This beautiful book is both encouraging and heartbreaking. Jon Meacham, the Pulitzer winning biographer, shows us an Abraham Lincoln who was motivatedThis beautiful book is both encouraging and heartbreaking. Jon Meacham, the Pulitzer winning biographer, shows us an Abraham Lincoln who was motivated by an ever evolving sense of conscience and conviction about the moral good. Meacham assures over and over that Lincoln was no saint and not a perfect man. He carried contradictions in himself and was not always consistent in his task to preserve the union and eradicate slavery. But unlike so many other politicians both today and throughout our history, he was driven by a conviction that American had a destiny of freedom that could only be accomplished by the abolition of slavery. He believed America could be great only if it fulfilled the vision of the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." He consistently treated people with dignity and even deference. He sought the greatest good for the nation and not just for himself and while he was always a politicians painfully aware of the limitations of public opinion, he refused to compromise on his principles for political expediency. He governed out of his character, a character that was formed in poverty, in loss, in church, in voracious reading, and in a deep conviction regarding the fate of the nation. It is inspiring reading and it is hard not to think that Meacham has offered this example as a counter balance to the selfish lunacy that flourishes in our statehouses and halls of government today. ...more
Chernow has once again written a masterful and comprehensive biography about an important historical figure. His narrative follows the little understoChernow has once again written a masterful and comprehensive biography about an important historical figure. His narrative follows the little understood and surprising arch of Ulysses S Grant's life. He describes Grant as a remarkable man, a military genius, a cool unflappable leader and a much better politician than people give him in credit for. He also shows how he never outgrew naive trust in his friends and how he was betrayed over and over again by people who should have treated him better. The Civil War portions of Grant's life is well documented. Chernow includes all of that but he also shows how desperate Grant was before the war and how this Mexican War time and his work as a quarter master helped prepare him to be a general. Beyond the war he moves through the two Presidential terms, the post Presidential life as an ad hoc ambassador and disgraced businessman and finally as author of one of the most important memoirs in the English language. The audio version of this book is excellent....more
Jean Edward Smith shows mastery of his subject in this biography of Ulysses S Grant. It is clear he thinks that Grant has been treated unfairly by earJean Edward Smith shows mastery of his subject in this biography of Ulysses S Grant. It is clear he thinks that Grant has been treated unfairly by earlier biographers and while he shows appreciation he does not ignore Grant's flaws. He had no head for business and was loyal to a flaw. He was spot aggressive in the battle field and honest in politics that he tended to underestimate his enemies. When they attacked he could be caught off guard. despite that, Grant emerges from these pages as a man of great character and determination. The most moving thing about Grant's life was that he seemed to excel in the simple virtues that we would like to associate with America. he was plain not affected. He was a man of action no speech. his word was his bond and he never felt above anyone. The principles of democracy, equality and common sense seem to have and been written on his soul and they showed forth in a crisis. And after the war Grant alone seemed to stand against the retreat from reconstruction. Smith's book predates the biography by Charnow's book and I found this one a little more narrowly focused, which I appreciated. He moved crisply but throughly through the arcs of Gran's life -- childhood, West Point, Mexico, poverty and aimlessness and then the War with a chapter or two on each (more for the war of course). Then there are chapters on the major emphases of Grants tern as President such as, reconstruction, native Americans, the Gilded Age, etc....more
Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" is a great achievement and a balanced, well researched work of history. She picks up the story of Abraham LincDoris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" is a great achievement and a balanced, well researched work of history. She picks up the story of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 at the Republican National Convention where four men vie for the nomination of the pro-union, anti-slavery party. She tells the story of each rival Salmon P Chase, William Seward, Edward Bates and of course Abraham Lincoln. She back tracks to give biographical detail on all four (as well as others) but then returns as Lincoln, the least experienced and least known candidate, secures the nomination. Her particular focus is how these men formed Lincoln's cabinet, how they worked against each other at first and then with each other as the crisis of civil war continued. We can learn a lot from Lincoln about managing people, about leadership in crisis and about putting your ego aside when bigger things are at stake. These lessons are not specific to the 19th century but helpful fo us all. As such the book is both enormously enjoyable and inspiring. This is a political history not a military one. The battles and generals appear only to the degree that they reveal what Kearns calls "the political genius of Abraham Lincoln." ...more
This last volume of Shelby Foote's narrative history of the Civil War is massive. As well written as it is, as colorful and as moving, I can not imagiThis last volume of Shelby Foote's narrative history of the Civil War is massive. As well written as it is, as colorful and as moving, I can not imagine anyone being able to absorb everything even in this last volume. It starts with the little known "Red River" Campaign and continues to Appomattox. But, in truth, there are 100+ pages after Lee's surrender, as he chronicles each surrender the confederate made (there were at least four) and the capture of CSA President Jefferson Davis. Foote's compelling motivation seems to have been to "tell the story" as clearly as possible to give dignity to those who lived it. His book is free of footnotes, references to other works or editorial comments. He is content to let the characters speak for themselves. Still, it is as accurate as a telling of the war could be. He takes us back to that world of handwritten notes, horses and companies turning the flank. It is a world of well known generals and little known soldiers, of self righteous politicians and freed slaves. Foote tells it all: land battles big and small, naval battles, political battles, personal battles. Anything that happened seems to have been fit to include. Looking back over 40 years it is interesting the choices he makes. Lincoln's assassination is told clearly but matter of factly. There is no biography of Booth. Yet there is a whole section about a renegade CSA naval ship that traveled the globe destroying whale ships and avoiding capture -- all after Lee's surrender. Jefferson Davis bookends the whole three volume wok. He is the opening character in volume one and he is the last word some 2500 pages later in volume three. The book is an achievement, a narrative so complex it is astounding to see Foote handle it. I admit the battle scenes were confusing as I kept getting the officers mixed up. And I would say that the more you know about the war the more you will enjoy this valuable narrative. ...more
This is the second volume of Foote's massive three volume narrative history of the Civil War. Many have spoken of its eloquence, beauty and flow. I agThis is the second volume of Foote's massive three volume narrative history of the Civil War. Many have spoken of its eloquence, beauty and flow. I agree. It is an amazing work. This central volume focuses mostly on 1863,the middle year of the war, which means that while it starts with Fredericksburg, the heart of the book is Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Chickamauga. By the end of this column Sherman is ready to plow south and Grant is in charge of all the forces of the North. The account of Gettysburg seems restrained compared to the other volumes and movies that have come along in later years. Overall what strikes you is the humanity of the work. It is not an analysis or an argument but a chronicle. Every person is seen in his time and place responding to real situations. The actions and words speak of themselves....more
Amazing, comprehensive, elegant, compassionate and human, Foote's achievement is hard to comprehend. This is a retelling of the war, through the eyes Amazing, comprehensive, elegant, compassionate and human, Foote's achievement is hard to comprehend. This is a retelling of the war, through the eyes of real people, in a narrative form. It is not a novelization like "Killer Angels." There are no fake conversations. But it is not just a history. The players appear to us as people and we root for them and wonder what will happen -- amazingly since sometimes we already know. Often the unfolding story still surprises. Two small caveats to this review. First,no matter how much you know about the Civil War it can still be confusing. I kept getting my Braggs Beuregards and Buells mixed up. And that goes on and on and on. Its hard to keep straight. I chose just to let the narrative wash over me. I am not getting tested on this. Second, Foote often falls into the cadence of the 19th century with long flowing sentences. It is an appropriate tone considering all the first hand testimony he uses. But it takes some focus and time. ...more
Allen C Guelzo’s biography of Lincoln is a helpful addition to the study of this great President. This is an intellectual biography that charts the deAllen C Guelzo’s biography of Lincoln is a helpful addition to the study of this great President. This is an intellectual biography that charts the development of Lincoln’s philosophy of government, economics, emancipation and the Constitution from his early days working for his father to the Presidency. Guelzo, professor of history at Gettysburg College, examines Lincoln as a man of thought, a man whose philosophical convictions guided his behavior. He shows that Lincoln was never strictly a pragmatist, even as his willingness to listen to political opponents and compromise on certain issues is well known. He was driven by his vision of what America should be and it is the development of that vision which makes up the narrative spine of the book. Unlike other portraits that see Lincoln as almost a Democrat Guelzo shows convincingly that Lincoln remained a “Henry Clay Whig” all his life. His early opposition to slavery grew from his opposition the southern aristocracy which he felt limited opportunity for “wage earning” and upward mobility among small landowners. He advocated a strong central government because there had to be laws between states that expanded trade. Only through expanded trade could people advance beyond their “situation.” Eventually he came to include opportunities for blacks as well, but initially their concerns were only peripheral. Also, despite the name of the book, “Redeemer President”, Guelzo shows that Lincoln was never part of Evangelical Protestantism. His personal religion remained a mystery to almost everyone, but he certainly never professed any orthodox Christian beliefs. At the same time it would also be wrong to call Lincoln an atheist and he was never a scoffer of religion – at least not after he grew out of a prickly young adult phase. What Lincoln did posses was a strong sense of providence, and a very limited trust in the free-will of humans. As he grew older his sense that his life had a purpose grew stronger, and even beyond that, the sense that the Civil War had a purpose grew as well. His conviction that the war was really about ending slavery emerged gradually as did his belief that whatever God there might be was prolonging the war as a punishment for the peculiar institution. His abandonment to “fate” or “providence” game him the strength to hold onto his convictions despite the opinions of others and the failures of his military. It also allowed him to have compassion for the south as the war turned. He believed deeply that their desire to expand slavery caused the war, but he also believed that anyone living in the America would have done the same given the same situation. He was a man utterly devoid of spiritual pride or duplicity. This book is a fascinating examination of the ideas of our greatest president. It is not a quick read but it is accessible to the non-scholar and a reward for anyone interested in Lincoln, the civil war or 19th century thought. ...more
Loading...
