fears that we don't know what the declaration of independence is about. they've done courses on a forward old students for the talented undergraduate. she says the declaration as much about equality as it is the personal liberty. she's also discovered errors in this version of the declaration we used in some of this will be revealed in the next five and she's an extraordinary figure and you would hear a lot about this book, which she makes us love one of the most important world history, not only american history. >> pop weil, how long have you been working that danielle allen on this book quite >> i've been working two to three years on this boat. i've known her a bit longer. it is the major work. the serious historianhistorian s and critics are paying attention to it. the new material in that will surprise people and we can impart what it means and why does the declaration of independence means of it to everyone. he shows that it's really about equality. >> what is your backgro