1 comments about The Family Letters of Thomas Jefferson.

1. Next to journal reading, a compilation of personal letters is a good way to really get to know someone. This book is a collection of letters exchanged between Thomas Jefferson and his children & grandchildren over a long period of time. The book starts when the kids are young and he is away on his government duties. We find that times really hasn't changed that much as Jefferson constantly nags them to write him letters. As the kids grow older, they become much more prolific writers. The book becomes most interesting whenever the grandchildren mature and begin to write him during his presidency. In these letters, he shares tips and philosophy on life, economics, and general principles- even though we know he may not have put all of these into practice himself.

   My rating reflects the disappointment that the editors failed to structure the book in a way that fills in the blanks for the reader. As an example, the death of his daughter only triggers a footnote to one of the letters since the event caused a lapse in letter writing between the family during his return visit to Monticello. To find out what had happened, I had to consult other material. This book could be greatly improved if a revised edition would include dialog that would explain the events mentioned in the letters.

   In spite of this, you will like this book if you are a follower of Thomas Jefferson. This shouldn't be your first book or even your second volume on Jefferson, but if you are well versed on the history of this important man- then you will find much enjoyment within the pages.

No comments about Recalling the Good Fight: An Autobiography of the Spanish Civil War.

2 comments about Major General Isaac Ridgeway Trimble: Biography Of A Baltimore Confederate.

1. 
   Almost 60 years old when the Civil War began, Isaac Trimble was still a major force as a Confederate commander, participating in a number of campaigns in the eastern theatre, being severely wounded twice, and becoming a favorite of Stonewall Jackson's. Tucker's biography is scholarly and academic, which might discourage some readers; but I didn't find it numbingly so.
   
   Trimble was born in 1802 in Pennsylvania. A West Point graduate, he served in the army until 1832, when he resigned to become superintendent of a number of East Coast railroads. Siding with the South at the outbreak of the war, he destroyed railroad bridges around Baltimore. He saw action at Winchester and Cross Keys during Jackson's Valley campaign, and was wounded severely at Second Bull Run. He recuperated in time to participate in the Gettysburg campaign, leading forces up the Cumberland Valley (this account by Tucker interested me the most). He lost a leg at Gettysburg and was captured; he remained a prisoner of war until 1865. After the war he was an engineer in Baltimore and died in 1888.
   
   Tucker's biography is not written for a general audience; the book's very few illustrations might be the biggest clue to this fact. Tucker's style is also rudimentary. His annotations are excellent, however, and as I said earlier I didn't find his scholarly approach to be overwhelming. The biography is informative and straightforward, and not particularly stylistic. Civil War buffs will find much to appreciate here.



2. General Trimble merits a biography. He's a fascinating man. The author's efforts though reads more like a thesis written to submit both to the history and psychology departments rather than a biography meant for the reading public. I would've enjoyed more personal anecdotes relating to the General and would've liked to have see the constant references to Maslow's hierarchy of needs jettisoned completely. It seemed like an artificial appendage added to the book, and its insertion ranged from distracting to downright annoying. It made for a dull, pedantic read.

No comments about The Lincoln Forum: Abraham Lincoln Gettysburg, and the Civil War.

1 comments about Patricide in the House Divided: A Psychological Interpretation of Lincoln and His Age.

1. I read Mr. Forgie's book after taking a class that he tought at the University of Texas about the pre-civil war era. While I learned a great deal in his class, his book took the analysis of the pre-civil war era to a new level. In addition to being well written and exciting to read, Mr. Forgie's book takes a unique approaach to the subject by tracing the psychological development of both Lincoln and American society as a whole to explain the mentality of a nation willing to go to war against itself.

No comments about More Zeal Than Discretion: The Westward Adventures of Walter P. Lane (Elma Dill Russell Spencer Series in the West and Southwest).

1 comments about Sword Over Richmond: An Eyewitness History Of Mcclellan's Peninsula Campaign.

1. The Peninsula Campaign (Spring 1862) ended with Union Gen. George McClellan's failure to capture Richmond, due largely to his overcautiousness as well as the bold and often costly attacks from Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's army which eventually took the fight out of McCellan's army. Or, at least out of McCellan himself! The campaign made the North realize that a swift end to the war was impossible, and Lee's military brilliance was emerging as well. Although the bloody battles of the Peninsula Campaign were very costly to both sides, McClellan's advance was brought to a halt and Richmond was saved. This outstanding book is yet another great "eyewitness history" from Richard Wheeler, who carefully weaved together scores of Union and Confederate accounts of the campaign to tell the full story. There are dozens of sketches and drawings from the period, as well as many period maps, although the maps aren't very good. To understand this important campaign from the soldiers' perspective, this is THE book to read. I'd look elsewhere for adequate maps of the campaign, though. Overall, highly recommended for Civil War buffs.

1 comments about Memoirs of the Rebellion on the Border, 1863.

1. Wiley Britton's memoirs offer the reader an interesting glimpse into the life of a union solider during the Civil War. Unlike the bulk of written material about the war, this centers on the lesser known western operations along the borders of Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas.

   What makes Britton's book most entertaining and informative is that he wrote about life as it happened. While his book was edited and published after the war, it is based on daily diaries he kept. As an enlisted solider, Britton's memoirs let the reader experience what the average soldier did on a day by day basis. His observations about people, life, and the events and circumstances around him will leave you feeling you know him, and his progressive thoughts for his day leave you feeling he is your contemporary. In fact, at times you may not believe these words were written over one hundred years ago- you will be startled to realize that while time separates you, the basic thoughts and motivations of people haven't really changed all that much over the centuries. We all still want the same things from life and we still wonder about the same questions.

   Memoirs of the Rebellion on the Border is a good read, and highly recommended for those interested in the lesser known campaigns of the war.

No comments about Sherman's March: An Eyewitness History of the Cruel Campaign That Helped End a Crueler War.

No comments about August Reckoning: Jack Turner and Racism in Post Civil War Alabama (Library Alabama Classics).