No comments about Battle-Fields of the South: From Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; With Sketches of Confederate Commanders, and Gossip of the Camps (Collector's Library of the Civil War).

1 comments about Messiah: The Life and Times of Francis Schlatter.

1. I was so excited when I ordered the book, but it's not well-written and I'm unmotivated to finish the book.

5 comments about Ronald Reagan: His Life In Pictures.

1. James Spada is brilliant! I have always admired Ronald Reagan, the greatest president of our times! This book offers fantastic pictures, most of which I had never seen before, with many pictures coming fairly recently (within the last few years). I only hope that President Bush will live up to the great conservative standards of former-President Reagan. May God bless Ronald Reagan in the final years of his unbelievably effective life!!



2. What a refreshing look at our country's most admired President. After enduring the past 8 years of efforts by the former administration to demoralize family values, I am rejuvenated to see the wonderful photos and read the narratives. There is once again optimism that the Bush family will be the ones who will bring honor and pride to our White House and First Family. The book is a perfect collection of photos showing the geniuine love and respect for families and marriage, as exists with the Reagans. We have been fortunate enough to see Pres. Reagan during campaigns and in Washington, and want our grandchildren to learn more about this wonderful man. I purchased a copy for our grandson, and after receiving it-looked through it, and quickly ordered another copy for our own home.



3. I got this book on my birthday, which is on February 7, one day later that of Ronald Reagan himself. I am amazed how James Spada got all those pictures in this one volume book. I am amazed at his comments. You got the feeling that he was next to him. President's assassination attempt and his Golden State retirements pictures are also here. BUT BE ADVISED: Unlike other books, this are BLACK AND WHITE pictures. If you are looking for the color pictures, go and buy 'REMEMBERING REAGAN' and 'UNGUARDED MOMENTS.'You will be able to compensate the color phenomenon. I would like to see another book like this one but only in color pictures. All in all, the book is great and the author should be recognized for his efforts. I hope he will start another project and we shall see the color one. You won't be upset as you will see wonderful pictures of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan.



4. This book is the perfect illustration of Ronald Reagan. Give the people lots of pretty pictures to look at and keep them distracted from the deficiency of intelligent thought. Heavy on style yet skimpy on substance. If you want to celebrate the shallowness that was Ronald Reagan, then this is a good book for you.



5. James Spada has done extraordinary photo research for this book, uncovering many photographs among the nearly 300 in the book that will be new to even the most die-hard Reagan followers. The text is elegantly written, lively, and informative. If you want to have one photo album to remember Ronald Reagan by, this one hsould be it!

No comments about A Memoir of the Last Year of the War for Independence in the Confederate States of America.

5 comments about N. C. Wyeth: A Biography.

1. I don't know if there is another Family that has continuously contributed to the world of art, and done so with such skill, as the 5 generations of Wyeths whose story is told in this work.

   The title of my review may seem a bit odd but I believe those who read this book will find it appropriate. I read this book when it originally was published and then recently read it again. You need not be anything more than someone who loves to read to enjoy this book. While I am a great admirer of Mr. Andrew Wyeth's work and to a lesser extent other members of the Wyeth Family, I have no Art History education. The beauty of this work is that it is an incredible story on it's own, that additionally the story is true with 2 Wyeth Family members still painting, only enhances the reading. The fact this is not fiction makes the story all the more remarkable.

   If you have already read about Mr. Andrew Wyeth's work you certainly will gain a great deal of insight as to why he may view his art as he does. Another wonderful book that focuses on Mr. Andrew Wyeth is by Richard Merryman, "Andrew Wyeth A Secret Life". It often seems that great artists in a range of artistic fields seem to have more than their share of drama in their lives. This is certainly the case with this 5 generational span of the Wyeths. There is also a great deal of tragedy and sadness.

   Whether or not you are aware of or enjoy the work of The Wyeth Clan, they have and will continue to remain of great importance to Art History. Ranging from the illustrations by N.C Wyeth of dozens of books that are known to us all, to some of the most recognized images in the world as is the case with Andrew Wyeth's "Christina's World" from 1948, chances are you do know of the Wyeths.

   The story most don't know is of the woman who is in the mentioned painting, her lifetime, and the stories and paintings that resulted from the house that she is looking towards in the painting. Not all of what you will learn is comfortable, some is sad; some behavior from members of the Family is eccentric to say the least.

   What you will experience is a sweeping story that continues to this day. If an endorsement by an internationally acclaimed Artist would help, read what Mr. Barry Moser had to say about this book. And then go look at the book he was illustrating, the work he set aside to read this story. I cannot think of a more reliable recommendation.

   Know the Family, know the work, or read as a novel. You will not de disappointed.




2. Although I was familiar with the paintings of Andrew & Jamie Wyeth, I wasn't aware of N.C. until I read his letters in Dorie McCullough Lawson's wonderful collection, "Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children." The brilliant writing in those letters, and the story of the tragic accident that killed him and his little grandson, made me want to know more. It led me to this book. I've just finished it, and can't stop thinking about it. If a novelist made up this saga, one might say it was just too fantastic. And yet the most fantastic thing of all is that it's true. David Michaelis weaves the tale, not just of N.C. Wyeth, but of his family and his times. Although so many people are introduced, the writing is clear and vibrant, and one never loses track of who's who. No novel could be more compelling than this saga, with twists and turns that almost had me gasping. Biography just doesn't get any better than this. Whether or not you're interested in Art, it is well worth your time. Bravo to Mr. Michaelis!



3. The forementioned "Biography at its best" is fitting. David Michaelis went the extra mile to gather coupious historical data on Wyeth and his background. The evidence given paints a picture of the very soul of this man, almost to the point of smelling his oil-stained hands.
   
   It is remarkable to catch a glimpse of this energetic and powerful artist who somehow balanced family, busines and sanity by applying passion to all he encountered. Whether or not our hero was particularly faithful to his wife can be argued, but his evident ability to excel in whatsoever he set out to do is inspiring.
   
   A great read for those interested in disciplining one's self to master the studio and the home.



4. My brother loaned me a copy of this book because we both collect American illustrations. That qualifies some of my enthusiasm for this book a bit. I am already a fan of the golden age(s) of American illustration.
   The life of N. C. Wyeth is impressively detailed by the author. He mostly uses detailed and extensive letters written by the family to piece together what would seem a very accurate account of N.C.'s life. This book helped piece together some of the influences I assumed N.C. had throughout his life. From Pyle to the war, depression, to family, it was a very complicated life for the entire family. A great read with enough personal melodrama to keep it very interesting. My only complaint was the occasional writing quirk where the author sometime wrote of the future while writing mostly a chronological book. It's hard to describe, but readers will notice this and occasionally get a little confused by the style. That's my only negative comment. (And frankly, I do not see how this writing method could have been avoided since some of the information was necessary in order to piece the story together.)



5. An informative book on what motivated NC to do what he did, but not much on how he arrived at certain colors, composition, studies before completing a major work, etc. There is a lot of information that seems unnecessary, but it all comes together at the end. If you want to know the progression of his work, it is here; but there is not alot on technique.

3 comments about The White House Physician: A History from Washington to George W. Bush.

1. This is a well crafted, researched and comprehensive treatise, yet it is an entertaining and fluid "read". I did not expect that the topic could be presented in such an interesting and entertaining manner. The book succeeded in educating me not only in the specifics of the various actors, but in the evolution of the roles and responsibilities of the President's physicians. I had assumed that the provision of medical care to the President had been static over the decades; it was fascinating to learn just how much and how recently it has changed. This book not only deals with presidential physicians, the evolution of presidential medical care (including political overlap), but also provides fascinating insights into presidential history.



2. 
   
   Ludwig Deppisch is a medical doctor who has an interest in medical history, and out of that interest he has given us a book that sets out the fascinating story of the doctors who, from the time of the founding of the republic up through the modern era, have served as physicians to the Presidents. This story is doubly fascinating because it not only traces the historical progress of medicine through time but it also reveals how medical practices, sometimes in conjunction with political subterfuge, can impact the presidency itself.
   
   The first part of the book, which covers the practices of the best doctors of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries - the doctors who treated Presidents - exposes the shortcomings of the medical profession in those years, even as medicine itself was becoming more professional. Thomas Jefferson wrote about his friend doctor Benjamin Rush, a greatly influential figure, that the doctor had "done much harm" with the practice of bleeding patients to treat illness. Indeed, calling on the aid of a doctor did not guarantee a cure; just the opposite could be the case. President James Garfield, who lived in a somewhat more advanced medical period, when shot by an assassin had his wound examined by doctors with hands so dirty that, according to the author, the doctors themselves likely caused his fatal infection. Still, a physically tough old President like Andrew Jackson could have a bullet removed from a dueling wound years after the duel and emerge much improved from the surgery.
   
   But it is as the story moves toward the twentieth century, while medical knowledge seems to be progressing, that we see another compelling issue begin to emerge, and that is how political and medical subterfuge can be employed to deceive the citizenry about what is going on in the health of a President. Grover Cleveland had a secret operation, for example, on board a private yacht, to remove a cancerous growth in his mouth. In the event the operation was a success and the public never became aware of what had taken place. Woodrow Wilson, however, had a stroke of such massive proportions that he probably should have left office but he did not. His physician was complicit in keeping Wilson isolated and the public misinformed about his true condition. FDR's health was so badly failing at the end of his third term that he should never have run for a fourth. But we were in the midst of war. His actual medical state was concealed and the reelected President died a short time into his last term. President Eisenhower had a series of serious medical problems which were interpreted to the public through rose tinted glasses. Never the less, Ike was popular, he completed two terms, and what Americans were told about the President's health likely gave them the reassurance most of them were looking for. Finally, it should be noted that JFK deliberately misrepresented his awful health facts to the American people throughout his political career with the audacity of Harry Houdini making an impossible escape. We might admire the audacity, but was it the right thing to do?
   
   The author also raises some related and interesting issues about using psychiatry as a tool both for evaluating the mental fitness of a President and as a mode of treatment. Hindsight suggests it might have been useful to know more about the mental health and psychological makeup of Richard Nixon before he was elected. But would it have been possible, we wonder, to get an objective and non political pre-election evaluation of Nixon's personality? By the same token, Senator Thomas Eagleton was forced off the Democratic ticket as a Vice Presidential candidate in 1972 when it was revealed he had been treated for serious depression. Was this action appropriate? And how would the American people react if they learned that a President was undergoing current psychiatric treatment? These are worthwhile questions to ponder.
   
   All of this leads us to note that there is some useful discussion in this book about the place of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment when it comes to dealing with the ramifications of any severe medical impairment of a President. And while this constitutional amendment was specifically passed to provide guidelines should a crisis occur, we have unfortunately seen, as in the shooting of President Reagan, that when a crisis does occur key officials can still be caught flatfooted in the immediate aftermath as to what to say and do. Moreover, the question of whether a President is medically fit to continue in office places the White House Physician squarely in the cross hairs of decision making. Thus, relevant officials in any new administration need to discuss and understand all of the protocols to be followed and all of the attendant constitutional and medical implications well in advance of any medical emergency. Deception of the public will probably no longer be tolerated as it has been in the past.
   
   Lastly we should note that, like a good novel, this tale contains some rich characters, strong personalities like Dr. Cary Grayson, Wilson's physician, who can color the story and influence the plot. And we see the potential for conflict when there are many doctors involved in treatment, a few of whom may have large egos. Kennedy had a wide range of treating doctors and his titular head physician, Dr. Travell, was shunted aside while the President received secret and controversial treatments from Max Jacobson, the Manhattan doctor known as "Doctor Feelgood" because of the injections he gave the rich and famous, injections that contained amphetamines and steroids.
   
   All in all, it would be fair to sum up that the author has given us a book that is not only rich in scholarship, but one that tells a tale which is fascinating on its own merits. Moreover, this is a book that is a significant resource of information for any doctors or officials who are newly being called to serve in an administration and who might have to grapple with a replay of history sometime in the future. For them it might be essential reading; for the rest of us it is just a darn good read.
   
   G. F. Shirley



3. Terrific! This is a thoroughly researched body of work. It contains great insights into the development of American medicine, and I highly recommend it to those interested in American and presidential history. Furthermore, its examination of legal, political, and moral issues make it a must-read for those in the medical profession.

5 comments about The Custer Myth.

1. By far the best of the vast Custer literature. Graham gathers together in one place primary data and lets you draw your own conclusions. On Custer, Graham is the only author I have read who writes without massaging his data to support some preconcieved theory. This book, incidently, was published in 1953, not in 1993.(It would be helpful if Amazon would note first copyright dates in book listings.) This book was not bashed out to meet a schedule or catch a market window; Graham gathered data literally for decades. Being an army officer-- Judge Advocate Corp--gave him access to files and access to survivors who were eyewitnesses to the fight at Reno's end of the field.



2. This is Graham's great collction of testimonies about Custer and the Little Big Horn from the Sioux, Cheyene, Rees, Crows, scouts, officers, soildiers and others. An incredible collection of material laid out in categorical chapters. Graham lays this often quoted collection out without prejudice and although he questions the Indian participant's accounts due to their lack of perception of exact time and spatial realities, he presents it all the same. What is quite fascinating are the virtual raw letters of Benteen to William Goldin. The letters show Benteen's bitter side particularly toward Custer and demonstrates that Reno was also not held highly on his list, if anyone was. Also, has Godfrey's great history of the battle and the book even includes challenging letters from Grahams critics to his personal responses. A great book for those that want to know all from multiple perspectives of the participants.



3. This book gives no definitive answers on the biggest puzzles of Little Big Horn ... which is its greatest strength. By pulling together all the available testimony, from both sides and all angles, it's proof of how 'the fog of war' -- as well as participants' own agendas -- makes any battle more confusing to its participants than to those who come after. For the reader, piecing together the conflicting accounts, and assessing the characters/viewpoints/axes-to-grind of those giving them, it's a total immersion not just in the facts but in the feelings, prejudices and atmosphere of the time. A wonderful book. And one that should be basic training for every student of history, whatever their period. This is how history is.



4. It is my opinion that the three most famous battlefields on US soil are (in no particular order) the Little Big Horn, Gettysburg, and the Alamo. Each has a legion of students and enthusiasts accompanied by a number of printed resources. Stackpole Books has added to the printed resources on the Little Big Horn with its' collection of books known as The Custer Library. The most important of these books, in my opinion, is "The Custer Myth" It contains just about all of the available first person accounts of the battle known to exist. Many of the accounts are rather short but all are interesting. For the "Last Stand" buffs, it is like waking up on Christmas morning to find that you got everything you wanted except actual newsreel footage. For the casual observer of the subject, this may be the downfall of the book. After all, the stories greatly overlap and repeat each other. In doing so, they add another dimension of personalizing the battle even more. No Custer enthusiast should be without this book and no private library of American History is complete without it either. Do yourself a favor and add it to your library as well.



5. It was great to find a book published well over 50 years ago, so I could see what "spin" the author had on the battle. Surprisingly, the author did not laud Custer--the title comes from the author's belief that Custer was more made up than real. The author, though retired military, made what appeared to be a fair attempt to reconstruct the attacks from the Indian's point of view. The book does not compare to "Lakota Noon" in analysis, but the author states at the beginning he is just presenting the facts as reported by others. The book also contained other interesting information from Sitting Bull that even my boss, a Lakota, had not seen. Be warned, though: It's a long book with a lot of self-serving statements by Army officers.

5 comments about Military Memoirs Of A Confederate: A Critical Narrative.

1. This book, unlike Alexander's more recently discovered personal memoir, is only for the serious scholar. His account of strategy, tactics and troop movements is almost completely unleavened with anecdotes or personal reactions. I found it to be very dry, very hard to maintain interest in. That isn't to say it's not an important book -- it is, very much so. There are areas where Alexander's knowledge falters and he should not be taken as a sole source of information, but in general, this is a very detailed and worthwhile account by an intelligent participant. But recreational reading? Not on your life. I'd recommend the author's Fighting for the Confederacy instead.



2. I believe this to be the most accurate, and honest, first-hand account of the Army of Northern Virginia. After reading this book, your perception of certain battlefields will never be the same. Not only was Alexander a true soldier, but also a fine scholar.



3. This book is the work of one of Lee's Lieutenants, General Edward Porter Alexander. Alexander was Longstreet's artillery commander for most of the Civil War. As such, he saw action in the Eastern Theater from 1st Manassas, through to the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. After the war, he was encouraged by General Longstreet to write a history of his Corps. Unfortunately after completing most of the primary research, very few of the officers he contacted were willing to give him the first person authoritative accounts he wanted. What he instead was to write a memoir that almost 100 years later is still the model of historical writing.
   For historians the danger of memoirs is twofold. First, many authors have an axe to grind and will suffer from "selective memory" in retelling their experiences. Also, but less deliberately, we are all the leading stars of our lives (if you aren't you oughta be). Taking center stage, authors can appear to have a larger role in the subject than they should otherwise have. With General Alexander's book though, there is no romanticism of the "Lost Cause", nor hero worship of the Lee/Jackson pantheon. Alexander dispassionately relates the campaigns he saw, with insightful critiques of the leaders of both sides. He doesn't spare himself from criticism either; you don't often see that in a memoir.
   Anyone with a serious interest in Civil War campaigns should have this book in their library. However, if you are looking for a Confederate mea culpa, or a social history you should look elsewhere. Highly recommended.



4. General Alexander gives almost a blow-by-blow account of each major battle of the War Between the States, complete with Orders of Battle, casualty reports, and numbers of troops engaged. His excellent memory for detail makes for somewhat dry reading at times (if you're not looking for numbers), but remains a classic in War literature. A must-have for any library on the period



5. A very good critical narrative. He breaks it down each battle The ANV participated in. He gives a good account what each commander starting with
   Brig Gen Johnston and Brig McDowell at Manassas(Bull Run) ending with
   Appomattix Courthouse did and how they as commanders could have fought their battle and win. Good insight especially since he was in the command
   tent with General Lee and Longstreet. This is what is lacking with most
   historians now days. He gives very good details but some readers say the
   reading is dry. This is not a daily journal on a privates war. Read the
   Title. It should explain itself. The narrative briefly tells what each
   brigade did if needed to help develop the battle line. He does not get
   into each regimental history unless there is a particular point to make. He does break it down What each army brings to battle and casualties. Very important to my thought. Also there are a few snippets here and there to make things funny. One thing In a way before reading this book I bought the other one his personal journal "Fighting For the Confederacy
   The Personal recollections of General Edward Porter Alexander" This is a
   more personal side of him. It has more personal thoughts and observations on the war and the people he met during the war. I think I
   would have enjoyed The Military Memoirs even more by reading the Personal
   recollections first but that is my take. In any event General Alexander
   is accurate enought with his information that he can still hold his own
   with modern historians today. Even better he didn't let the "lost cause"
   mentality interfere with writing the Critical Memoirs.

1 comments about The War the Women Lived: Female Voices from the Confederate South.

1. The Women of the Confederacy speak. Culled from journals, diaries and published memoirs of the most cruel war of all, a Civil War, these women tell of hardships endured and unbelievable savagery on both sides. If this book was fiction it would be a good read. As eyewitness accounts it is a great read. Experience the horrors, the insights, the frame-of-mind of a violent time from our past. This book will enrich you

5 comments about Sickles the Incredible: A Biography of Daniel Edgar Sickles.

1. Daniel E. Sickles was born in New York City 20 Oct 1819, served three terms in the House of Representatives, and died May 3, 1914. This account of his life, tho it has no footnotes and no bibliography, is written in a breezy style that easily captivates. I was tremendously caught up by the story. It begins with the account of how Sickles killed Francis Scott Key's son on Feb 27, 1859, then goes back to the beginning and tells the whole fantastic, incredible story of his life, with lots of attention to his Civil War career, including his role at Gettysburg. As Horatio King wrote in Sickles' old age:
   "I see him on that famous field,/ The bravest of the brave,/ Where Longstreet's legions strive to drive/ The Third Corps to its grave./ The fight was bloody, fierce and long,/ And Sickles' name shall stay/ Forever in the Hall of Fame/ As he who saved the day."
   Sickles was a despicable character and yet his life is a fantastic saga. An excellent book.



2. If Daniel Sickles doesn't represent the master politician in this outstanding book about him, I don't know what would. This book definately gets to the details about the man's polictical and military careers. Swanberg writes about Sickle's early polictical organizing in Washington, his affairs with women, family, constructing a New York brigade and leading it to battle. If that is not intriguing enough, Sickle's story is also covered when it came to killing the man who was having an affair with his wife and how Sickle's polictical clout sets him free from prosecution. As much as his personal and polictical career is covered, his military career is as well. Swanberg's coverage how he organized, fought and defended his positions regarding his III Corp movement at Gettysburg is excellent which seemed to only cloud this already controversial character. As I read this very informative book, I couldn't believe the amount of lies, deception and self-importance this man had. His master plundering of others and fouled attempts to mask his true character is wrenching yet fascinating at the same time. Swanberg captured me in this book and I couldn't let it down. I feel it is probably the best book on Daniel Sickles out there.



3. There are few characters in history, let alone American Civil War Generals, as controversial as Daniel Sickles. That his story remains so obscure defies explanation.

   W.A. Swanbergýs book opens with perhaps the most notorious chapter in Sicklesýs long life, the killing of his wifeýs paramour in the shadow of the White House and the first use of the temporary insanity defense in American jurisprudence.

   I expected the remainder of this book to be anticlimactic and was gratefully disappointed. Swanberg is admittedly an exuberant fan of Sickles, perchance affording him more credit than his due, but the amazing facts of his life seem to deserve more attention than other historians have provided. A man of obvious contrasts, Sickles was a Tammany Hall politician who made it his duty to bring down Jay Gould and his cohorts because he loathed their corruption. The confidant of many presidents who presented his prostitute/mistress to the court of Queen Victoria and the Civil War General who is given equal credit for winning and losing the battle of Gettysburg.

   Though somewhat dated, especially in itýs respectful treatment of someone who doesnýt always deserve it, there simply isnýt a more entertaining or complete depiction of Sickles incredible life.




4. Just wanted to note some of oft-ignored qualities of Daniel E.
   Sickles.... Most folks want to focus on his alleged military
   ineptitude in the Civil War (and at Gettysburg in particular) or
   "The Trial of the Century," when Sickles was tried for murdering
   his wife's lover. Sickles spoke in favor of the cause of freeing
   Cuba from the yoke of Spanish colonial oppression in the years
   after the Civil War, and he was always a patriot - at least he
   favored the U.S. government instead of secession in the great crisis!



5. ONE BIOGRAPHER OF DANIEL SICKLES THINKS "INCREDIBLE" IS TOO KIND A WORD FOR THIS POLITICIAN/GENERAL. AS A GENERAL HE RANKS WITH MOST OF THE POLITICAL GENERALS OF THE CIVIL WAR--POOR AT BEST. THE MOST INTERESTING FEATURE OF SICKLES LIFE IS HIS POLITIAL AND PERSONAL LIFE AND THIS AREA SWANBURG RELATES VERY, VERY WELL. SICKLES TRIAL FOR THE MURDER IN LAFAYETTE PARK OF FRANCIS SCOTT KEYE'S SON FOR SEX WITH MRS. SICKLES IS THE MOST FASCINATING. SICKLES WAS SUCH A FOREMOST POLITICIAN THAT HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES. HIS TRIAL MAY HAVE SET THE PRECEDENT FOR THE NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY PLEA. THE BOOK OFFERS A VIEW OF THE POLITICAL MACHINES IN THEANTEBELLUM AND WAR YEARS, AND LEANS SOMEWHAT TOO FAVORABLY TOWARD DAN SICKLES. HOWEVER, IT IS STILL A BOOK WELL WORTH READING AND HAVING FOR PROFESSIONAL HISTORIANS AND THE READING PUBLIC.