Jefferson Davis: A Memior by His Wife

Rating:
Summary: The times were more interesting than the man.
Review: Not unexpectedly Jefferson Davis is portayed in too heroic a light which dims the qualities he possessed. The book is written as a counterpoint to the villification Davis endured in the defeat of the Confederacy. More interesting than the testimonials to Jeff Davis's character are the pre-Civil War national and southern figures who swirl in and out of the Davis's lives. Also the book provides some insight from the slaveholders' view that the abolitionists were constantly harassing them with proposed legislation in the Congress. The book is a dry read, but I recommend to anyone interested in the pre-Civil War atmosphere. Craig Symonds's introduction errs in placing Beauvoir in Louisiana rather than rightfully in Mississippi.

Rating:
Summary: The times were more interesting than the man.
Review: Not unexpectedly Jefferson Davis is portayed in too heroic a light which dims the qualities he possessed. The book is written as a counterpoint to the villification Davis endured in the defeat of the Confederacy. More interesting than the testimonials to Jeff Davis's character are the pre-Civil War national and southern figures who swirl in and out of the Davis's lives. Also the book provides some insight from the slaveholders' view that the abolitionists were constantly harassing them with proposed legislation in the Congress. The book is a dry read, but I recommend to anyone interested in the pre-Civil War atmosphere. Craig Symonds's introduction errs in placing Beauvoir in Louisiana rather than rightfully in Mississippi.

Rating:
Summary: A most personal view of a remarkable man.
Review: These memoirs, written by a loyal, loving wife, incorporate numerous excerpts from documents of the period, along with correspondence and more objective remembrances, to portray the life and career of Jefferson Davis in a totally absorbing book. The reader, whatever his loyalty in regard to the tragic conflict of the Civil War, will come away with a deep respect for this remarkable man.