Rating: 
Summary: T. Harry Williams is a Great American for writing this.
Review: I read somewhere that this book won the Pultizer Prize. If so, it bolsters for me the image of that award. Professor Williams must have been a great man to have written a book like this, as it gets to the heart of life itself. As to setting, it is a story about what happens (and what actually once did happen) when you try to fight city hall. I suspect this is one of the greatest books ever written -- as it should be, perhaps, for being based on one of the most interesting of historical dramas.
Rating:
Summary: Though 30 years old, still the definitive Kingfish biography
Review: Many on-line reviews of the book critique it as "slow", "plodding", "pro-Long", etc. Any definitive biography by definition covers all available detail on the life of its subject. Harry Williams does that indeed. In fact, by the standards of biographers such s Barbara Tuchmann, it is somewhat restrained. It is probably impossible to be ambivalent regarding Huey Long, but Willimas does look at hims as objectively as could be imagined. He seems to separate Huey the man- often coarse and boorish- with Long the master politician. Indeed, in the chapter "Power Unto Himself", he points out that Long changed, with the focus of his efforts shifting from what he could do for Louisiana to what he could do for himself. It is a masterful book, and after reading it, one feels tempted to style oneself as an authority on Long. If there is a serious shortcoming, there is no epiloug to analyze the Long legacy, itself huge as personified by brother Earl and son Russell.
Rating:
Summary: Though 30 years old, still the definitive Kingfish biography
Review: Many on-line reviews of the book critique it as "slow", "plodding", "pro-Long", etc. Any definitive biography by definition covers all available detail on the life of its subject. Harry Williams does that indeed. In fact, by the standards of biographers such s Barbara Tuchmann, it is somewhat restrained. It is probably impossible to be ambivalent regarding Huey Long, but Willimas does look at hims as objectively as could be imagined. He seems to separate Huey the man- often coarse and boorish- with Long the master politician. Indeed, in the chapter "Power Unto Himself", he points out that Long changed, with the focus of his efforts shifting from what he could do for Louisiana to what he could do for himself. It is a masterful book, and after reading it, one feels tempted to style oneself as an authority on Long. If there is a serious shortcoming, there is no epiloug to analyze the Long legacy, itself huge as personified by brother Earl and son Russell.
Rating:
Summary: "Caricatures"?
Review: One of the reader's above criticized this book for having nothing more than "caricatures" about the Kingfish's enemies. I think he misses the point. You see, every book written about the Kingfish prior to this thorough biography was a calumnious diatribe written (not so coincidentally after his death) by Long's sworn enemies and helped to promote a certain pejorative myth (i.e. CARICATURE) about the Kingfish-----the corrupt, fascist, demagogic dictator of Louisiana. All Williams is trying to do is provide some historical perspective and balance to the otherwise defamatory tirades about the Kingfish. Everyman A King!
Rating:
Summary: One of America's True Radicals
Review: One reality about America that separates us from our European heritage is the ability of our citizens, solely through their own efforts, to rise from total obscurity, seize the mantle of public attention, and become inexplicably polarizing figures. A few examples are Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton. Huey Long was one of these people. This excellent biography tells the story of Huey's rise from nothing, his erascibility as a child, his drive and energy and ultimately his tireless efforts to push Franklin Roosevelt toward a more progressive agenda. Too often, people such as Huey who challenge the status quo end up dead at the hands of an assassin. As a citizen of Louisiana, however, I can guarantee you that Huey's influence lives on today, for better or worse. Very few people would agree today with Huey's policies or his tactics, but, you have to tip your hat to him, he shook things up and left a lasting impression. Williams' biography, often characterized (erroneously) as pro-Huey, brings Huey's impact to life in a neutral but intriguing way.
Rating:
Summary: The finest political biography ever written
Review: Since reading Williams' great bio of Huey Long, I have become fascinated by the Kingfish and have been looking for anything about him to absorb. That says a lot about the book. While Caro's books on LBJ are considered the gold standard of political bios, this book is slightly better. It is so detailed and so fascinating that you can breeze through the nearly 1000 pages in no time. I suppose the one thing that stands out is how Williams is able to effectively show that Long was not the political boogeyman he is often painted as by historians like Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. and many others. Yes, Huey was a flawed man and showed some dictatorial shades. But he also did many great things for Louisiana and was forced to use political heavy-handedness to deal with the vicious party machines that had controlled Louisiana prior to Long's emergence in 1928. One could argue that Williams was a little too pro-Kingfish. He attempts to tone down many of Huey's character flaws and doesn't spend much time on Long's movement of state militia troops into New Orleans in an attempt to oust Mayor Walmsley. Nevertheless, despite this flaw, the book does well to balance against the very anti- Long views espoused by most historians. I would suggest reading this book along with Garry Bouldard's book on Long's "siege" of New Orleans, and Ken Burn's outstanding Long biodrama. Both are available here on Amazon. Either way, this book was the best biography I have ever read and I would recommend it to any one with an interest in politics or with an interest in reading a compelling book.
Rating:
Summary: The finest political biography ever written
Review: Since reading Williams' great bio of Huey Long, I have become fascinated by the Kingfish and have been looking for anything about him to absorb. That says a lot about the book. While Caro's books on LBJ are considered the gold standard of political bios, this book is slightly better. It is so detailed and so fascinating that you can breeze through the nearly 1000 pages in no time. I suppose the one thing that stands out is how Williams is able to effectively show that Long was not the political boogeyman he is often painted as by historians like Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. and many others. Yes, Huey was a flawed man and showed some dictatorial shades. But he also did many great things for Louisiana and was forced to use political heavy-handedness to deal with the vicious party machines that had controlled Louisiana prior to Long's emergence in 1928. One could argue that Williams was a little too pro-Kingfish. He attempts to tone down many of Huey's character flaws and doesn't spend much time on Long's movement of state militia troops into New Orleans in an attempt to oust Mayor Walmsley. Nevertheless, despite this flaw, the book does well to balance against the very anti- Long views espoused by most historians. I would suggest reading this book along with Garry Bouldard's book on Long's "siege" of New Orleans, and Ken Burn's outstanding Long biodrama. Both are available here on Amazon. Either way, this book was the best biography I have ever read and I would recommend it to any one with an interest in politics or with an interest in reading a compelling book.
Rating:
Summary: Huey Long's Story
Review: T. Harry Williams has written the definative book on Huey Long. This book contains everything from Huey's early life, his saleman's years, college training up to every political office ever held. Williams covers everything in telling of the man who would be Govenor by seeing "Every Man A King." Huey was dominant, driven, and dictatoral in life and Williams captures it all. POLITICAL JUNKIES will sustain their needs with this book.
Rating:
Summary: Kingfish
Review: This book is definately worth a read. I did not know much about Huey Long prior to reading this book, but now I feel as though I have a good grasp of the man and his times. Despite evidence of a bias from Dr. Williams, the rights and wrongs of Senator Long and his machine are portrayed. All and all, it is an entertaining book about an entertaining man.
Rating:
Summary: Great!!!!
Review: This book is the most comprehensive and well written biography I have ever read. Dr. Williams has written another great book to add to his collection. I highly recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in Huey Long.
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