General John Pope: A Life for the Nation

Rating:
Summary: A Whole Story, Well Done
Review: When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I asked my Mother if we were Yankees or Confederates. Without hesitation, she stated in no uncertain terms that we were Yankees, always had been and always would be. So at that age, already starting my lifelong study of the Civil War, I was very much disposed towards liking all Yankees without regard. Even still, warming to John Pope seemed to be a task far beyond the call of human nature. It seemed almost everything I read about John Pope (and I read a great deal about the Civil War), painted the picture of a pompous, incredibly incompetent, self-centered man; very root of the Union defeat at 2nd Manassas. I read Cozzens' book not because I wanted to learn about John Pope so much as wanting more depth in my understanding what really did happen at 2nd Manassas. I was quite willing to write John Pope off as the "miscreant" in the characterization of Robert E. Lee.
John Pope in Mr. Cozzens' book is all the human frailties ever attributed to him. Cozzens is not a Pope apologist. However, what does emerge is a man much more complex than simply the bombastic, huff and puff blow-hard John Pope most often detailed in our history books. That he made fatal errors in the 2nd Manassas campaign; that he did not rise to the occasion; that he was a relentless self-promoter; all of these faults are not disguised nor dismissed. They are treated fairly and truthfully without a hidden agenda, as only a part of the picture Cozzens paints of John Pope's whole life of service in the United States Army.
Peter Cozzens is one of the best historical writers publishing today and this book is the product of a skilled craftsman. His writing is warm and engaging. I read the whole book, cover to cover, even though I only intended to read the section on Pope's defeat at 2nd Manassas. Cozzens moves easily and swiftly from minutely examining the daily life of John Pope to covering the span of years in a few pages. Knowing when to "go deep" marks a good writer and Cozzens comes through for the reader every time.
If he were just a good writer, it would be enough for fiction, but writing about history requires the author to be good at research and Cozzens is no slouch there either. This book is well-documented and uses a lot of primary source material - a hallmark by which research is judged today. Having the combination of good research and lively writing puts Cozzens in mighty rare company.
I now see a different John Pope. I still wouldn't have him in command at 2nd Manassas, if I had my say. But I no longer despise him. In fact, I am inclined to see him as good man, limited, as we all are, by the frailties attendant to humanity. If you are a serious student of this time in United States history, or just want a good non-fiction read, you will find General John Pope; A Life for the Nation a worthy investment of your time.

Rating:
Summary: A Whole Story, Well Done
Review: When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I asked my Mother if we were Yankees or Confederates. Without hesitation, she stated in no uncertain terms that we were Yankees, always had been and always would be. So at that age, already starting my lifelong study of the Civil War, I was very much disposed towards liking all Yankees without regard. Even still, warming to John Pope seemed to be a task far beyond the call of human nature. It seemed almost everything I read about John Pope (and I read a great deal about the Civil War), painted the picture of a pompous, incredibly incompetent, self-centered man; very root of the Union defeat at 2nd Manassas. I read Cozzens' book not because I wanted to learn about John Pope so much as wanting more depth in my understanding what really did happen at 2nd Manassas. I was quite willing to write John Pope off as the "miscreant" in the characterization of Robert E. Lee.
John Pope in Mr. Cozzens' book is all the human frailties ever attributed to him. Cozzens is not a Pope apologist. However, what does emerge is a man much more complex than simply the bombastic, huff and puff blow-hard John Pope most often detailed in our history books. That he made fatal errors in the 2nd Manassas campaign; that he did not rise to the occasion; that he was a relentless self-promoter; all of these faults are not disguised nor dismissed. They are treated fairly and truthfully without a hidden agenda, as only a part of the picture Cozzens paints of John Pope's whole life of service in the United States Army.
Peter Cozzens is one of the best historical writers publishing today and this book is the product of a skilled craftsman. His writing is warm and engaging. I read the whole book, cover to cover, even though I only intended to read the section on Pope's defeat at 2nd Manassas. Cozzens moves easily and swiftly from minutely examining the daily life of John Pope to covering the span of years in a few pages. Knowing when to "go deep" marks a good writer and Cozzens comes through for the reader every time.
If he were just a good writer, it would be enough for fiction, but writing about history requires the author to be good at research and Cozzens is no slouch there either. This book is well-documented and uses a lot of primary source material - a hallmark by which research is judged today. Having the combination of good research and lively writing puts Cozzens in mighty rare company.
I now see a different John Pope. I still wouldn't have him in command at 2nd Manassas, if I had my say. But I no longer despise him. In fact, I am inclined to see him as good man, limited, as we all are, by the frailties attendant to humanity. If you are a serious student of this time in United States history, or just want a good non-fiction read, you will find General John Pope; A Life for the Nation a worthy investment of your time.