Amazon.com
The middle book in an anticipated trilogy, The Whirlwind of War is a unique study of the Civil War. Oates recounts the great struggle through a series of first-person monologues told in the voices of prominent figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, William Tecumseh Sherman, Mary Boykin Chestnut, Ulysses S. Grant, Frederick Douglass, John Wilkes Booth, and others. This original narrative technique brings a kind of freshness to an old and familiar story. It seems as if the characters speak directly to the reader; and Oates, an accomplished historian and biographer, is scrupulous about sticking as close to the historical record as he can. The book's one weakness is that it doesn't deliver a totally comprehensive telling of the Civil War despite its length of more than 700 pages. But the flip side is its strength: the way it helps readers understand the motives, perceptions, and behavior of the Civil War's most important actors. Sometimes it seems like there are too many books written on the Civil War. Oates nonetheless provides a welcome contribution to the field. --John Miller Book Description
The Whirlwind of War is the second book in prize-winning historian and biographer Stephen B. Oates' extraordinary Voices of the Storm trilogy, which began with The Approaching Fury, Oates' compelling narrative about the 40 tumultuous years that led to "America's Armageddon."

An intensely dramatic and intimate portrayal of the people, events, influences and consequences of the American Civil War, The Whirlwind of War builds on the great themes and follows many of the important figures that were introduced in The Approaching Fury.

Oates brings his moving narrative of the complex, bloody and destructive war to vivid and memorable life by writing in the first person, impersonating the voices and assuming the viewpoints of several of the principal figures: the rival presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis; the rival generals, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman; the great black abolitionist, editor and orator, Frederick Douglass; the young Union battlefield nurse, Cornelia Hancock; the brilliant head of the Chicago Sanitary Commission and cocreator of the northern Sanitary Fair, Mary Livermore; the Confederate socialite and political insider, Mary Boykin Chesnut; the assassin, John Wilkes Booth; and the greatest poet of the era, Walt Whitman, who speaks in the coda about the meaning of war and Lincoln's death.

As the book moves through the war years, the interconnecting dramatic monologues lend passion and a strong sense of immediacy and freshness to the story. The protagonist in one monologue becomes the antagonist in another. Each speaker takes his or her turn onstage, serving as narrator for critical events in which he or she was the major instigator and participant or eyewitness.

Often revisionist but always persuasive, Oates brings powerful new insights, facts and conclusions to his narrative. For example, drawing on his own research and that of modern technical scholarship on the assassination, Oates convincingly describes Booth as a Confederate agent, working with the approval and support of the highest authorities in Richmond, probably Jefferson Davis himself, and explains how his plots to abduct and then to assassinate Lincoln were part of several schemes to be executed by rebel secret service men.

Oates also portrays Sherman, Lee, Jefferson Davis, Lincoln and Mary Lincoln in new and in-depth ways. Thus they are seen in a more realistic light, rather than how they have become positively or negatively mythologized over the years.

Exciting, powerful, highly revealing and driven by character and narrative, The Whirlwind of War makes a significant contribution to American and Civil War literature, and its people and voices will linger long in our memory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Hard Mind Candy That Breaks Your Teeth
Got to read it for a term paper for a class on the Civil War.It was illuminating and is a treasure trove of references to other books to read and different directions to go in your study of the war.BUT as a reference for an 8-10 page essay...holy mother is it terrible.Please note I'm addressing the organization of the book and not the content/style.

The table of contents is only each year, even though the monologues are numbered.There is absolutely no "outsider" or "narrator" to recap what the heck everyone's talking about or even just alluding to.(Such as the 20-odd pages on Gettysburg/Longstreet; as someone who does not yet understand military jargon or what it even means to "take a hill," this and other instances caused my eyes to glaze over.)

In all fairness, a lot of things are spelled out while completely in keeping with the "voice."Abatis is defined by at least two different "characters," for example.

Perhaps my complaints with the book are simply the wages of my own ignorance--the book is about a war, and political agitations before the war are more my strong suit.

If you have a guy who can watch like, the military channel or understands war jargon and isn't surrounded by Civil War books already, this is an awesomely great book for him.And he'll love Sherman.

What the participants might have thought at the time.
Oates's treatment of the Civil War through fictionalized statements by major participants is a notable achievement.It really is not a military history of the war, but a history of what these participants thought about the war as it progressed.There are some weaknesses to this approach, mostly that the author must choose one version of some events under debate by historians without being able to outline the debate, as might be done in a conventional history.Also, such fictionalization must remain conjectural, even though in Oates's case it is buttressed by great research, and Oates must necessarily limit himself to relatively few participants.Still, by taking seriously the thoughts and opinions of those involved, Oates gives us a much more "alive" picture of the war as it unfolded.Although it took me a few pages to become accustomed to the method, I was impressed by the overall effect.

A innovative and entertaining approach to Civil War history.
"The Whirlwind of War" is a very well written book about the American Civil War, with an especially innovative approach. Author Stephen B. Oates interweaves imaginary first-person written accounts ofeleven of the war'skey figures - among them Abraham Lincoln, JeffersonDavis, U.S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, William T. Sherman,Mary Boykin Chesnutand Mary Livermore - to present the story of America's most tragic war adramatic and compelling way.

Although the first-person soliloquies arefictional, they are based on obviously extensive and meticulous research,and are filled with historical facts which are detailed and accurate. Actually,Oates adds little in the way of new historical data orinterpretation in this book, although the new information on John WilkesBooth, and the descriptions of the Northern hospital camps by CorneliaHancockmake compelling reading.What I found most fascinating about"The Whirlwind of War" was how effectively Oates was able tobring the characters' personalities so much to life in their soliloquies. Oates doesn't pretend to try to write in the style of Lincoln, Davis,Grant, or the others; still, he allows their personalities to shine throughcompletely.I felt I really got to know the tormented Abraham Lincoln, thelaconic U.S. Grant, the profane, manic-depressive William T. Sherman, thereserved and dignified Robert E. Lee, and the bitter Jefferson Davisthrough their first-person accounts.

Oates' imaginative writing in"The Whirlwind of War" makes it an especially entertaining book,one which gives readers an accurate and reasonably detailed understandingof the people and events which made up America's bloodiest conflict. Highly recommended!

not up to his other works
I found this book tiresome compared to part one [Voices of the Storm] and his other biographies[Lincoln and Martin Luther King] which are outstanding and recommended. The vehicle he uses --e.g. 11 voices ofhistorical figures fromthe War who alternate perspectives from chapter tochapter is contrived,of questionable authenticity in many segments andeventually, to me, distracting. In volume one this technique gave me asense of political issues --it just was not as effective in this volumewhich focused mostly on military issues. A military history needs maps anddiagrams to give the reader a sense of what was happening, where and when.The absence of such support weakened that aspect of the story. McPherson'sBattle Cry of Freedom is a better source for information on the flow of theCivil War than this volume.

Accurate portrait of Lee-Longstreet Gettysburg controversy
A good addition to the corpus of historical literature about America's most horrendous war and tragedy.

Oates' treatment of Lee, Longstreet, et al, at Gettysburg is solid and well-documented.To consider as a"popular Civil War myth" Longstreet's sulking, insubordinate, andultimately devastating performance at Gettysburg, as another reviewer does,is an opinion, and an innacurate one at that--and if Glenn Tucker believesas such, he is misguided as well.

Our day is replete with"historians" who amass selective mountains of facts and figuresto arrive at the pre-ordained, and often incorrect, conclusions theydesire.Glenn Tucker, Alan Nolan, and Michael Shaara notwithstanding,"Old Pete" Longstreet demonstrated an obstinate lack ofcooperation with and support for his commanding officer's orders atGettysburg, as well as a half-hearted effort at positioning his First Corpsfor battle on the second day of that engagement--all the while urging Leeon to Longstreet's own course of action that Lee wisely considered andrejected.

Lee wanted an early morning attack on the second day--not thethird.His mistake was in placing similar trust in lesser corps commanderslike Longstreet and Ewell as he had in Stonewall Jackson.On the eveningof the first day at Gettysburg, Lee said, with Longstreet present, "Ifthe enemy is there in the morning, I mean to attack him."The enemywas there, Longstreet had abundant time to get his men there, and StonewallJackson would not have needed a picture drawn for him (Second Bull Run,Chancellorsville, etc.)--nor would he have rebelled against the authorityover him.

The Confederates came within an eyelash of overruning theFederals on the second day at Gettysburg.Without the eight hours or so ofadditional preparation time provided Meade's army by Longstreet'sfoot-dragging, what do you think would have been the result? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Interesting Insight into History
We use this in my US History AP course and it's an interesting supplement. We read one piece each week. Some are amazing, others are rather pointless, but the book does a nice job of introducing each piece, and I also like the glossary they have with terms used. Overall it's pretty good. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Very Good Book
Having read this author's biography of Lincoln (Malice Toward None) I was so impressed with his writing style and story telling that I wanted to stick with him.

This book reads well. I recommend it. I enjoyed it. The book reads like a novel and seemed fairly comprehensive, thought it's under 400 pages and moves along at a comfortable pace. It provides plenty of food for thought about Brown. Having always heard that Brown was a mad-man, I was pleased to find that his story is much more than that.

As far as dismissing John Brown as a crazy, consider how many renowned people of his day he befriended and persuaded to back his endeavors! Were they all crazy too?

The book revealed for me the political / social / religious dynamics of those wild times in a meaningful way. If the issue of John Brown comes up for discussion, I now feel confident to participate.

Solid history and decent prose.
There are a lot of books on Brown, for good reason.He is a fascinating figure, a sort of mythical creature.Many books dumb this aspect down through their soggy prose and endless fact-logging, but the prose in this book is not too bad.Oates doesn't relate too much worthless information, which is common in the social sciences.I remember reading one Brown biography that debated whether his cabin was made out of pine or oak.Many historians cannot understand that not all pieces of information were created equal.

Seriously though, the prose here is decent and the history seems fairly accurate.There are some passages that are poetic in their way, and I was affected by many aspects of Brown's personality and U.S. History that Oates managed to describe quite well.Times of revolution can make for excellent reading, especially when the world today seems very difficult to change.Brown tried to change it, and in the minds of many, he did.So, for those unfamiliar with Brown, he makes for a good story.

It is obvious at times that Oates is angling to not "alienate" the Southern reader.He talks about how Southerners "had a right to be scared" and makes the argument that slavery-accepting Southerners were not such bad people, etc.Racism was widespread, only slightly less so in the North, so this is partially reasonable.However, there is hardly any material about how disgusting slavery really was.There are good reasons that John Brown was violently opposed.Basically, Oates is trying to be "balanced."What that means is he is giving both sides of the argument, even when one of them has been proven to be self-evidently stronger.Slavery was wrong, and it died out, and good riddance to the Southerners who accepted and perpetuated it.

If you want to read about how nasty slavery really was, and I recommend that you do if you are open-minded about judging characters such as Brown, then you can start with some of the slave narratives, for example the narratives of Frederick Douglass and Mary Prince.

John Brown was one of the few people who doesn't just stand around and watch while injustices abound.He acts, and that is the reason that many cannot stand him.He is a profoundly moral person, and that is threatening to people who are not.They cannot understand that it is better to kill a thousand men then to let millions rot in slavery.

Highly recommended, just don't get thrown off by the "balance."

Strike the Blow- The Story of a Revolutionary Abolitionist
Please note that the substance of the following review has been used in the review of W.B. Dubois's book on John Brown reviewed elsewhere. Both books offer a good prospective on the life of John Brown and can be profitably read together. Dubois's book is a decent historical narrative of Brown's life from an earlier time and in a more partisan perspective. Oates book reflects more modern academic methods of analysis and research and tackles the weaknesses in other interpretations. In that sense, Oates book is close to the definitive study of John Brown's life. Most importantly, both books reflect a Northern view of Brown exploits previously long absent from the historical record. My review reflects the need to study an important American fighter for justice and for today's generation to learn some lessons from his life.


I would like to make a few comments on the role of Captain John Brown and his struggle at Harper's Ferry in 1859 in the history of the black liberation struggle. This is appropriate as I am writing this review during Black History Month of 2006. Unfortunately John Brown continues to remain one of the very few white heroes of the revolutionary struggle for black liberation.

From fairly early in my youth I knew the name John Brown and was swept up by the romance surrounding his exploits at Harpers Ferry.For example, I knew that the great anthem of the Civil War -The Battle Hymn of the Republic had a prior existence as a tribute to John Brown. I, however, was then neither familiar with the import of his exploits for the black liberation struggle nor knew much about the specifics of the politics of the various tendencies in the struggle against slavery. I certainly knew nothing then of Brown's (and his sons) prior military exploits in the Kansas wars against the expansion of slavery. If one understands the ongoing nature of his commitment to struggle one can only conclude that his was indeed a man on a mission. Those exploits also render absurd a very convenient myth about his `madness'. This is a political man and to these eyes a very worthy one. In the context of the turmoil of the times he was only the most courageous and audacious revolutionary in the struggle against the abolition of slavery in America.

Whether or not John Brown knew that his strategy would, in the short term, be defeated is a matter of dispute. Reams of paper have been spent proving the military foolhardiness of his scheme at Harper's Ferry. This misses the essential political point that militant action- not continuing parliamentary maneuvering advocated by other abolitionists- had become necessary.What is not in dispute is that Brown considered himself a true Calvinist avenging angel in the struggle against slavery and more importantly acted on that belief. In short, he was committed to bring justice to the black masses. This is why his exploits and memory stay alive after over 150 years.

Brown and his small integrated band of brothers fought bravely and coolly against great odds. Ten of Brown's men were killed including two of his sons. Five were captured, tried and executed, including Brown. These results are almost inevitable when one takes up a revolutionary struggle against the old order and one is not victorious. One need only think of, for example, the fate of the defenders of the Paris Commune in 1871.One can fault Brown on this or that tactical maneuver. Nevertheless he and the others bore themselves bravely in defeat. As we are all too painfully familiar there are defeats of the oppressed that lead nowhere. One thinks of the defeat of the Chinese Revolution in the 1920's. There other defeats that galvanize others into action. This is how Brown's actions should be measured by history.

Militarily defeated at Harpers Ferry, Brown's political mission to destroy slavery by force of arms nevertheless continued to galvanize important elements in the North at the expense of the pacifistic non-resistant Garrisonian political program for struggle against slavery. Many writers on Brown who reduce his actions to that of a `madman' still cannot believe that his road proved more appropriate to end slavery than either non-resistance or gradualism. That alone makes short shrift of such theories. Historians and others have misinterpreted later events such as the Bolshevik strategy which led to Russian Revolution in October 1917. More recently, we saw this same incomprehension concerning the victory of the Vietnamese against overwhelming military superior forces. Needless to say, all these events continue to be revised by some historians to take the sting out of there proper political implications.

The research is showing
In the preface of his book, author Oates states it is not his intention to determine the mental capabilities of his subject, abolitionist John Brown. But, he certainly paints a vivid enough picture so the reader can determine for himself if Brown is a crazy old coot, a cold blooded murderer, or a man on a mighty mission or a combination of all three.I had just read Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks (a fictionalized version of Brown's life; see my review) and it made me want to read a real biography of Brown.If anything, this book made me appreciate Banks' immagination even more.To Purge This Land with Blood is a very detailed account of Brown's life, maybe too detailed.Every character, no matter how inconsequential, is named. And this sea of names and places can be mindboggling.I found much of the book slow going and already knowing the outcome of Brown's life didn't compel me to move on quickly.But, after reading the book, I now believe I now know Brown.And isn't that the purpose of biography?

You don't know John Brown
If you were, like I was, taught that John Brown was not much more than a well-meaning madman then you don't know the John Brown of history. Oates does a great job of dispelling that myth as well as presenting for thefirst time the full picture, thoroughly footnoted, of the man who may havesparked the Civil War. I have small gripes with some of the text, but noneworth mentioning here. Read it and be impressed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A luxurious reading experience
This book generated controversy among Lincoln scholars.The general reading public, however, will probably enjoy both the book's prose and its story.Regardless of whether there is much, or anything, new in the volume, its account of Lincoln is told with flair.Points that disturbed some Lincoln scholars will probably not be noticed by general readers.I read the book before I knew about the dispute, and found the volume enchanting.

Well-written and informative
With Malice Toward None is a well-written and informative look at Lincoln's life. I am very selective about the biographies that I spend my time reading because I consider the style of many to be suffocatingly boring. I looked over several on Lincoln, and selected this one. I was pleased with it through the end. The author does not waste space on finding the "flawed" man underneath the legend, which is popular in so many recent biographies. He explains Lincoln's life in a matter-of-fact and readable fashion. One of my favorite parts in the book is the explanation of how the Civil War proceeded and the absolutely essential role Lincoln played. It will give you an insightful look at the politics and history of the time, not to mention an appreciation for how much Lincoln endured before his triumph.

I'm a teenager actually and this book is horrible
I am being forced to read this book in AP History.It is one of the worst bigs I have ever read n my life.It is boring and the author is far too verbose for his own good.He often uses 50 words when 2 will do.Do not buys this book.It is horrible beyond belief the only book I can think that is wworse then this is Founding Brothers.I wish I could ahve given it zero stars.

Great
Well I needed to read this book for a history book report.The book was interesting but also boring for a 14 year old to read.All of the political stuff but it was still a great book about Lincoln.I learned alot about him and and how much he must have been stressing while he wasPresident.If you like to read then u might as well read this book. ... Read more

Book Description
Winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Book Award and the Christopher Award, this brilliant examination of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. portrays a very real man and his dream that shaped America's history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Good Overview
For many of us, the Civil Rights era happened when we were too young to understand. This is a good overview of the man and his times. Many people who were just names before, became people to me.

Although, I believe King made some serious mistakes, I understand for the first time why he should have a national holiday. I had no idea he was such an impressive person. Keep in mind, this book was written by a serious historian; not just someone who wished to canonize King.

A blueprint for change
As a student activist during my college years, I was introduced to this book by one of many mentors. They said that this was a detailed account of how Dr. King and his soldiers pushed forward their agenda for change in America.It was more than that. It was a powerful testament of the conviction of Dr. King and the gameplan for dealing with racist America. He did not work alone but his analysis of each situation proved to be very timely and accurate.Later on, of course, his effectiveness lost a little of its punch but you can not change the success that came from his branch of the Movement. Stephen Oates so elequently noted the techniques and strategies used during the turbulant sixties. It gave me information on how to handle the media, the powers that be, other members of my allies and prepare for possible backstabbers.That was my reason for reading the book.However, I got SSSOOO much more.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a revolutionary.His faith in God was the driving force behind in nonviolent stance. His studies of Gandhi and Martin Luther further solidified his position. Destined for greatness from the time of his birth, MLK was always preparing himself (and being prepared) for that big moment.He was intelligent, charismatic and thorough in approach to segregation. A family man, a minister, a scholar and an activist. This book is a good starting point for not just learning about King but understanding him. He IS (not was) bigger than "I Have A Dream", bigger than boycotts, bigger than nonviolence. Thanks to Oates and this masterpiece, he can be celebrated for what he was, an instrument of change and the Prince of Peace.

Masterful balanced biography
Stephen Oates writes a masterful biography of one of the pivotal figures of the twentieth century.Today we view Martin Luther King Jr. as a saint, and a model of what the human spirit can achieve.In his day, he was viewed by many in the South with fear, hatred and loathing.

It is easy to view this situation in hindsight, and assume that everyone was just ignorant.Oates writes of the complex history, the battles within and outside "the movement" and how divided the nation was at the time.Oates also does not shirk away from many of Martin Luther King's personal weaknesses.In this sense, he humanizes the great leader, instead of canonizes him.

In the end, I am left with three conclusions:
1 - Martin Luther King Jr. indeed found a way to overcome hatred with love, and in doing so helped America avoid a race war.
2 - The message of civil rights was both religeous and personal.Despite today's views of the right being the party of religeon, in his day the southern liberal movement was galvanized in the church.
3 - Despite this, he was a flawed individual.His human weakness does not diminish his accomplishment.

The book is not light reading.Read it.Let it soak in.And comprehend.

The Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
This book was about a big part of our United States History. It was about Civil Rights. Martin Luther King Jr. was a big Civil Rights activist in the 1960's. I learned quite a bit about Martin Luther Kings's life that I did not know before I had read this book.
Martin Luther King was one of the most important people of our country's history. He fought for African-Americans Civil Rights. He was a very determined man, who was alwyas put into jail numerous times for his "peaceful protests". He had given several speeches as well. The author of this book is Stephen B. Oates. He is a good writer, who has written 16 books.He has also won many literary prizes such as the Christopher Award. This book is very well written. He clearly tells the story as if he had experienced it. His strenghts include: Getting actual quotes from the people that were important in this time, having pictures of Mr. King and others, and having footnotes that explained the story more in depth. I can not think of many weaknesses that he has. However, the book was long but I did not expect it to be short due to the importance of the topic. I would reccomend this book to many people. The reason why is because it tells you in depth stories about Martin Luther King Jr. and his life, but it does have profanity and innappropriate content for young children. All in all, this was a very good biography and taught me many things.

Important book about a hero
This is the best biography I've read, not only about King but overall.Oates does a fine job balancing between illuminating details that help make King accessible to the reader without getting bogged down in this detail.Likewise, this balance provides a fine introduction to the Civil rights movement.(I don't consider a weakness of Let the Trumpets Sound that Oates doesn't dwell on certain of Kings weaknesses, as he instead focuses on King's message and actions; again, I think Oates concentrates on the myriad aspects of King's life, and the movement, that truly were important.)

Anybody trying to learn more about the Civil rights Movement should read this (along with such books the Autobiograpohy of Malcolm X and any of a number of books about Gandhi). ... Read more

Amazon.com
Acclaimed and prolific historian Stephen B. Oates looks at the events leading to the American Civil War through the eyes and words of 13 historic figures. Beginning with the Missouri Crisis of 1820 and ending with the outbreak of hostilities, Oates presents the viewpoints of such famous personages as Henry Clay and John Brown. The author blends fact and fiction to bring the people and events to life, and this unique treatment makes the period's complicated history accessible to the general reader.Book Description
Stephen B. Oates tells the story of the coming of the American Civil War through the voices, and from the viewpoints, of 13 principal players in the drama, including Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Nat Turner, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglass. This unique approach shows the crucial role that perception of events played in the sectional hostilities that bore the United States irreversibly into civil war.

In writing the monologues, Oates draws on the actual words of Ills speakers and simulates how they would describe the crucial events in which they were the principal actors or witnesses. All the events and themes in the monologues adhere to historical record.

The result is an exciting history that brings the personalities and events of the coming of the American Civil War vividly to life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Very Good on the politics of ONE of the causes of the WBTS
I was skeptical of this book when I read in the preface that Oates was going to tell us what the key players said and what "they might have said". However, I was very pleased with the even handedness and accuracy of his content. The style of the book proved refreshing and placed the chronological events into an interesting weave. HOWEVER, he leads the reader to believe that slavery and its politics was the ONLY reason for the eventual conflict. The resulting carnage was a product of many more and very complicated factors of which we should all be aware.

No Better Way To Read History
This is an incredible work deserving of the highest awards and accolades for scholarship and literature. What an exhilirating way to read history! The first person narrartives, soskillfully and beautifully written, drew me into the events and emotions in ways that I have never experienced reading other history texts. This is the way to learn and enjoy history and I hope parents and educators take note.

Unique approach - very good reading
I first read Oates' Whirlwind of War and enjoyed that so much that I thought I'd give this one a try.My interest in the Civil War was broadened by this book into a desire to better understand the setting prior to 1860.I really liked Oates' "first person" writing technique.It takes an extremely good understanding of the person as well as the historic facts to do this and Oates carries this off well.Read both books!

Excellent Way to Understand What Led Up to the Civil War
I thought I knew a lot about this era but this book gave me even greater insight. I hesitated to read it at first because I'm a little skeptical of those "in their own words" treatments.But Oates presents a balanced (for the most part) account, using thespeeches, letters, and diaries of the likes of Henry Clay, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Jefferson Davis, Mary Boykin Chesnut, Stephen A. Douglas, and Abraham Lincoln rather than creating monologues for them of his own design. He doesn't result to dramatic license, trying to make these folks conform to his idea of what they were like, but presents them as accurately as one can given the sources available. The only quibble I'd put forth is that he has Calhoun refer to his slaves as "niggers," even though there is no documentary evidence that he ever did so (even in private letters he referred to them as "negroes"). Anyone interested in the issues and events that led up to the Civil War must read this book! I recommend it most highly.

Excellent For Teachers
I am in the middle of this book currently and I am very impressed withOates' ingenious writing technique.The only thing I see lacking in thisbook is the amount of source citing for scholars.Anyone using this bookfor scholarly purposes should use the bibliography and go from there.As amedium for teaching, this book is unparalleled.By teaching the forces atwork through the eyes of the people that lived it students will be muchmore interested than if they were learning the bare facts.This is anoutstanding supporting text for use in a classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

Stephen B. Oates discerns the historical truth from the mythical legend that surrounds Lincoln in this original and fascinating portrait of America's 16th president.

Customer Reviews (4)

A Man Greater than the Myths
In this small but valuable volume, Oates explores the reality beyond the two sources of Lincoln myth: the primary myth of a saintly and folkloric Lincoln of Carl Sandburg and a secondary myth of the 'white honky' Lincoln of the 1970's revisionists. Oates emphasizes that Lincoln drew deeply upon the "spirit of his age", which was a profoundly revolutionary time across the world. Oates relates how Lincoln absorbed one of the core lessons of America from the example of Henry Clay: : "in this country one can scarcely be so poor, but that, if he will, he can acquire sufficient education to get through the world respectably".

That slavery was the cause of the Civil War is beyond all doubt. As Oates explains, however, the North did not go to war to free the slaves. In the standard phrasing, the North went to war to 'preserve the union'. Oates explores Lincoln's fears that the spread of slavery in the wake of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision would lead to the destruction of democratic society. The debate then still raged on the world stage whether a republican form of government could last. Lincoln rejected the "ingenious sophism" that states could freely leave the Union. "With rebellion thus sugar coated [southern leaders] have been drugging the public mind of their section for more than thirty years." Secession posed nothing less than a final challenge to popular government. If a minority could destroy the government any time it felt aggrieved, then no government could endure. Thus the war had to be fought to preserve not just the American Republic, but the possibility of republican government.

Lincoln did in fact oppose slavery from early on. His views on racial matters apart from slavery became more fully progressive over time. Lincoln, however, hoped that slavery would slowly melt away in a losing competition with free labor and that liberated slaves would resettle in Africa. It is part of Lincoln's greatness that he later gave up these views. Oates explores this evolution in his thinking. Oates debunks the notion that the Emancipation Proclamation was unimportant in liberating the slaves. Oates also refutes the notion that Lincoln would have favored an easy hand during Reconstruction. On the contrary, the evidence strongly suggests he would have led the so-called Radical Republicans.

Highly recommended for any reader with an interest in Lincoln, the Civil War era, or really pretty much any American.

A Concise, Readable Study of our Greatest President.
If you're interested in understanding what the man Abraham Lincoln was like, this is the book for you. This short, well-documented study of our sixteenth President cuts through the myths and the utter nonsense that have been written about Lincoln to expose the real hero behind these tales. This work shows Lincoln as the driven, courageous yet fallible man who never gave up on his dream of freedom for all men. Highly recommended!

It did not elaborate on the question of Lincoln's parentage.
As an amateur genealogist I discovered that I was a sixth cousin, five times removed to President Abraham Lincoln through the Lincoln and Holmes families. On page 21 ( Abraham Lincoln, The man Behind The Myths )Mr. Oates wrote that there was a mistaken belief that Thomas Lincoln wasnot Abraham's real father rather it was a Senator John C. Calhoun or aHenry Clay. If this was true it would mean that I was not related toPresident Abraham Lincoln. How would such a rumour start ? Is there anydocumented evidence that Nancy Lincoln had an affair with one of these menwhile being married to Thomas Lincoln.At the time I am trying tolocate Stephen B. Oates so I can get this matter cleared up. Sincerely, Mr. Blair E. Bartlett, 87 Shillington Road, Saint John, NewBrunswick, Canada, E2J 4K7 1-506-696-6175

Separating mythos from the mortal
We invented Abraham Lincoln.Not the man, of course, but the myth, that solemn and statuesque giant memorialized eternally overlooking the Capitol mall.The power of that myth and the quiet dignity of its personage dwarfs us all.But the myth is not the man.Myths never are.Stephen Oates in his _Abraham Lincoln, The Man Behind the Myths_, does not seek to diminish the man but rather to clarify him, separating the mythos from the mortal.And it is not an undaunting task, it seems, for overly soon after Lincoln's tragic end the mills began to churn.The public's shredding of the White House interior for mementos while Mary Lincoln lay debilitated in the next room seems symbolic of the wolfpack mentality in Washington even today.And every new memoir published by another family acquaintance of the Lincoln's almost always got it wrong, and tore anew at the heart of the family.We may not have memorialized and glorified our modern-day tragic heroes to such an extent, for we have simultaneously tried to scandalize them.But the tabloid trade it seems has always been a yellow paper.Even Lincoln was vilified in his time and after.He was, Oates, reminds us, one of the most unpopular living presidents of our history.But though the legacy ballooned to heroic proportions after his passing, the man seems to have been lost in it all, remaining only in the hearts of the family leaving quietly and unattended down the steps of the White House never to return. ... Read more

Book Description

The bloody slave rebellion led by Nat Turner in Virginia in 1831, and the savage reprisals that followed, shattered beyond repair the myth of the contented slave and the benign master and intensified the forces of change that would plunge America into the bloodbath of the Civil War.

Customer Reviews (6)

Interesting and Informative
I had to buy this book for one of my college History classes. The book is very informative, sad, and eye opening. I highly recommend reading it. The history in the book really gets you thinking.

The Fires of Jubilee, Nat Turner's Regellion
It is a very graphic book. It decribes all events very well, not boring at all.

The Fire of Nat Turner
This book is about the insurrection of Nat Turner against his slaveholder. This book is very good for a person who enjoys factual historical events about a slave striving for freedom. The book demonstrates the acts of the human spirit. It also shows the things Nat Turner did for freedom, however some of those acts were not becoming of a just person. Overall this is a great book that depicts the historical background of Nat Turner and his rebellion.

Learning the truth about the legend
Nat Turner led the largest slave rebellion in American history. That is anindisputable fact. Unfortunately, not much else is known about the life ofthis legendary figure. Why did he do what he did? How was he able to do it?What was it about the man that made people follow him into insurrection? Inhis book, "The Fires Of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion",author Stephen B. Oates attempts to answer these questions. Oatesclearly did extensive research on his subject. He manages to unearth manynew facts about Nat Turner that were previously unknown. Oates presents avivid picture of what Nat Turner's life must have been like as a slave. Hepresents enough facts about Nat Turner to give the reader the beginnings ofan idea of what motivated the man. He describes in detail the visions thatNat claimed to have had and the formations of the planned rebellion. Then,once the rebellion starts, Oates gives a moment by moment account. As Iread it I found myself picturing what it must have looked and sounded likeas it was happening. I felt real tension. Unfortunately, many factsabout Nat Turner will simply never be known. The historical records justdon't exist. Despite this, Stephen B. Oates has crafted an extraordinarybiography. His work has brought us closer than ever to understanding whoNat Turner was and what he did.

So-So Chronicle of the 1831 Slave Rebel
This book is about the best I've located on the subject of Nat Turner and his rebellion.That, however, is not a good as it sounds since I've not come across hardly any books at all on the subject.The author does a goodjob in detailing the life of Nat Turner and his bloody slave revolt.Theonly qualms with the book arises 1) when the author glibbly dismisses thestrong possibility of Nat being mentally unbalanced, 2) the author glossesover the more pressing reasons for the Civil War to only concentrate onslavery, 3) and the bizarre trip the author took through Virginia to get afeel for where the rebellion happened.This trip was very insulting tosouthern blacks and whites as the author acted as though he was taking aride through Lion Country Safari and didn't want any of the"animals" (ie the county's people) to bite him. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Someone once said that more books have been written about Abraham Lincoln than any other person in history save Jesus and Shakespeare. Indeed, it is impossible to understand the Civil War without getting to know the complex figure of the 16th president. More than any other biographer, Stephen B. Oates brings the plain-talking man from Illinois to life as a canny politician, a doting husband, and a determined wartime leader. Oates has an appealing appreciation for Lincoln's majestic control of the English language, his raw humor, and his undeniable heroism. The final pages, covering Lincoln's death and his legacy, are graceful and moving.Book Description
A masterful biography of Lincoln that follows his bitter struggle with poverty, his self-made success in business and law, his early disappointing political career, and his leadership as President during one of America's most tumultuous periods. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Another Whitewash of the 16th President.
Will anyone dare to write an accurate assessment of the 16th President or are the myths that surround him just to strong to penetrate? I await a writer willing to discuss the wholesale destruction of property in the South that left thousands of civilians to starve, destruction sanctioned by Lincoln. I await a discussion on the hostage taking and the indiscriminate killing of Southern civilians. I await a thorough discussion of the Dahlgren Raid and its implications, I await a real assessment of the Lincoln/Seward relationship, and I await a real judgement on Lincoln's lack of religious belief. This book, like all the others ignores anything that might be the slightest cotroversial and that might dent the aura surrounding Abraham Lincoln.
Alan Lowe. BA. Manchester Metropolitan University.

A luxurious reading experience
This book generated controversy among Lincoln scholars.The general reading public, however, will probably enjoy both the book's prose and its story.Regardless of whether there is much, or anything, new in the volume, its account of Lincoln is told with flair.Points that disturbed some Lincoln scholars will probably not be noticed by general readers.I read the book before I knew about the dispute, and found the volume enchanting.

Best Lincoln Biography
Consider the great biographies of Lincoln: Nicolay and Hay,[10 volumes] his secretaries, Carl Sandburg's Abraham Licoln [6 volumes], Benjamin's single volume and all those that preceed and follow this, you must conclude this is the best single volume biography of Abraham Lincoln, indeeed the best general biography of the President and the man.The closest rival is Carwardine's Lincoln which deals in depth in one aspect of his life.WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE IS THE BEST INTRODUCTION TO THAT COMPLEX MAN AND HIS TIME AND ACHEIVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO DATE.

One of the Best Biographies I have read
Professor Oates in my opinion did an outstanding job in the biography he did on Lincoln.While it is not as verbose as Donald's, it was well written and to be honest I could not set the book down.For anyone who does not have the time to read a larger volumn on Lincoln I suggest Oates.If you have time then I suggest you read both and also read "Team of Rivals.They are all outstanding volumns.This biography though is articulate, a good length and at times you can see the great passions in Lincoln the boy from Kentucky, theyouth in Illnois and the 16 President of the United States.I give it a 5 stars a must read for any history student and I think a must for every American.

A great biography of Abraham Lincoln
In this work, Oates succeeds in illuminating the political and personal life of Abraham Lincoln. For readers interested in the psychological and social nature of the man, this may not be the best selection. However, Oates does an excellent job portraying how Lincoln worked his fingers to the bone while developing his standing as a lawyer and politician. His description of Lincoln as a rough and tumble political longshot made 16th President of the United States in the election of 1861 is vivid and memorable. Much information is also included on how Lincoln and his administration struggled with the issue that would become his legacy: slavery in America. That said, Oates neglects to discuss in any great detail the economic influence of the nation's cotton industry on the political and social conditions of the era. ... Read more

Book Description
When the Civil War broke out, Clara Barton wanted more than anything to be a Union soldier, an impossible dream for a thirty-nine-year-old woman, who stood a slender five feet tall. Determined to serve, she became a veritable soldier, a nurse, and a one-woman relief agency operating in the heart of the conflict. Now, award-winning author Stephen B. Oates, drawing on archival materials not used by her previous biographers, has written the first complete account of Clara Barton's active engagement in the Civil War.

By the summer of 1862, with no institutional affiliation or official government appointment, but impelled by a sense of duty and a need to heal, she made her way to the front lines and the heat of battle. Oates tells the dramatic story of this woman who gave the world a new definition of courage, supplying medical relief to the wounded at some of the most famous battles of the war -- including Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Battery Wagner, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg. Under fire with only her will as a shield, she worked while ankle deep in gore, in hellish makeshift battlefield hospitals -- a bullet-riddled farmhouse, a crumbling mansion, a windblown tent. Committed to healing soldiers' spirits as well as their bodies, she served not only as nurse and relief worker, but as surrogate mother, sister, wife, or sweetheart to thousands of sick, wounded, and dying men.

Her contribution to the Union was incalculable and unique. It also became the defining event in Barton's life, giving her the opportunity as a woman to reach out for a new role and to define a new profession. Nursing, regarded as a menial service before the war, became a trained, paid occupation after the conflict. Although Barton went on to become the founder and first president of the Red Cross, the accomplishment for which she is best known, A Woman of Valor convinces us that her experience on the killing fields of the Civil War was her most extraordinary achievement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

As a woman, this book gave me great inspiration to do something for anyone in need of moral. A MUST read.
The book is wonderful. Every woman should read it. It shows that anyone can stand out in a crowd and lend a hand no matter what form it takes. An inspiration to women everywhere! A very real account of her life, feels as if you are there with her. Please read it!

Real Protrait of a Real Woman
As a nurse I have heard and read about Clara Barton for years. This book finally reinvents the tired images - melodramatic icon of female self sacrifice and courage, angel on earth and of the battlefield - and offers the reader a compelling, warm and very real picture of the person and personality of this famous individual. We see all aspects of Clara's character and the impact of the many choices she makes. We even get to see a few of the skeletons in her closet. Without this book, I doubt we would know that there were any! The amount of detail - and it is considerable - is so beautifully woven into the historical narrative that the story, like the Civil War, sweeps the reader from one new experience to the next. Read this and you will feel the jolting of army wagons along rutted roads, struggle to rest as the canvas flaps of your tent crack and strain in storms, gallop with joyful abandon along the beaches at Hilton Head - and much more. I purchased my copy at Gettyburg and it is the best "souvenir" purchase I ever made. Bravo to Stephen Oates!

Educational and Entertaining to read.A must have book!
Mr. Oates has done it again.You will know Clara Barton ambitions, downfalls, her emotions as well as her eager drive and personal duty to serve those who suffered so much during the Civil War years. The contents of this book will jump out at you and you'll feel that you're right next to the personalities involved.Oh, what women had to go through to pursue a dream or an ambition to contribute to society.Clara has a heart of gold as her patients in and off the field well knew, yet she was being torn apart on the inside by the constant fear that she wasn't doing enough for "her boys".Her personal life was put on the back shelf as she persued her one desire, to help those who were less fortunate.You'll follow Clara as she goes through the blood, sweat, tears, agony and the horrors of the war. This is a true story of a dark chapter in our american history when brother fought against brother literally.It is also of a dream turned into reality that Clara Barton followed with a sincere robust ambition to pursue the betterment of her fellow man. By caring for the soldiers on the battlefield, she proved to the Union Army that those suffering needed love, compassion and of course medical care where it was most needed - on the front lines of battle. This is a must read book for those interested in hero's, Civil War history or nursing history.Stephen B. Oates is the author of other fine books in history and ranks right up there with the big boys in the writings of history ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Stephen B(aery) Oates, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 3691 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Customer Reviews (1)

Compelling read
Wonderful and compelling. Full of the magic of his creativity and it goes into depths of his pain. ... Read more

Book Description

Portrait of America is an anthology of essays written by some of America's most eminent historians. Suitable for U.S. history survey courses, the collection has a loose biographical focus. The essays in this secondary source reader humanize American history by portraying it as a story of real people with whom students can identify.

Each selection is preceded by an introduction that sets the context and a helpful glossary that identifies important individuals, events, and concepts. The Eighth Edition includes an essay in which six major historians reflect on the historical significance of September 11, 2001.

Customer Reviews (1)

It makes me tired just thinking about it!
This was an assigned book for my college History course, and I can say that I pity all those poor students who have to read this book too.While the content is actually pretty decent, each section is far too long.I hadto drink two cups of coffee for every essay, and even then if I didn't havenotes I wouldn't have remembered a word.All I can say is highlight what'simportant, and learn to speed-read! ... Read more