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Summary: Fautz
Review: Book rather good written, but as all books of the USA shipped, the printed paper and is of rather poor quality. In Europe we are used to recieve best quality. So also after many years you still can enjoy reading.
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Summary: Davis' bio of General Stuart is still the best!
Review: Burke Davis gives readers often-overlooked insights into the early life and career of the famous cavalier, including his courtship of his wife (whose father was a Union general) and his motivation to fight for Virginia. The Stuart-Cooke family is an excellent example of the bitter division of loved ones during the War, with Stuart and his brother-in-law choosing to fight for the Confederacy while his father-in-law continued to serve the Union. A fascinating account of the war as well as a great bio and a must-read for serious historians
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Summary: Brings humanity to history
Review: Many biographies tend to be cold. They contain numerous facts strung together to make a coherent history of a human life. The Last Cavalier is an exception to this tendency. Burke Davis brings the most dashing of Civil War generals to life with personal letters, comments from his contemporaries and a reluctance to let J.E.B. pass into history without a fight. It was a very good read and though I knew how J.E.B.'s career ended, as I neared the end of the book, I began to dread the outcome that had to come. It was then that I knew Davis had done his job of bringing The Last Cavalier back to life.
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Summary: Superbly written contribution to Civil War studies.
Review: No front line general of the Confedracy was so dashing in conduct or so well thought of by his troops as the calvary commander Jeb Stuart. In Jeb Stuart: The Last Cavalier, biographer and historian Burke Davis provides a comprehensive, definitive, dramatic biography of this enigmatic and superbly competent Civil War "Hero of the Confederacy". We are taken from his childhood to his training at West Point, from his service on the Western frontier to his decision to stand with Virginia with the outbreak of hostilities between the Union and the Confederacy, through his many daring raids and battles to his final, fatal clash at Yellow Tavern. Jeb Stuart: The Last Cavalier is a superbly written and much appreciated contribution to the growing library of Civil War studies and biographies.
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Summary: `How not to write a biography
Review: One of the most tedious and enervating reading is a book in which practically every second page is loaded with citations from letters written to, by or about the person who is the subject of the book. Frankly speaking, if I can return the book and get some refund, I would do it gladly. This is not a reaserch but a correspondant's report. In short- minus one star!
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Summary: `How not to write a biography
Review: The book starts out very well, establishing basic background and geographical history in a very easy to read anecdotal style. The remainder of the book essentially details General Stuart's exploits on and off the battlefield.You certainly get the impression that he was a dashing figure, but unfortunatley the author does not delve deeper into the man as much as I would have preferred. You get a sense for him as a Confederate soldier who cared very much about his duty, but not why he cared so much. I gave it four stars because it is a good read, and for the perspectives provided of many of the eastern battles and the cavalry's part in them.
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Summary: Another great one by Burke Davis
Review: This is the third civil war book by Burke Davis that I have read, and it is just as good as the others. Davis gives a complete and well researched account of the life of Jeb Stuart, but his main gift is that he can really tell a story. You will be interested from the beginning to the end, and in the process, you will realize that you have learned a thing or two.
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Summary: Great reading experience!
Review: This was a marvelous book, from the clean, crisp pages and the classic smell, to the multiple photographs which enhanced the reading. Not only was it a beautiful book in itself, but it was a revealing biography. Have you ever heard of the horse artillery? The song "jine the cavalry?" You'll find out about these- and the odd costume balls, one of which included a high ranking german officer dress as a farmer's bride- in this super book. I recommend it.
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Summary: More about the Campaigns and Men Around JEB Stuart
Review: While Burke Davis' book about Jeb Stuart is well writen, and flows nicely, I felt shorted with the book. Davis spends much of the time talking about the staff surrounding Stuart, and the battles from a general standpoint. Insight into the personality of one of the most famous generals in US/CS history is limited to the letters he wrote to his wife, a source which allows for self service when presented independently of other opinions. There is very little to explain his eccentricity, his thoughts about battles, or the significance of his accomplishments. I enjoyed the book, but will definitely need to read other works about Stuart to get a feel for what the MAN was like.
Rating:
Summary: More about the Campaigns and Men Around JEB Stuart
Review: While Burke Davis' book about Jeb Stuart is well writen, and flows nicely, I felt shorted with the book. Davis spends much of the time talking about the staff surrounding Stuart, and the battles from a general standpoint. Insight into the personality of one of the most famous generals in US/CS history is limited to the letters he wrote to his wife, a source which allows for self service when presented independently of other opinions. There is very little to explain his eccentricity, his thoughts about battles, or the significance of his accomplishments. I enjoyed the book, but will definitely need to read other works about Stuart to get a feel for what the MAN was like.
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