5 comments about The Three Roosevelts: Patrician Leaders Who Transformed America.

1. An interesting fact of American politics - that many of our Presidents came from the "upper class" of American society - is the central premise of "The Three Roosevelts: Patrician Leaders Who Transformed America." In this book, co-authors James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn examine the role played in American history by arguably the most influential "patrician" family of the twentieth century - the Roosevelts of New York.

   "The Three Roosevelts" is essentially a book containing short political biographies of Theodore, Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt (TR) became one of our greatest Presidents. Early in life, his sense of "noblesse oblige" caused him to choose a career in politics rather than a life as a member of the wealthy elite. He was elected, in turn, state representative; then governor of New York, as a Republican. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the McKinley Administration. Three years later, he was elected Vice President of the United States, and succeeded to the Presidency when President William McKinley was assassinated on September 14, 1901. His seven years as Chief Executive were some of the most successful of any Chief Executive up to then.

   Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was a young man who appeared to have little of his cousin Theodore's intellectual acumen, driving ambition, or ideological bent. Franklin followed his famous cousin into politics, but unlike his cousin, Franklin became a Democrat. Like Theodore, Franklin's political career advanced steadily. In rapid succession, he was elected State Assemblyman, then State Senator. By age 31, he had been appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson.

   In 1921, FDR was stricken with polio, which paralyzed him from the waist down. In 1928, after a seven-year hiatus from politics, FDR was elected Governor of New York. His two two-year terms were highly successful, but by then FDR already had his eyes on the biggest prize of them all: the Presidency.

   From 1929 to 1932, during the early years of the Great Depression, FDR proved himself a capable governor of New York. By 1932, after three years mired in the Depression, Americans were ready for a change. They elected FDR - the man promising Americans a "New Deal" - as President of the United States.

   The vast majority of "The Three Roosevelts" is taken up with an account of FDR's "transformation of America" during the Great Depression. Here, Burns and Dunn portray Roosevelt as a man employing a pragmatic approach to governance... try whatever works! Congress passed a body of legislation that was tremendous in scope. For the first time, the Federal government actively intervened in American life in an effort to make life better for all. The modern welfare state was born.

   The third of the "three Roosevelts" - Eleanor (ER) - was an integral part of her husband's political success. After her marriage to FDR, Eleanor remained indifferent toward politics, although she steadfastly supported her husband's political ambitions. As FDR's political career progressed, so did Eleanor's interest in politics. In fact, she was much more of an ideologue than Franklin. Burns and Dunn imply that Eleanor grew to have a tremendous influence on Franklin, possibly pulling him more and more to the left of center during his Presidency.

   On April 12, 1945, after thirteen years as President, years which saw the United States struggle out of Depression and stumble into a world war, Franklin D. Roosevelt died. He had helped build the modern welfare state, and had guided the United States to a position of victory in the Second World War.

   In the years following FDR's death, Eleanor Roosevelt continued to be a major influence on American politics. Through her nationally syndicated newspaper column "My Day," ER continually interjected her ideas and opinions into the national debate. She was appointed as an American delegate to the first organizational meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. Later she would serve on a UN commission that authored the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. She championed the cause of equal rights for all Americans, and was vocal in her support of the new nation of Israel.

   When "The Three Roosevelts" appeared in bookstores in the spring of 2001, I eagerly bought a copy. This was the first book I'd seen in over twenty years that was written by James MacGregor Burns, the historian best known for his two volume biography of the 32nd President - "Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox" and "Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom."
   
   My hope was that Burns and co-author Susan Dunn would provide a penetrating examination of what caused this trio of extraordinary individuals to leave behind the values and traditions of their 19th century "patrician" class, in favor of a progressive and at times socialistic political agenda. It is a question left largely unanswered. "The Three Roosevelts" remains a book very long on biographical information and very short on historical analysis.

   The authors show an almost complete lack of objectivity toward their subjects. Burns is well known as a liberal "New Deal" Democrat, and his political bias shows on practically every page. He is ably abetted by Dunn. The result: "The Three Roosevelts" is practically a paean of praise to TR, ER, and especially FDR. Criticisms of the "three Roosevelts" are few, and even those are largely muted. Burns and Dunn's unabashed, gushing admiration of the "three Roosevelts" is annoying, and limits the usefulness of the book as an objective study of these fascinating characters in American history.




2. James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn, Democrats by conviction, give an unequal account of the life of three Roosevelts by dedicating most of their biography to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. MacGregor Burns and Dunn show their audience how these three patricians left behind a relatively easy life to descend into the arena of politics. Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt had to overcome their prejudices about other classes, religions, ethnicities and races to get an understanding of the issues at hand and, at times make, painful compromises to get things done. MacGregor Burns and Dunn explain to their readers that the three Roosevelts have ultimately left an indelible imprint on the psyche of the nation by each setting an example of transformational leadership. On the domestic front, the country has been working on the best possible reconciliation of the respective interests of business, labor and consumers as well as the rights and duties of its respective races and ethnicities. Abroad, the country has weighed the pros and cons of an interventionist policy on a case-by-case basis to safeguard its vital interests, and to advance the cause of a world that espouses the values of responsible democracy and capitalism.



3. This novel was immensely informative and entertaining. I am an English teacher who reads a lot, and I could not put it down. I loved the descriptions of leaders such as Huey Long and Gerald Smith and the isolationist movement. It was also impressive that it was so well-balanced and avoided sensationalism and cheap shots. The authors did not take sides or make quick judgments. You must read this book. My two favorite sections were the descriptions of the New Deal and the class struggle in New York during TR's time.



4. This book caught my attention when it received good reviews from major newspapers, magazines, and critics when it came out (which you can find on the Internet). The writing is interesting and moves along smoothly. James MacGregor Burns knows his material well. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of FDR. The theme and emphasis of this book is that the three Roosevelts were elite and rich, and yet battled concentrated wealth.
   
   The book begins with the solemn scene of President Lincoln's funeral procession, which Theodore Roosevelt as a child watched from his upscale residence. The book then shows how Theodore Roosevelt was influenced by Lincoln's presidency. Theodore Roosevelt did what he thought was right and rejected the life of comfortable leisure.
   
   Theodore Roosevelt acted boldly in some circumtances, while in other circumstances he acted compromising (like a skillful politician.) This was very much in the model of Lincoln who moved at first to only protect the union, seemingly acted in a compromising way (like a skillful politician) until the war seemed to be under control, and then made his masterful move to abolish slavery - a truly magnificent achievement.
   
   This book has limitations. Theodore Roosevelt's foreign affairs are not mentioned. The emphasis is on the progressive nature of the three Roosevelts.
   
   The book shows that Franklin Roosevelt followed the path of Theodore Roosevelt. Like T.R., FDR was born into a rich, elite social class. He entered politics, became under-secretary of the Navy, and then governor of New York. T.R. was in FDR's wedding to Eleanor Roosevelt, who was from T.R.'s family circle. And he used masterful political skills as president like T.R. (and Lincoln), except that FDR took the power and achievements of the presidency to an all-time high, transforming that office into the "imperial presidency." The coverage of FDR is very good, although you really need to read a full-length biography to learn the full story.
   
   The section that covers Eleanor Roosevelt is maybe the strongest part of the book. Eleonor Roosevelt was a tireless champion of issues for ordinary people and the disadvantaged. She took up causes that her huspand politically could not. She championed the anti-lynching law when FDR had to be silent or risk losing his political coalition. She astounded a group of impoverished workers on strike by showing up to their gathering to show her support. Here was a well-dressed lady of the highest education and refinement showing up without security to show her support for their cause.
   
   All three Roosevelts (Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor) made "The Time 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century" list. FDR was ranked the runner-up most important person of the 20th Century, along with Gandhi. (Einstein had the top spot).
   
   "The Three Roosevelts" is a good way to learn about the three Roosevelts without having to read three lengthy biographies.



5. It may have seemed like a good idea to write mini biographies of three prominent American citizens with the same surname and place them between the same covers but it doesn't really work. Burns's admiration for FDR is nothing new, and his (and his co-author Susan Dunn's)coverage of Eleanor Roosevelt is little short of hagiography. The poor relation of this book is Teddy Roosevelt. We get a bare bones account of the life and career of this fascinating individual before we move on to the meat of the book, the life and career of FDR. Unfortunately there is little analytical comparison between the presidencies of TR and FDR except to say that they both moved to the left in their political philosophies. At a more trivial level we are told of the remarkable similarities between the career paths of the two titans but just how much this was planned by FDR is unclear. The overlap in their political lives is not very revealing with TR coming to the end of his groundbreaking career and FDR beginning his. One note of discord was FDR's choice of party. We get glimpses of both personalities but not enough, TR the domineering presence who overwhelmed all who met him, who was possibly one of the most intelligent men to hold the office of president, and FDR the highly self-aware, calculating politician who had an uncanny ability to tap into the American psyche. TR was also the subject of a multiple biography by James Chace (1912; Wilson, Roosevelt, Taft, and Debs - the Election That Changed the Country). He fares better here with both Taft and Debs being relegated to bit parts. The treatment of Eleanor Roosevelt in this book is truly gentle. Although she did some great work in the UN (The Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be her undying legacy) she had difficulty escaping her patrician past. Her liberal tendencies did not see her move with the times and her stubborn support of Stevenson over Kennedy smacked of anti-Catholicism. Nevertheless she embraced many unpopular and sometimes dangerous causes and remains the most influential First Lady in the history of the presidency.
   
   An enjoyable read but this is only a taster. For a deeper understanding of these three shapers of history you will have to go elsewhere.

5 comments about The Good Life: The Autobiography Of Tony Bennett.

1. Tony Bennett's story would make a great movie, and while this book tells alot about the man I really wish it was a longer story. Guess I hated to see it end so fast, but it did give insight on things I did not know about Tony. He was in the Army and saw action in Europe during WW2, even if only for about 4-5 months, he saw alot and came very close to becoming a statistic himself. Most enjoyable, though, was Tony recalling the days when he first started out professionally and how he fought to make records that were important to him, not what the pop charts dictated. The mutual admiration between Tony & Frank(no last name needed)is also mentioned quite a few times, making it clear there was great affection between these two superstars. Highly recommended for all Tony Bennett fans, and please, how about a movie version starring that kid on Happy Days(Eddie Mekka-who portrayed the Big Ragu)who sings just like Tony? Oh well, just a suggestion...



2. Thank you Tony - for your great story! Well written & well told, never a dull moment. What a warm, wonderful & multitalented man! I agree with the reviewer from NY, Tony's story would make an excellent movie. God Bless you, Tony, & keep those glorious albums coming.



3. Considering talents of both Tony Bennett and Will Friewald,I was very disapointed with such a feather-light collection of show-biz anecdotes.Bennett is a classy singer whom I really appreciate,with both taste and style,while Friewald already stunned me with his books about Jazz singers and Frank Sinatra.... its a little,tiny,short book that strangely lacks any personal comments and views - not different from Duke Ellington's famous autobiography in which he mostly lists his "dear friends and colleagues" with short anecdotes about how he met them,but no opinions whatsoever.Bennett goes into detailed count of every piano player in his long career,but some important points of his life (wife,children,divorce,drug addiction) are mentioned briefly and in one sentence.While counting backing musicians perhaps shows good nature and warm personality,both Ellington and Bennetts books are too breezy considering they are coming from music giants - just another proof that not every talented musician/singer/actor is capable of writting a interesting book.



4. There's a Bennett anecdote I remember hearing reported on local (San Francisco) radio back in the early '60s: A local woman, gardening in her backyard one Saturday afternoon, was listening to Bennett's then-new "I Left My Heart In San Francisco;" suddenly, she realized, the singing had become somehow stereophonic. Looking up, she found Tony Bennett grinning at her over her backyard fence. In town for an appearance at the Fairmont Hotel, Bennett had been out for a walk; hearing her phonograph, he'd been unable to resist . . .

   This is the Tony Bennett you get to meet in the pages of "The Good Life." If you're a fan, nothing in this book will change your mind. If you're not, well then, despite the fact that there does appear a certain sense of "glossiness" in his account of his life, loves, marriages, etc., you may well find yourself coming to nonetheless admire the man.

   A word about that "glossiness": It may well arise from nothing more than a yearning towards fairness (and not only to himself). He discusses failed marriage, for example, as well as his work-induced absences as a parent, taking responsibility for his actions without -- on the one hand -- pointing out that it "takes two to tangle," or -- on the other -- seeking to overly justify his absences as the price of building a successful career. He also talks of his marijuana use (as first disclosed by his exwife, years after they'd split) in an explanatory tone, with regret, and without seeking to justify that use. Again, there is a sense of fairness about him, even as he talks of a fairly prevalent drug use among musicians of the era. In his desire to explain the musician's life and its pressures and demands, there is what some may (wrongfully)interpret as an impulse to self-expiate. This is wrong, as evidenced, not only by his own mea culpa approach, but by his account of a conversation with longtime friend -- and onetime collaborator -- Bill Evans, shortly before the latter's death.

   This fairness carries over in his account of his early disputes with then-Columbia Records A&R head, Mitch Miller (best remembered today, probably, for his subsequent "Sing Along With Mitch" records and TV series of the late '50s). By all accounts, Miller was -- to say the least -- dictatorial and patriarchial in his belief that he knew what was best for the artists under his control. Bennett could have savaged the man in this account (and justifiably); after all, Miller's long gone from the scene, others have already reminisced about his iron-handed control; so what stops Bennett . . . save for a humanistic impulse toward fairness?

   For me, one of the most telling portions of this autobiography occur in Bennett's recounting of his World War II experiences as a G.I. in the European theatre. Without self-aggrandizement, he talks -- movingly so -- of what he saw, and how those horrors turned him against war for all time; strikingly, it is this same absence of 'been-there-done-that' self-absorption that colors (and which underplays) the reminiscences of his considerable involvement in the early-60s civil rights movement down in Mississipi-Alabama. If he avoids the urge to expiate himself, he likewise eschews the temptation towards self-canonization.

   From his August 3, 1926 birth (one day too late, by the way, to be my twenty-years-older "birthday twin"), through the intervening years including his "renaissance" for yet future generations via MTV, Bennett presents himself in this autobiography as a man who caught more than his share of lucky breaks (and who, inferentially, made a few more of his own, although you won't get him to admit it, at least in this book) on his way to (as in the title of one his best-known songs) "The Good Life."




5. I received this book as a gift from a friend after see Tony Bennett live here in San Francisco. I decided to take a little time and thought I'd read a couple of paragraphs then go on with my day. Well, from the introduction on I found that I could not put the book down. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting which I normally do not do unless the book is of real interest.
   
   The writing style was conversational and had me thinking to myself I feel as though he's right here sitting and talking with me. The book begins with accounts of his parents and family immigrating to the US from Italy. His stories of his early childhood with his Mother working so hard to make ends meet along with cherished memories of family get togethers etc... had me remembering and relating in so many ways to my Italian/Greek upbringing. The pictures he paints with words are vivid as are his real life paintings of which some are showcased within the pages of the book. I never knew he was also a painter and was pleasantly surprised.
   
   His accounts of his time in World War II with all the racism and horrible treatment, specifically the "grave registration" incident, you'll have to read the book, I won't go into it here, was an eye opener and a learning process. Though my Father never spoke of his time in the war I now can understand how it affected his life and as a result gives me a better understanding of what he went through & why he was the person he turned out to be. It was somewhat of an awakening for me that I never would have known had I not read the accounts in this book.
   
   Tony's stories of the entertainment world and his constant fight not wanting to comprimise his work is fascinating, entertaining and shows the reader exactly what a cut throat business the music industry can be. His struggles balancing the day to day life of his family against his work was very difficult and portrayed in hearfelt sentiment throughout the book. His struggles with drugs, money and near death are chilling and allows the reader to see inside the singer's life in an intimate way.
   
   This living legend worked hard for every penny he made, without comprimise. This book is a wonderful read and whether a fan or not The Good Life makes for a great lesson on the ups and downs in life and how to overcome all the odds.

1 comments about Civil War Generals: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (American Civil War).

1. A book on Civil War generals that doesn't include Pat Cleburne? John Bell Hood (b.1831-d.1879) said in the book to have died "four years" after the war? An "encyclopedia" on individuals that frequently ommits places and dates of births and deaths? The Civil War Society, author of this book, should be embarrased.

4 comments about An Antebellum Plantation Household: Including the South Carolina Low Country Receipts and Remedies of Emily Wharton Sinkler.

1. There is always something intriquing about finding a personal notebook written by our ancestors and this is no exception.

   Emily Wharton Sinkler, a Philadelphia society lady marries and becomes a southern belle. The author has done a superb job of blending Emily's letters home, her "household notes" and family lore into a compelling retelling of life before the civil war. Anna Sinkler Whaley LeClercq has given us a unique and warm look at a lost way of life.




2. An Antebellum Plantation Household is a unique opportunity to view life on a plantation in the 1800's. Emily Wharton Sinkler was raised in Philadelphia and moved to South Carolina as the 19 year old bride of Charles Sinkler. She lived on a plantation which was one of several that belonged to her husband's family. This book contains letters Emily wrote to her family describing her daily life, and the society she moved in. She describes the land, the family life, the discussions of war between the north and south, sewing projects, the slaves her husband owned, religious life, and much more. The letters that have survived give a glimpse into the life of a plantation wife. The second half of the book is "reciepts" or receipes for food, home health remedies and cleaning potions. I actually tried Potatoes a La Lyonnaise and got rave reviews. It is interesting to see how evertday cleaning supplies were made and the mixture for hair dye. This is a rare glimpse into life in the 1800's.



3. I was very disappointed in this book. I expected much more information regarding daily life . I was annoyed by the author's interruptions and her naive statements such as "there were no antibiotics in l864. Well, of course not! The intelligent reader know when antibiotics were inroduced. This book read like a term paper, and that annoyed me.



4. I was very disappointed in this book. I expected much more information regarding daily life of the family in an antebellum household . The letters were few, and not very informative. "Mary's World" and "Children of Pride" were infinitely better books.

   I was annoyed by the author's interruptions and her naive statements such as "there were no antibiotics in l864. " Well, of course not! The intelligent reader know when antibiotics were introduced.

   This book read like a term paper, and that annoyed me.

No comments about Conversations with Elizabeth Bishop (Literary Conversations Series).

5 comments about The Burning : Sheridan's Devastation of the Shenandoah Valley.

1. Heatwole is described as compiler of Shenandoah Valley folk tales and he uses them to try to describe the destruction of the supplies in the Valley by Sheridan's troops in September and October 1864. He is not interested in primary sources other than what he has learned in the Valley and what has been printed during the past 140 years. He makes no attempt to tell the full history of the Vallry's destruction, but rather to see it through remembered folk tales. He does not evaluate these tales, but includes them as he heard them. Among my favorites is the killing of a Union trooper by a woman who smashes a crock of apple butter on his head (surely a likely happening in the Shenandoah Valley apple-rich region) and then who manages to hide the sticky body in tall grass without the rest of the Union troops noticing, and, best of all, the farmer who shoots a Union lieutenant and dumps his body in the burning barn that the officer just lit. It seems the farmer had to get off his porch, go upstairs, grab his rifle, open the window and shoot the lieutenant, while the officer stood by the flaming barn allowing this to happen. Again, no Union troops were nearby to intervene and presumably the fire was so hot that the lieutenant's body was completely reduced to ashes and nobody in his regiment missed him enough to go looking for him.

   The two week Burning was actually a lot more violent and deadly to both sides than even Heatwole makes out. Both sides murdered prisoners, but the Burning generally was confined to barns, mills and cribs, not houses. That the people of the Shenandoah Valley suffered is undeniable. So is Lee's surrender six months later. The grandsons of the victims also seem not to have many qualms about dropping fire on Germans and Japanese.

   The Burning needs a better book than this, one that includes more sources that those from Virginia. Heatwole could have done much better, but, frankly, he has produced a book of only limited usefulness.




2. Healtwole presents a county-by-county account of Sheridan's movements in the Valley. The "witness" to the destruction is the use of "facts", legends, interviews, family letters, etc. A flaw is the generalized sameness of each chapter - "these" troops, led by "this" guy did "that" to "those" peoples barn, house, etc. While there is certainly many interesting anecdotes and sidebars without, the format becomes repetitive. Indeed, if you read three or four chapters, you get the full gist. The abundance of maps helps.



3. About 15 years ago I traveled to Shenandoah County to learn about my ancestors and what had happened to them during the Civil War. No lover of history or ancestor hunter could have had better fortune than I: I found friendly and helpful relatives and I found structures - including a pre-Civil War mill formerly owned by my ancestors - that helped me gain an understanding about who I am.
   
   Ten years after my first sojourn, author John Heatwole published The Burning and I purchased a signed copy at an antique shop in Mt. Jackson. This book is a chronicle of the two weeks in the Fall of 1864 that thousands of Union soldiers carried out their orders to devastate the Shenandoah Valley, to rid it of its freshly harvested bounty, burning crops and killing or driving away livestock. It was a sad task that left people without food and often without shelter from the coming winter, but it was a strategy to win the war by finally breaking the spirit of the Confederacy. Thousands of barns were burned and, occasionally, fine homes. Some enterprising folks managed to hide their most prized livestock in the hills.
   
   Heatwole conducted dozens of interviews to gather the oral history of Valley families to supplement the stories he found in published and unpublished sources and private collections. He has produced a well-organized chronicle that captures the drama and atmosphere of this period. This is a "people's history" extraordinaire that tells the story of the Union army's orders, the leaders involved, and the farming and milling families and townspeople who were terrified and devastated by the fires that filled the Valley with thick black smoke for days.
   
   By the way, the mill my ancestors owned was saved in October 1864 when the owner, learning that the Union burners were on their way, climbed to the top of the mill and hung the United States flag from the roof.



4. Note: Unfortunately, the author passed away the day before Thanksgiving, 2006 at the age of 58.
   
   This is an unusual perspective and subject for a civil war study. Author John Heatwole extensively recounts the folk stories and family accounts (including his own) of Sheridan's burning of the Shenandoah resources. The author largely leaves it to the reader to determine what to accept and reject in the resulting mix of historical fact and tales. Overall, I think he did a reasonable job avoiding bias or partisanship and endeavored to put the burning in context. However, there are a number of places where his word choice gives an incorrect connotation.
   
   For instance, removing consumables and goods of military value is several times referred to as looting. This is odd because the goods taken are listed afterwards and clearly are not loot. While taking silverware, women's/children's clothes, etc. would definitely constitute looting and did happen--particularly to the more ostentatious plantations/farms which suffered direct wrath--looting like this was not the norm as Heatwole's recounting shows. It is also interesting that Heatwole mentions extortion, but inappropriately in several instances. In fact, in reading the accounts presented, few show soldiers demanding payment to spare property. Instead, the most common thread is of property owners offering bribes. (Curiously, some rather sizeable bribes were refused.) Still, a reader should not let minor bias be of much concern, because the narrative is primarily from the residents' point of view, and a fascinating picture emerges.
   
   In "The Burning" there are examples of deceit and treachery by both sides. There are also numerous examples of compassion and sympathy to be found. Many amusing tales emerge of people's ingenuity at preserving their property. One of the things I did not appreciate before is how systematic and organized the Burning was, and that orders were intended to regulate it rather than the unabashed plunder it is too often characterized as. This was not a matter of petty vengeance (for the most part) or inhumanity, but instead an organized effort to strip the Valley of military significance and the ability to support armies or guerrillas in the future. It was successful in that aim.
   
   How was this accomplished? Homes were to be spared, as was the property of widows. These rules were not always obeyed or strictly observed. The biggest exception was the ordered retaliatory burning of homes in the vicinity where the popular Meigs was killed--yet even this turned out to be quite limited. Interestingly, for the whole campaign the county's own tallies, the number of homes burned was only about 1/15th that of the number of barns, and while some were intentional acts of arson, a number were the result of fire unintentionally spreading from nearby structures (as noted in the stories themselves.) Public and private property of value to the CSA war effort was systematically targeted and destroyed in total. This included food, cattle, grain, and forage of all kinds, plus the barns and warehouses in which they were stored. Industry was targeted wholesale, from flour mills, saw mills, cloth makers, coopers, blacksmiths, iron furnaces, to flat boat makers, and carriage makers. This of course created awful hardships and suffering for the Valley residents, but in theory it spared their homes and lives while accomplishing the strategic objective. The CSA lost this important source of sustenance and material.
   
   The author also notes the activities as well as depredations of various Confederate guerrillas and Partisans as well. Al Lincoln, McNeil, Woodson, etc. are mentioned.
   
   The author recounts many stories from those who rarely receive much attention: the many Unionists and conscientious objectors such as Dunkards and Mennonites who sought to avoid CSA service. In fact, Sheridan gave them transport out of the Valley as well as other refugees who could not subsist after the Burning. In some cases there property was spared, but for strategic considerations many Unionist and pacifist barns and mills also fell under the torch.
   
   Excellent and simple maps illustrate the Valley counties and towns, as well as the progress of the destruction and movement of the forces responsible for it. A number of sketches and photographs of citizens, soldiers, and landscape are included. The forces involved in carrying out the order are detailed in an appendix at the end.
   
   I recommend this work as a way to appreciate the importance of the Shenandoah, and to understand the horror that the residents felt at this destruction, as well as understanding the reasons for it. A quote at the end of the work by Confederate cavalryman and Valley resident Capt. John Opie summarizes the situation best with a question, "Which is the worst in war, to burn a barn, or kill a fellow-man?"



5. The author and I come from the same Mennonite decendant, buried just outside Harrisonburg, Va. I don't know if he is still a practicing Mennonite or not; I am not. But one should take into account the pacifist back ground of the Annabaptists may explain the underlying tone of the narrative.
   I grew up with a lot of anecdotes too. Like my great great grand mother protesting over the taking of her hogs by Union troopers to a grizzled veteran of Sheridan's army who replied, "You should be glad we aren't taking you too..." The implication being obvious. The Edinburg Mill my father's home town, still bears scorch marks from the attempt to burn it. I agree that there was a lot more death and violence in the event, than one would be led to believe, but back then secrets were kept and certain things were kept buried.

5 comments about The First Emancipator: The Forgotten Story of Robert Carter, the Founding Father Who Freed His Slaves.

1. As a descendant of two families that were a part Carter's manumission, I found this work to be as enlightening and moving as the first time I saw a microfilm copy of the "Deed of Gift ". I pray that this work will become a standard in the library of every person that enjoys the study of American History. It is a testimate to the legacy of my family and the other descendants of the 500 manumitted by Robert Carter the III.



2. It is a great irony that Mr. Carter, who freed his slaves when Washington and Jefferson did not, is not well known. He paid the price from "Telling the Truth but Had to Run!" George Washington put down his competition in the whiskey business with the US Army while Jefferson's secret family is now well known. Perhaps Mr. Carter and his dad will receive belated kudos when it is possible, once again, to state the truth in DC! It all makes one think of the great American WW1 reporter and his book: "Tell the Truth and Run!"
   Alas, how not much has changed in DC politics since 1776! The greatest irony is that Lincoln, a devout racist and separatist, is credited falsely with ending slavery in the USA; the truth is that Lincoln "freed" them only as a last resort hoping for a military advantage when he was very close to losing the War for Southern Independence; (thanks Ted Turner)!



3. This is a wonderful story about a little known historical figure. The writing is a bit dry, however... reminds me of some of the doctoral theses I've read.



4. Robert Carter's action is the response to Dr. Johnson's snort about "Virginia slavers who preached the equality of man". He demonstrated that all the fine phrases could not, and cannot, cover up the hypocrisy of the Founders who could not think outside the box when it came to their personal lives and their personal benefits.



5. I'm glad that Andrew Levy's book has brought Robert Carter III some public attention. He was, indeed, a fascinating man. Unfortunately, the man that Levy describes and the historical personage are not quite the same. In "First Emancipator" Levy has created a psychobabble account of Carter's life, motivations, and emotions, apparently allowing imagination to fill in where facts were lacking. It makes great reading if you know nothing about Carter (and can ignore 18th century cultural history). Fortunately for historians, Robert Carter left reams of written material from which scholars have pieced together a large part of his life. Their accounts may not be "luminous," but they are based on careful research rather than fanciful assertion. For a contemporary account of Carter's household, see the "Journals and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian," who was a tutor to Carter's children in 1773-1774. I also recommend Louis Morton's book "Robert Carter of Nomini Hall: A Virginia Tobacco Planter of the Eighteenth Century." Unless, of course, you just want a historical novel, in which case "First Emancipator" will do just fine.

1 comments about Wandering to Glory: Confederate Veterans Remember Evans's Brigade.

1. Wandering to Glory was what I have been seeking... information on Evans "Tramp" Brigade. The stories written by the actual troops were very useful and painted a very good picture of what this General and his companies did during the Civil War as well as what went on between the General and his troops as well as his commanding officers.
   
   Very little information on this General and this brigade can be found on the web. This book was very well researched and written.

3 comments about Last Beautiful Days of Autumn, The.

1. My grandmother gave this beautiful book to me for Christmas the year it was published. (I believe it was 1980 or 1981). I feel madly in love and am still madly in love today. I re-read this book every year in October, it has become a most beloved ritual. I took a chance in early 1992 and wrote to John Nichols and was I ever surprised! He wrote me back. I have two copies and now that they have a new edition, I plan on buying it too! I have a hard back signed copy that I treasure and I know it is authentic because the signature is exactly the way he signed his letter to me. Read this book and plan to be thoroughly enchanted. I was and still am after almost 20 years.



2. John Nichols is always a joy to read. He is the John Stenbeck of our time. No one combines art and social views so beautifully as he does.



3. Great job papi, and a great read!
   love, your daughter,
   Julia

1 comments about Death Before Dishonor: The Andersonville Diary of Eugene Forbes : 4th New Jersey Infantry.

1. people should know that this is not the total of the diaries of Eugene Forbes. This is only a small fraction of the what the man had written before his death. The actual diaries are reaveled in "Diary of Ghost. To find about the rest of it please read "Diary of Ghost."