No comments about David M. Shoup: A Warrior against War (Biographies in American Foreign Policy).

1 comments about A True Republican: The Life of Paul Revere.

1. In "A True Republican," Triber successfully transforms the larger than life Revere of legend into a living and breathing American. This book is both readable and detailed, utilizing an ocean of facts to flesh out Revere's life while proving a central thesis.

   According to Triber, Revere epitomizes the development of republicanism in postcolonial America. What does this mean, you ask? Revere believed in the "American Dream," and tried to create a country in which individuals could achieve economic and social prosperity, and even political office, as long as they possessed the qualities of virtue, merit, and ambition. If this sounds trite to you, please realize that it was a novel concept in Colonial America, a land of hierarchy and inflexible social classes.

   Revere's life as a silversmith, patriot, and would-be merchant illustrate his devotion to republicanism. The son of an immigrant, he had to depend upon his own skill and drive in order to succeed, but he possessed these traits in abundance. His life took many twists and turns, and he failed to achieve many of his goals, but at the end of his life he was a successful businessman and patriarch of a huge and fairly prominent family.

   One quibble: I wish the book had focused a bit more on the last 20 or so years of his life. Many of Revere's later technological achievements are covered in less than thorough detail, unlike the earlier chapters. No book can cover every angle of a subject, of course, but I personally disagree with this aspect of Triber's emphasis.

   Whether you want a great biography, a study of early American social mobility, or just a great read, please give "A True Republican" a try!

1 comments about Faces of the Civil War: An Album of Union Soldiers and Their Stories.

1. Even casual readers about the U.S. Civil War have seen the haunting images of young soldiers staring stiffly into the
   camera for posterity. About to embark into a war of unimagined horror, few of their particular stories were preserved or documented. "Faces of the Civil War" takes those personal mementos and visiting cards as a hook to pull the reader into many previously untold stories. This winning combination of powerful images, extensive archival research, and accessible journalistic writing provides a welcome addition to anyone's Civil War book collection. It also can grab and hold student's interest in this endlessly fascinating era of U.S. history.

3 comments about On the Edge of History.

1. I made it through about a third of this book before I started getting lost in the details. There are some neat passages, particularly when the text from personal letters and other correspondence are included to document something happening. But as I moved through the book I felt like the consecutive order was a little off, with references to things sometimes 30 years ahead that you haven't read about yet. No doubt that certain events were life-changing for some of the family members but without the full knowledge of what is to come, it makes for slightly difficult reading; the abundance of footnotes alone is overwhelming. Obviously this book took a lot of research and time; it just wasn't for me. It is a unique topic and history lovers will eat it up.



2. I never heard of the small island of Faial in the Azores until I read this novel. What a great source of historical data to have found after all of these years of an American familiy's history through the ages. The valuable documentation of the way they lived and how they really paid attention to the education of their children and doing business the right way. This family truly made a difference in everyone's life during that period and they were highly recognized for the support and care that they gave to all of those around them. I would highly recommend reading this novel,it captures life as it was in the 19th century.



3. The book was well written account of one particular family and their influence on history and politics. This family has a influence that has long been since forgotten except only in archives. The book is well written and choreographed into something that is an enjoyable read.

No comments about The First Nuclear Era: The Life and Times of a Technological Fixer.

1 comments about Reminiscences of Winfield Scott Hancock.

1. I was truly excited to find this book. Almira Hancock (wife of Gen. Hancock) wrote this book soon after the death of her husband at the request of many friends and admirers. She gives a wonderful account of her life with one of America's greatest soldiers as well as a valuable point of view of America in that time period. It is not the most complete biography ever written on Hancock though, the chapters on the Civil War and specific battles (Gettysburg for example) lack detail and attention. She actually spent more of her time concentrating on his post-war activities (Indian War, and Presidential election) as well as his pre Civil War service (other than the Mexican War, which is not even given). Information on the Mexican war or the General's formitive years are not given, because Mrs. Hancock begins the book at their marriage. Which is understandable concidering that shes wrote mostly on events at which she was present. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the letters. Mrs. Hancock added many correspondence letters, ones that the General wrote to her, those written to and from Gen. Sherman, etc. and at the back of the book, many letters that Mrs. Hancock received just after the death of Gen. Hancock, from USA Gen. Sherman, USA Gen. Sheridan, CSA Gen. Gordon, etc. Most of the information given is not available in any other source, Mrs. Hancock burned any records or letters that she did not include in this account. After reading many books on Hancock, I'd have to say that this has the most reference to his character and personality, if not through Almira's descriptions, by his own dialog. This is an enjoyable and informative first hand account of America in it's formative adolescence.

No comments about William and Henry Walters, the Reticent Collectors.

1 comments about Jacob Hamblin His Life in His Own Words.

1. My ancestor, Jacob Hamblin, wrote this book. Originally title "My Life with the Indians" it was edited in the late 1800s. Elders in the Morman Church removed the references to his only Indian wife, a Paiute woman, my great grandmother. They were married in Utah, and moved to New Mexico, where my grandmother was born.
   
   Other than some things that were edited out, this is one of the most accurate
   accounts of life in the Southwest that I know of. They also edited how
   how Jacob testified after finding an entire tribe slaughtered on a horseback ride he made back from Arizona. A valley full of woman and children who had been killed. Later, as a result of Hamblin's testimony,
   three Caucasian men were hung in Utah, the ones who led the massacre on their own accord, not under any military instructions.
   
   Jacob Hamblin was a hero in American History and for that reason, this book is important. He negotiated the first peace treaty between the Ute and Navajo tribes successfully. He is probably best known for that accomplishment.

No comments about The Papers of George Washington: Volume 1, September 1788-March 1789 (Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series).

3 comments about Jefferson the President: First Term 1801 - 1805 - Volume IV (Jefferson the President).

1. What can be said about this monument to Jefferson scholarship? I am sure that somewhere in universities around the United States there are "scholar squirrels who want to put down this invaluable resource in Jefferson studies. It is always the way that mice attempt to gnaw at lions. This is not a perfect work (and my remarks refer to all of the books in the series as a whole), there are somethings, namely Sally Hemmings references which are wrong and will not sit well with American 21st century mores. There is the issue of slavery which was handled much differently 50 years ago than it is now.
   Jefferson is not worthy of our interest because of Sally Hemmings and because he kept slaves. Jefferson is great because of the Declaration of Independence and his fight for the rights of man. While it may have been hypocritical to preach liberty and keep slaves, it is doubtful that slavery ever would have been abolished if Jefferson had never gained the prominence that he did. This book and the others that follow show why we should continue to honor the public man even though his private side may have been wanting.



2. Jefferson: The President second term 1805-1809 is the fifth volume in a series of six, by Dumas Malone and brings us into the last four years of Jefferson's Presidency. I found that the author worked harder to bring out Jefferson the man in this volume... maybe because of the actions of others, (Burr and Marshall), but it is apparent that the author worked hard on this volume.

   Jefferson sponsors the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Congress gives Jefferson a little slack, but Arron Burr takes the domestic heat. The Barbary pirates are delt with, but the political views of Jefferson and Marshall heat up to a boiling point. But, Jeferson's second term seems to hit a nadir and he is longing for his Virginia mountain top home where he can finally retire after forty years of service to government.

   I found the scholarship to be impeccable, balanced, seemly sympathetic. The overall narrative is detailed and at times engrossing and engaging. Even though we can see Jefferson's excitement with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, we also see heartbreak with Burr and vituperation with Marshall.

   Overall, this volume brings us to one of the most interesting times of Jeferson's life... that of retirement. This is one of the most interesting of the volumes so far as we see Jefferson working out the problems that others have wrought upon him.




3. Dumas Malone (1892-1986) devoted his academic career to studying Thomas Jefferson, and this superbly researched volume reflects that lifelong scholarship. This book is one in a six-part series examining the life of our third President. I read this book for a college class and immediately grasped the unending pressures that President Jefferson faced in his second term. Malone examines the decision-making options available to Jefferson, usually (and perhaps too often) supporting the eventual route that the President decided upon. This volume's research and analysis is worthy of five stars, not to mention the 1975 Pulitzer Prize the series captured. Unfortunately, Malone's stilted prose - the weakness of most academic historians - produces a rather laborious read. Thus, four stars overall.