1 comments about Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory.

1. This book changed my life forever. I once thought the notorious Nat Turner was just an angry negro who reacted to the best of his knowledge due to his harsh living environment, but this book proved otherwise. Not only was Nat Turner a wild heretic with a no-nonsense attitude, but his extreme hate for whites came from God's hidden intentions! That's right folks, God told Nat to kill those white men, therefore, I have concluded that God is racist, Jesus was black, and all white people are damned to an eternity of Hell and torment. Thanks Kenneth Greenberg! You changed my life for the greater good!

2 comments about Timothy Pickering and the American Republic.

1. By Gerard Clarfield's account, he first took an interest in Timothy Pickering because he thought that his subject may have been unfairly maligned by history. A close examination of Pickering's life convinced him that his predecessors were right to scorn Pickering.

   Clarfield has written a thorough and well-researched biography of Pickering as an archetypal "man on the make" in colonial and Revolutionary America. His book is very well researched and well written. It is an invaluable resource for those of us interested in Pickering.

   However, Clarfield may have gone too far in his repudiation of Pickering. As Garry Wills wrote in "Negro President" it is doubtful that one would find Pickering personally likeable. Still, there is more to an individual than his personality. Clarfield's indictment of Pickering rests largely on his personal traits: a tendency toward paranoia, unflinching self-righteousness, and a great capacity for anger. However, in light of this portrayal, it's hard to see how Pickering ever got anywhere or accomplished anything.

   Garry Wills has found that Pickering was a dedicated family man. From Pickering's own record, it is clear that he was a respected member of the Federalist Party, with genuine and lasting friendships. His career in public service was quite long. He was hardly the failure that Clarfield seems to think he was. Clarfield seems loathe to give Pickering any credit at all.

   Other aspects of Pickering's career - those that make him more interesting to us - receive short shrift. Clarfield does detail Pickering's efforts to protect the rights of Native Americans, but does not explore his anti-slavery sentiment or his support of the freed slaves of St. Domingue (Haiti). These topics are delved into more thorougly by Wills.

   I would recommend reading this book and Clarfield's other book on Pickering. Also, I would recommend reading "Negro President" by Wills, which gives Pickering a more sympathetic treatment.




2. It was fascinating (actually refreshing) to read a book by an author who is not an "advocate" but an expert on his subject. Pickering held many important positions in his life; ADC to Washington (in fact, his account of the attack on the Chew House during the battle of Germantown is what attracted me to this book in the first place); Quartermaster General to the Continental Army; Postmaster General; Secretary of War (under Washington); Secretary of State (under Washington and Adams); followed by a term in the Senate and terms in the House of Representatives. He was instrumental in settling the Pennamite War between Connecticut and Pennsylvania (which incredibly enough, outlived the American Revolution), pioneered acculturalization of the native Americans in Pa. and Ohio, was probably the biggest advocate of the Jay Treaty, and had possibly the most violent reaction of anyone to the XYZ Affaire. He disliked Washington and Jefferson alike (and was thus an equal opportunity abuser among Federalists and Republicans, though he seems to have favored abusing people from Virginia unless their name was Adams). Like some bundle-of-sticks Ichabod Crane, Pickering awkwardly struts through the halls of government "Picking" battle after battle. But for all of this little of the man actually shows through. I would have liked to have read something of his reaction to the death of Washington, for instance. Clarfield's Pickering seems to have lacked any humanizing characteristics (but for one brief moment of concern for his dimwitted son). Maybe that's how he was, a life consisting of facts, opportunities and reactions. His death thus lacked pathos, like a semi-comical stick figure that simply fell apart in the end. This book is well written and scholarly.

4 comments about Comandante Che: Guerrilla Soldier, Commander, and Strategist, 1956-1967.

1. I liked the detail. However, it would seem that the author has not sought out sufficient sources and readily and far too fully accepts the Che's accounts of the actions. Thus, the Che's machinations and betrayals of fellow rebels are ignored. Minor rebel figures such as Rene Cuervo and the Mexican are not given credit, the contributions of escopeteros and the urban fighters are not really acknowledged. Contributions of major figures such as Huber Matos are apparently minimized. The Che's withdrawal and abandonment to his death of René Ramos Latour is omitted. The effect of communist betrayal on non communist members of M-26-7 and other anti-Batista organizations are not taken into account. It would have been a far more interesting, but less flattering book if the Che's devious and ruthless plots to reach power and remove rivals were clearly pointed out.



2. A historical figure like Che Guevara can easily become enshrouded in myth and legend. Much of the material written on him focuses on Che the revolutionary or Che the theorist, but they miss the real point. Guevara was first and foremost a soldier and tactician, and that is the emphasis of Paul J. Dosal's level-headed assessment of Guevara as a military figure.

   Dosal takes a hard, honest look at Guevara's contributions to history, eschewing image for substance. When one probes beyond Guevara's vitriolic words against capitalism and imperialism, we find a man impatient with debate and theory, and anxious for decisive action and violence. Instead of a live-saving man trained in medicine, Guevara cast himself as a dealer of death in combat.

   The Cuban Revolution is examined, from the first disastrous engagement after landing to the deluge of victories over Batista's tottering regime. Dosal supplies helpful and detailed maps of specific engagements and campaigns (some as small as squad-level) to illustrate the action for his readers. I found the maps to be a welcome addition that allowed me to visualize the engagements as they happened. They also made other engagements easier to imagine, because Che's ambushes usually followed a fairly set pattern.

   It is refreshing to read a book that is so solidly concerned with Guevara's actions. While Dosal dwells on the development of Guevara's revolutionary philosophy, he also illuminates his record as a commander. Guevara was a superior tactician among his comrades in the Cuban revolution, but he had no subtlety or finesse in the political arena. This shortcoming steadily hindered his efforts after the victory over Batista: first by angering the USSR and China while ostensibly seeking their support for Third World revolution, and second by alienating any Bolivian allies during his ill-fated campaign there.

   Che's modest theoretical efforts are reviewed in detail as well, and Dosal makes no effort to portray these contributions as especially original. Instead he points out that Mao Tse-Tung's writings, as well as those of Lawrence of Arabia, originally covered the field of Guerilla Warfare in more detail. Dosal also highlights how the conditions of the Cuban Revolution were unique. Batista's army was well equipped with weapons, but not with the will to fight. Guevara wrongly assumed that every other undeveloped capitalist/authoritarian regime would crumble just as easily. In fact, many of Guevara's theories are based upon this mistaken belief, and explain his awful performance in Bolivia.

   The focus is kept tight throughout, and Dosal's findings are not always flattering. Fidel's miscalculations, especially at the beginning of the campaign, are highlighted. Guevara's bravery and natural tactical abilities in conventional and guerilla warfare are never questioned. But his impulsive, arrogant, impatient, and fatalistic traits come to the fore after the Cuban victory. Dosal covers his ineffectual fiasco in Congo. While the results were not entirely his fault, his naïve belief that African nationalists would embrace an Argentine as their leader was the root of his failure there. Dosal reveals how Guevara persisted long after failure seemed certain, and how it almost cost him his life when he refused to leave.

   Special attention is paid to the disastrous Bolivian campaign. Many historians hint that Castro had a hand in Guevara's death, but Dosal effectively argues against the notion. Che's own shortcomings as a politician and planner proved to be the root of his failure and death. His tryst with a possible double agent, lack of planning for an urban support network, and insulting behavior toward Bolivian communist leaders all contributed to Guevara's doom. Guevara also violated most of the principles he articulated in his writings. Dosal's honesty about Guevara's character flaws ultimately make Che a more human, compassionate, and tragic figure than a lionizing biography would have.

   Overall, Dosal's work rounded out my already considerable knowledge of this remarkable man. It penetrated through the myths to the man and his actions. I was impressed by the detail of the book. If I could name any fault, it is that events at the end of the Cuban campaign seemed to pass too quickly, without the detailed treatment of other battles. But in Dosal's defense, events did unfold in a virtual landslide pace, and the final military collapse of Batista's regime took little more than a month. Commandante Che is a must-read for anyone interested in Che Guevara as a soldier, tactician, and human, with as many flaws as dreams.




3. A historical figure like Che Guevara can easily become enshrouded in myth and legend. Much of the material written on him focuses on Che the revolutionary or Che the theorist, but they miss the real point. Guevara was first and foremost a soldier and tactician, and that is the emphasis of Paul J. Dosal's level-headed assessment of Guevara as a military figure.

   Dosal takes a hard, honest look at Guevara's contributions to history, eschewing image for substance. When one probes beyond Guevara's vitriolic words against capitalism and imperialism, we find a man impatient with debate and theory, and anxious for decisive action and violence. Instead of a live-saving man trained in medicine, Guevara cast himself as a dealer of death in combat.

   The Cuban Revolution is examined, from the first disastrous engagement after landing to the deluge of victories over Batista's tottering regime. Dosal supplies helpful and detailed maps of specific engagements and campaigns (some as small as squad-level) to illustrate the action for his readers. I found the maps to be a welcome addition that allowed me to visualize the engagements as they happened. They also made other engagements easier to imagine, because Che's ambushes usually followed a fairly set pattern.

   It is refreshing to read a book that is so solidly concerned with Guevara's actions. While Dosal dwells on the development of Guevara's revolutionary philosophy, he also illuminates his record as a commander. Guevara was a superior tactician among his comrades in the Cuban revolution, but he had no subtlety or finesse in the political arena. This shortcoming steadily hindered his efforts after the victory over Batista: first by angering the USSR and China while ostensibly seeking their support for Third World revolution, and second by alienating any Bolivian allies during his ill-fated campaign there.

   Che's modest theoretical efforts are reviewed in detail as well, and Dosal makes no effort to portray these contributions as especially original. Instead he points out that Mao Tse-Tung's writings, as well as those of Lawrence of Arabia, originally covered the field of Guerilla Warfare in more detail. Dosal also highlights how the conditions of the Cuban Revolution were unique. Batista's army was well equipped with weapons, but not with the will to fight. Guevara wrongly assumed that every other undeveloped capitalist/authoritarian regime would crumble just as easily. In fact, many of Guevara's theories are based upon this mistaken belief, and explain his awful performance in Bolivia.

   The focus is kept tight throughout, and Dosal's findings are not always flattering. Fidel's miscalculations, especially at the beginning of the campaign, are highlighted. Guevara's bravery and natural tactical abilities in conventional and guerilla warfare are never questioned. But his impulsive, arrogant, impatient, and fatalistic traits come to the fore after the Cuban victory. Dosal covers his ineffectual fiasco in Congo. While the results were not entirely his fault, his naïve belief that African nationalists would embrace an Argentine as their leader was the root of his failure there. Dosal reveals how Guevara persisted long after failure seemed certain, and how it almost cost him his life when he refused to leave.

   Special attention is paid to the disastrous Bolivian campaign. Many historians hint that Castro had a hand in Guevara's death, but Dosal effectively argues against the notion. Che's own shortcomings as a politician and planner proved to be the root of his failure and death. His tryst with a possible double agent, lack of planning for an urban support network, and insulting behavior toward Bolivian communist leaders all contributed to Guevara's doom. Guevara also violated most of the principles he articulated in his writings. Dosal's honesty about Guevara's character flaws ultimately make Che a more human, compassionate, and tragic figure than a lionizing biography would have.

   Overall, Dosal's work rounded out my already considerable knowledge of this remarkable man. It penetrated through the myths to the man and his actions. I was impressed by the detail of the book. If I could name any fault, it is that events at the end of the Cuban campaign seemed to pass too quickly, without the detailed treatment of other battles. But in Dosal's defense, events did unfold in a virtual landslide pace, and the final military collapse of Batista's regime took little more than a month. Commandante Che is a must-read for anyone interested in Che Guevara as a soldier, tactician, and human, with as many flaws as dreams.




4. A historical figure like Che Guevara can easily become enshrouded in myth and legend. Much of the material written on him focuses on Che the revolutionary or Che the theorist, but they miss the real point. Guevara was first and foremost a soldier and tactician, and that is the emphasis of Paul J. Dosal's level-headed assessment of Guevara as a military figure.

   Dosal takes a hard, honest look at Guevara's contributions to history, eschewing image for substance. When one probes beyond Guevara's vitriolic words against capitalism and imperialism, we find a man impatient with debate and theory, and anxious for decisive action and violence. Instead of a live-saving man trained in medicine, Guevara cast himself as a dealer of death in combat.

   The Cuban Revolution is examined, from the first disastrous engagement after landing to the deluge of victories over Batista's tottering regime. Dosal supplies helpful and detailed maps of specific engagements and campaigns (some as small as squad-level) to illustrate the action for his readers. I found the maps to be a welcome addition that allowed me to visualize the engagements as they happened. They also made other engagements easier to imagine, because Che's ambushes usually followed a fairly set pattern.

   It is refreshing to read a book that is so solidly concerned with Guevara's actions. While Dosal dwells on the development of Guevara's revolutionary philosophy, he also illuminates his record as a commander. Guevara was a superior tactician among his comrades in the Cuban revolution, but he had no subtlety or finesse in the political arena. This shortcoming steadily hindered his efforts after the victory over Batista: first by angering the USSR and China while ostensibly seeking their support for Third World revolution, and second by alienating any Bolivian allies during his ill-fated campaign there.

   Che's modest theoretical efforts are reviewed in detail as well, and Dosal makes no effort to portray these contributions as especially original. Instead he points out that Mao Tse-Tung's writings, as well as those of Lawrence of Arabia, originally covered the field of Guerilla Warfare in more detail. Dosal also highlights how the conditions of the Cuban Revolution were unique. Batista's army was well equipped with weapons, but not with the will to fight. Guevara wrongly assumed that every other undeveloped capitalist/authoritarian regime would crumble just as easily. In fact, many of Guevara's theories are based upon this mistaken belief, and explain his awful performance in Bolivia.

   The focus is kept tight throughout, and Dosal's findings are not always flattering. Fidel's miscalculations, especially at the beginning of the campaign, are highlighted. Guevara's bravery and natural tactical abilities in conventional and guerilla warfare are never questioned. But his impulsive, arrogant, impatient, and fatalistic traits come to the fore after the Cuban victory. Dosal covers his ineffectual fiasco in Congo. While the results were not entirely his fault, his naïve belief that African nationalists would embrace an Argentine as their leader was the root of his failure there. Dosal reveals how Guevara persisted long after failure seemed certain, and how it almost cost him his life when he refused to leave.

   Special attention is paid to the disastrous Bolivian campaign. Many historians hint that Castro had a hand in Guevara's death, but Dosal effectively argues against the notion. Che's own shortcomings as a politician and planner proved to be the root of his failure and death. His tryst with a possible double agent, lack of planning for an urban support network, and insulting behavior toward Bolivian communist leaders all contributed to Guevara's doom. Guevara also violated most of the principles he articulated in his writings. Dosal's honesty about Guevara's character flaws ultimately make Che a more human, compassionate, and tragic figure than a lionizing biography would have.

   Overall, Dosal's work rounded out my already considerable knowledge of this remarkable man. It penetrated through the myths to the man and his actions. I was impressed by the detail of the book. If I could name any fault, it is that events at the end of the Cuban campaign seemed to pass too quickly, without the detailed treatment of other battles. But in Dosal's defense, events did unfold in a virtual landslide pace, and the final military collapse of Batista's regime took little more than a month. Commandante Che is a must-read for anyone interested in Che Guevara as a soldier, tactician, and human, with as many flaws as dreams.

3 comments about Year in Nam: A Native American Soldier's Story (North American Indian Prose Award).

1. "Year in Nam: A Native American Soldier's Story" is a memoir by Leroy TeCube, a Jicarilla Apache from New Mexico. He served as an infantryman in the Vietnam War from January 1968 to January 1969. TeCube fills this book with many details about the daily life of an infantryman in a war zone: being in a firefight, undertaking a combat air assault, walking point, etc. He discusses the weapons they used. The story is told in a straightforward style that is considerate of the general reader. For example, the author stops to define or explain such military terms and acronyms as "MOS," "tracer round," and "concertina wire."
   
   TeCube does not flinch from describing the horrors and loss of war. But he balances out the narrative by discussing some of the humorous and friendly activities of the troops. He discusses the encounters, both positive and negative, he and other troops had with Vietnamese civilians. Along the way he offers many observations on the plants and animals he observed in Vietnam.
   
   An important theme of the book is how TeCube's Native American heritage and identity provided him with an anchor in this dangerous, challenging environment. Particularly interesting are his accounts of how both other U.S. troops and Vietnamese people reacted to his Indian appearance. TeCube discusses his ethnic identity and its impact on his combat tour in a matter-of-fact way. Another important thread that winds through the book involves leadership and soldiering skill; we see TeCube move up the ranks as he gains experience in combat. Overall, this is an interesting memoir that brings a valuable perspective to the rich canon of Vietnam War literature.



2. Having done a tour myself, I have seen the movies and read several books that have come out about the war in Viet Nam. Nothing, and no one, has been able to authenticate the reality of the day to day operations of search and destroy missions, the monotony, the high levels of alertness, the camaraderie, the tragedies, and the senseless pain and suffering that took place on both sides, until now. Leroy does a superlative job of describing the feelings of the GI and those of the Vietnamese. His description of events are factual yet without sensationalism, a manner that can only be told by a seasoned combat veteran who became immune to the catastrophic events that surrounded him, as a means of survival, both physically and mentally.

   This is a must read for anyone who served in I Corp or the Americal. You will again feel yourself walking through the paddies, on the trails, smelling the odors of the villages, or hugging a rice paddy dike as the sniper rounds were in-coming. This book truly describes the reality of the life of a combat infantryman (grunt) during the war in Viet Nam.




3. In very straightforward, understandable prose, Mr. Tecube has captured the essence of the daily horrors and futility of America's presence in Vietnam. The real heroes of the book are the members of Leroy's platoon. They're a bunch of American kids that really didn't want to be where they were but tried to do make the best of a tragic situation. What's refreshing about Tecube's approach is that he's not out to condemn the soldiers, the politicians, or the enemy. Yet he's able to convey a sense of the absurdity of the situation and still maintain his dignity and objectivity.

   I've read a number of books about Vietnam but none conveys the sense of what it was really like the way Tecube does.

2 comments about The Autobiography of a Seaman.

1. The autobiography of Admiral Lord Cochrane was first published in 1860, the year Cochrane died at the age of 85. Richard Woodman has added an introduction to the present edition. Cochrane only covers the period of his life up through 1814 when he was 39. Consequently, he covers nothing of his later career in Chile, Brazil, and Greece; nothing of his reinstatement in the Royal Navy; and nothing of his immediate family other than a brief account of his marriage to Kitty Barnes (about 20 years younger than Cochrane) by whom he had 5 children.

   Autobiographers always have a bias as the authors are presenting their side of the case (see, for example, Bligh's "Mutiny Aboard the H.M.S. Bounty"). While presenting the details of his early naval career, the main thrust is his campaign against corruption in the Admiralty Courts, the Royal Navy, and the Government in general. Some accounts are almost like comic opera, e.g., the Admiralty Court in Malta.

   Cochrane's service commanding the Speedy from 1800 to 1801 has been fictionalized by Patrick O'Brien in the novel "Master and Commander" in which he replaces Cochrane with the fictional James Aubrey. All the major details are the same, but O'Brien added considerable color to the account.

   Like many good military commanders, Cochrane lacked tact and was not a diplomat. He was promoted to command the Speedy at the age of 25 without having the experience to deal with the protocols of the Royal Navy. He could best be described as a loose cannon. He was unwilling to compromise when a little tact, a closed mouth, and a small amount of back scratching would have achieved major results. His lack of diplomacy caused others to reject well thought out plans simply because he proposed them. Cochrane damaged others around him simply by trying to be their champion, undoubtedly being responsible for Parker's ruin - people in power who Cochrane had offended would naturally take it out on his proteges.

   While not great literature, the autobiography is both a good account of naval service from 1793 to 1809, and a good first-hand account of corruption within politics and the government. The writing style is somewhat like Churchill's history of World War II.




2. Readers familiar with Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series will immediately recognize the source of many of those novels in Admiral Lord Cochrane's "Autobiography of a Seaman."

   Admiral Lord Cochrane was born into a noble Scots family whose fortunes had declined by the time of his birth (1775). Through family connections, he secured a berth as a midshipman at the age of 17 on a British man-of-war in the early years of the Napoleonic Wars. Thereafter, he rose through the ranks of the British navy on the strength of several truly daring and remarkable attacks, capturing or destroying many French and Spanish vessels in a small sloop, and later, a frigate.

   This book tells the stories of those triumphs.

   The romantic aspect of the Napoleonic era is here too, and the tales abound with numerous examples of the dubious military notions of honor among combatants. Moreover, Cochrane moved in the highest circles of the navy and government, and it is surprising to see many prominent names in naval history, (e.g., Admiral Nelson, Captain Bligh) appear casually in these pages.

   Lord Cochrane's exploits - at sea, in politics and in business - are clearly the source of O'Brian's Jack Aubrey. However, whereas O'Brian presents his tales in a highly-polished narrative style similar to Jane Austen, Cochrane croaks out his stories with bombastic self-apology, and delivers the narrative in a choppy and archaic military style, viz., by attaching copies of his despatches to superior officers to explain the events.

   Anyone interested in naval warfare or anyone who likes a good adventure story should read this book. Napoleon's characterization of Cochrane as "le loup des mers" is well deserved. It is unfortunate, however, that Cochrane did not spend more time at sea. The last 100+ pages of this book (except for a trip to Malta) are tedious. Cochrane, perhaps at the peak of his career as a naval officer, became embroiled in reform politics, the court martial of a superior officer, and a stock fraud trial. These three episodes ended his career in Britain, (although he did go on to great success in Chile commanding its revolutionary navy.) Cochrane whines and complains about the most minute details of each case in an attempt to prove his innocence. As a practising litigator, I have represented a few clients who became obsessed with two or three facts which the client believes proves his or her innocence, in the face of dozens of facts which indicate guilt. It is difficult to listen to this type of complaining, but Cochrane takes it to new heights: this autobiography, written in 1865, spends a score of pages reviewing the 1814 testimony of witnesses on whether one stock-fraud participant wore a red or a green coat. Dreary stuff.

   Readers who hope to glean some Freudian insight into his psychological make-up, or anyone hoping for a character like Diana Villiers will not enjoy this work. Although Cochrane says of himself, "my life has been one of the most romatic on record", (p.316), it is not the romance a modern reader might think. The section dealing with his marriage comprises three pages. His wife and mother are the only women mentioned, and only in passing.

   Once again, a major flaw with this, like other nautical books, is the absence or inadequacy of maps. The action at Basque Roads would be much more comprehensible if the reader knew the position of the British fleet, the French fleet, Isle d'Aix, etc.

   This book is a good read to the extent it focuses on Cochrane's naval actions, but that portion of the autobiography that focuses on politics and trials is no more interesting to readers now than it was when it was written.

1 comments about Memoirs of a Confederate Staff Officer: From Bethel to Bentonville (Civil War Heritage Series, V. 13).

1. As a fan of Confederate General Daniel Harvey Hill I was very happy to discover this slim little volume by his aide, Major James Ratchford. In addition to staff duty with D.H.Hill, Ratchford served as adjutant to John Bell Hood and Stephen Lee and witnessed over thirty engagements from Bethel to Bentonville including the disastrous Franklin-Nashville battles. This little book lets the reader see the war (and a number of its senior participants) through the eyes of a young man who may have preferred cordial young ladies and fine fishing to the battlefield. See also Hal Bridges' bio of D.H.Hill - LEE'S MAVERICK GENERAL.

1 comments about The Hanging Rock Rebel: Lt. John Blue's War in West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.

1. This book is an engaging first person account of the exploits of a rather daring Confederate foot soldier. The book is lifted from a series of newspaper articles John Blue wrote over 30 years after the War for Southern Independence ended. Blue does not get into the political and social issues of the day, but recounts in a straigtforward and interesting style the struggles of a soldier, including his experience as a prisoner of war and escapee. This book is particularly interesting to those familiar with the geography of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the corridor through Brocks Gap into West Virginia where Blue grew up in site of what is still known as Hanging Rock.

3 comments about Memoirs of Chaplain Life: 3 Years in the Irish Brigage with the Army of the Potomac (Irish in the Civil War).

1. Father William Corby (1833-1897) of the Congregation of the Holy Cross was a Chaplain in the famous Irish Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. His great moment was giving general absolution to the kneeling soldiers of the Brigade on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The famous Paul Henry Wood painting at Notre Dame University captures the scene, so important in America's religious history. So do the statues of Corby at the University and on Hancock Avenue at Gettysburg.
   
   This is Father Corby's memoir of the war, first published in 1893. When the armies clashed, chaplains usually stayed behind the lines and worked in the hospitals, so Father Corby's memoir only lightly focuses on tactics, strategy, or details from the battlefields. Rather, his is mainly a memoir of camps, marches, the hardships of soldier life, and profiles and vignettes of the Brigade's leaders. He shares many stories that give a feel for the Army of the Potomac and the humor of the times. Civil War historians and re-enactors will find his account valuable and fascinating.
   
   Father Corby brought a priest's faith and commitment to the Brigade, and it is these themes that most infuse the book. He records masses in camp and the field; conversations with Catholics, Protestants, and the unchurched; and work with the wounded and dying. Writing letters for illiterate soldiers gave him other insights on life and faith. He ministered to men sentenced to death by military courts and accompanied them on their final walk. In the midst of appalling carnage, he was sustained by knowing he helped many face death in the state of grace.
   
   Father Corby included shorter recollections by other Catholic chaplains in the Union Army in his own book. Editor Lawrence Frederick Korb provided an excellent introduction with a full survey of Corby's life, and he added appendices on the Wood painting and the statues of Corby by Samuel Aloysius Murray.
   
   At the time of the Civil War, Catholics were an often-despised minority in a majority-Protestant nation, and in Chapter IX, Father Corby ringingly condemned "bigots" and affirmed Catholics as true Americans. The scene of Father Corby and the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg was seen by thousands. It softened the hearts of many, and it may now be reckoned a milestone toward an American future of interfaith understanding and respect.
   
   -30-



2. I truly enjoyed the book Memoirs of Chaplain Life by William Corby. Father William Corby, a Catholic, served as a chaplain to the Irish Brigade in the Army of the Potomac. Corby relates the many trials and dangers that he suffers over his three years of service. He tells the stories of narrow escapes from the enemy fire. He ministers to the men, "hears their confession," and often dose duties not required by his being chaplain. The book gives an interesting look into the religious life, as well as everyday camp life in a Civil War Army. I will say that the book is hard to get through, but it is worth the time to read. Father Corby is an interesting character.



3. Father Corby's Irish Brigade memoir provides a very valuable and interesting record of the Civil War. His testimony gives the reader a first-hand account of life in the Church and in the Army.

   In some sections, the memoir is not terribly exciting; it is for the history buff who wants to know more than which general won a given battle. The book tells of the great and small trials of army life. Its value comes from the author's testimony about the lives of the soldiers and their experiences.

   The book will best suit those who possess a knowledge of the war, as Father Corby's passing mention of campaigns and generals' names will be lost on the uninitiated.

   I strongly recommend this book to those interested in Civil War and Irish history.

5 comments about Eddie Rickenbacker: An American Hero in the Twentieth Century.

1. Eddie Rickenbacker is a fascinating American whose incredible life is well documented in this epic biography. From his humble upbringing he became a pioneer in auto racing and design, an American war hero and "ace of aces" in World War I, the driving force behind the most profitable airline in the US, and a very influential civilian consultant for the military. Along the way he also displayed an incredible penchant for surviving near-death experiences including car crashes, plane crashes, botched surgeries, and 24 days adrift at sea in a raft in the Pacific Ocean. For all his accomplishments, it is interesting to compare Captain Eddie's place in posterity with Charles Lindbergh, who is remembered far better for a single achievement.
   
   Author David Lewis's 15 years of research resulted in a very comprehensive and definitive biography of his subject. The clear organization and writing style make this book easier to digest than it's length may indicate. As the authoritative biography, there are times when the book gets into too much detail but these do not take much away from the quality of the book.



2. "Eddie Rickenbacker: An American Hero in the Twentieth Century" is a comprehensive autobiographical study. The man and his life are fairly presented, and the book is written in Dr. Lewis' impeccable and very readable narrative style.
   
   Undoubtedly this is and, I am confident, will remain the definitive study of Eddie Rickenbacker, not only for the author's depth of research, but because, as one reviewer wrote, "Dr. Lewis has painted a balanced, complete picture of an extremely complex man."
   
   In my opinion the book is also very timely in another respect. In addition to historians of aviation and technology, it is also of value to political scientists/historians. Very conservative politically, Rickenbacker is seen as the harbinger of the conservative movement - well before Barry Goldwater and the 1964 presidential contest.



3. As a former Eastern Airlines Captain and having read many stories about Eddie Rickenbacker I was anxious to read W. Davie Lewis's book. I was also priviledged to hear Dr. Lewis speak on his book prior to reading it. I found many things in the book that I already knew and somethings that I was unaware of. I thought when I first started reading it would be a book to pick up and read occassionally, but after the first chapter I was hooked and finished all 551 pages in record time. I would recommend Dr. Lewis' book to other Eastern employees who knew Eddie when we worked for him or just form a history point of view.



4. EDDIE RICKENBACKER: AN AMERICAN HERO IN THE 20TH CENTURY outlines the life and many achievements of a pilot who flew in both war and peace, defying death many times to drive cars in the heyday of the first autos, then planes during the first world war. He returned from war a hero and was decorated for his achievements, but failed as an auto maker after the war and returned to the aviation world in 1934, working for Eastern Airlines until World War II's start brought him new missions. His journey from war hero to peacetime conflicts within the new competitive airline industry makes for an avid story not just of Rickenbacker and his world, but of an evolving transportation industry.
   
   Diane C. Donovan, Editor
   California Bookwatch



5. W. David Lewis has written a majestic biography of one of America's great personages of the twentieth century. Eddie Rickenbacker was a race car driver, fighter pilot, businessman and airline industry giant. He was also a survivor and a true fighter- often taking unpopular positions- particularly his controversial comments upon the passing of FDR- essentially saying that FDR got what he deserved. Lewis also finds Rickenbacker in the beginning of the early modern conservative movement during the beginnings of Barry Goldwaters rocket to prominence. Rickenbacker was xenophobic and found the welfare state to be a deeply anathema to the human spirit of self improvement and hard work.
   
   This work is so in-depth no brief Amazon review can give it justice. Whether you're interested in riveting war stories, early automobile racing, politics or the growth of the American airline industry this is a book that I highly recommend. The story of how an poor kid from immigrant family can rise to the pinnacle of American society is truly an interesting story. For author Lewis this book isn't mere hero worship it is an attempt to give Rickenbacker his due as events from the early twentieth century fader further and further out of our historical memory.

3 comments about Daily Life in Civil War America (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series).

1. This book is excellent in its relative lack of bias and in its discussion of the causes of the war. It gives a lot of information on soldier life, which was of limited use to me since I've read Wiley, McPherson, etc. etc. etc. What disappointed me about the book was its limited attention to civilian life and mentalities. Most of the material seemed relevant only to rich people and city folks -- I can't imagine that average 19th century people really used cartes du visite and spoon-warmers. I've been looking for some information on attitudes toward married life and family, and this is one in a long series of books that hasn't contained very much -- there's a little on child-rearing but that's it. There is quite a bit of information on clothing, perhaps aimed toward a reenactor readership. Overall, I'd recommend this, but be aware that it has its limitations.



2. This is an extremly well writen book, about the daily life of the american people during the civil war. As a civil war re-enactor I found this book very informative and a great help in my portrayal of a soldier\cook.



3. This is an extremly well writen book, about the daily life of the american people during the civil war. As a civil war re-enactor I found this book very informative and a great help in my portrayal of a soldier\cook.