(Originally published 2005, Paperback Edition 755 pages)
To say I was flummoxed by the handful of one-star Amazon reviews of Ms.
Goodwin's excellent book is a mild understatement. Over the years, I have read a
couple dozen books about Lincoln and the Civil War and, without question, Team
of Rivals is one of my favorites. Instead of focusing on the key battles, she
takes great pains in showing the evolution of some of the major players in
President Lincoln's cabinet. There are oodles of books out there explaining in
minute detail every key battle if you yearn for such works. This is not one of
those books. The reason President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton enjoyed
Team of Rivals is very likely because it explains the conflicting, strong
personalities surrounding Lincoln and how he was able to manipulate situations
to his and the nation's advantage.
The book starts off by following the lives of four main characters: Abraham Lincoln, William Seward, Salmon Chase and Edward Bates. The only odd aspect about this selection of people is the author's focus on Edward Bates. It was interesting to read about the man's life, but Mr. Bates didn't really hold a candle to Edwin Stanton when it came to historical impact. Eventually, Ms. Goodwin brings the Secretary of War more into the picture and relegates Mr. Bates into the background with other administrators such as Gideon Welles and Francis Blair. It's clear Ms. Goodwin is a huge admirer of President Lincoln and, apparently, less so of such people as the machiavellian Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase and the ineffective popinjay, General William McClellan. Personally, I don't blame her. I'm amazed Lincoln never kicked Chase's and McClellan's front teeth out. The President certainly had many opportunities and reasons to do so.
Team of Rivals is a work about the machinations of power and not the bloody battles that caused over 600,000 deaths in the four-year war. Her writing style fits perfectly in bringing these historic individuals to life. Such episodes as Willie Lincoln's death and the assassination of President Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward truly moved me. Even today, President Lincoln still has his detractors, but they are a minor, misguided group. Our sixteenth president was one of our nation's greatest leaders. He was a humanitarian burdened with trying to keep a very fractured nation as one. His intelligence, intuitive judgment and nearly perfect political timing were truly remarkable. Ms. Goodwin has done an extraordinary job in bringing these people back to life. There were many a late night I couldn't put this sucker down. Simply outstanding.
(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #302)
The book starts off by following the lives of four main characters: Abraham Lincoln, William Seward, Salmon Chase and Edward Bates. The only odd aspect about this selection of people is the author's focus on Edward Bates. It was interesting to read about the man's life, but Mr. Bates didn't really hold a candle to Edwin Stanton when it came to historical impact. Eventually, Ms. Goodwin brings the Secretary of War more into the picture and relegates Mr. Bates into the background with other administrators such as Gideon Welles and Francis Blair. It's clear Ms. Goodwin is a huge admirer of President Lincoln and, apparently, less so of such people as the machiavellian Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase and the ineffective popinjay, General William McClellan. Personally, I don't blame her. I'm amazed Lincoln never kicked Chase's and McClellan's front teeth out. The President certainly had many opportunities and reasons to do so.
Team of Rivals is a work about the machinations of power and not the bloody battles that caused over 600,000 deaths in the four-year war. Her writing style fits perfectly in bringing these historic individuals to life. Such episodes as Willie Lincoln's death and the assassination of President Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward truly moved me. Even today, President Lincoln still has his detractors, but they are a minor, misguided group. Our sixteenth president was one of our nation's greatest leaders. He was a humanitarian burdened with trying to keep a very fractured nation as one. His intelligence, intuitive judgment and nearly perfect political timing were truly remarkable. Ms. Goodwin has done an extraordinary job in bringing these people back to life. There were many a late night I couldn't put this sucker down. Simply outstanding.
(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #302)
No comments:
Post a Comment