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Jefferson Davis, American
West Point graduate, secretary of war under President Pierce, U.S. Senator from Mississippi--how was it that this statesman and patriot came to be president of the Confederacy, leading the struggle to destroy the United States?
This is the question at the center of William Cooper's engrossing and authoritative biography of Jefferson Davis. Basing his account on the massive archival record left by Davis and his family and associates, Cooper delves not only into the events of Davis's public and personal life but also into the ideas that shaped and compelled him.
We see Davis as a devoted American, yet also as a wealthy plantation owner who believed slavery to be a moral and social good that could coexist with free labor in an undivided Union. We see how his initially reluctant support of secession ended in his absolute commitment to the Confederacy and his identification of it with the legacy of liberty handed down by the Founding Fathers. We see the chaos that attended the formation of the Confederate government while the Civil War was being fought, and the veer-present tension between the commitment to states' rights and the need for centralized authority. We see Davis's increasingly autocratic behavior, his involvement in military decision-making, and his desperation to save the Confederacy even at the expense of slavery. And we see Davis in defeat: imprisoned for two years, then, for the rest of his life, unrepentant about the South's attempt to break away, yet ultimately professing his faith in the restored Union.
This is the definitive life of one of the most complex and fascinating figures in our nation's history.
This is the question at the center of William Cooper's engrossing and authoritative biography of Jefferson Davis. Basing his account on the massive archival record left by Davis and his family and associates, Cooper delves not only into the events of Davis's public and personal life but also into the ideas that shaped and compelled him.
We see Davis as a devoted American, yet also as a wealthy plantation owner who believed slavery to be a moral and social good that could coexist with free labor in an undivided Union. We see how his initially reluctant support of secession ended in his absolute commitment to the Confederacy and his identification of it with the legacy of liberty handed down by the Founding Fathers. We see the chaos that attended the formation of the Confederate government while the Civil War was being fought, and the veer-present tension between the commitment to states' rights and the need for centralized authority. We see Davis's increasingly autocratic behavior, his involvement in military decision-making, and his desperation to save the Confederacy even at the expense of slavery. And we see Davis in defeat: imprisoned for two years, then, for the rest of his life, unrepentant about the South's attempt to break away, yet ultimately professing his faith in the restored Union.
This is the definitive life of one of the most complex and fascinating figures in our nation's history.
784 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2000
41 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
William J. Cooper Jr.
17 books20 followersWILLIAM J. COOPER, JR., is Boyd Professor of History at Louisiana State University and a past president of the Southern Historical Association. He was born in Kingstree, South Carolina, and received his AB from Princeton and his PhD from the Johns Hopkins University. He has been a member of the LSU faculty since 1980 and is the author of The Conservative Regime: South Carolina, 1877-1890; The South and the Politics of Slavery, 1816-1856; Liberty and Slavery: Southern Politics to 1860; Jefferson Davis, American; and coauthor of The American South: A History. He lives in Baton Rouge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 23, 2013
I've read many books on the American Civil War, biographies of Lincoln, Lee, Grant and Sherman, books about individual battles, about particular theatres of war, about Lincoln's assassination, about Reconstruction - but for some reason I've never read anything focusing on Jefferson Davis before. And that's been a definite hole in my Civil War reading, a hole that has been more than amply filled with this biography.
But this book is about more than just the Civil War. Admirably, Cooper resists the temptation to skip over Davis' 'early years' and get to the presidency of the Confederate States of America. He spends almost half the book on Davis' years at West Point, in the army, as a Senator and Secretary of War, years in which Davis' patriotism and dedication to the bequest of his father's generation, the Constitution, were formed and moulded.
To the end of his days, Davis believed that the Confederacy was the true successor to the Revolution, that the Republicans in the North were perverting and corrupting the Constitution and it was the duty of all true Americans (i.e. Southerners) to uphold the morals and liberties of the Constitution. He never faltered in his belief that secession was both right and legitimate, just as he never lost his belief in the rightness of slavery, in the superiority of the white race and the many blessings of slavery.
This is an excellent biography, balanced, impartial and well-written, and Cooper never falls into the historian's occasional trap of judging his subject by modern standards. It is difficult to admire a man who held beliefs so utterly abhorrent today, but judged by his society's standards Davis comes across as a brave, honest, upright man who was prepared to sacrifice everything he had for a cause he believed in to the end of his days. The tragedy, of course, is that the cause was wrong, utterly wrong, and the history of the United States is surely for the better because Davis' cause failed.
But this book is about more than just the Civil War. Admirably, Cooper resists the temptation to skip over Davis' 'early years' and get to the presidency of the Confederate States of America. He spends almost half the book on Davis' years at West Point, in the army, as a Senator and Secretary of War, years in which Davis' patriotism and dedication to the bequest of his father's generation, the Constitution, were formed and moulded.
To the end of his days, Davis believed that the Confederacy was the true successor to the Revolution, that the Republicans in the North were perverting and corrupting the Constitution and it was the duty of all true Americans (i.e. Southerners) to uphold the morals and liberties of the Constitution. He never faltered in his belief that secession was both right and legitimate, just as he never lost his belief in the rightness of slavery, in the superiority of the white race and the many blessings of slavery.
This is an excellent biography, balanced, impartial and well-written, and Cooper never falls into the historian's occasional trap of judging his subject by modern standards. It is difficult to admire a man who held beliefs so utterly abhorrent today, but judged by his society's standards Davis comes across as a brave, honest, upright man who was prepared to sacrifice everything he had for a cause he believed in to the end of his days. The tragedy, of course, is that the cause was wrong, utterly wrong, and the history of the United States is surely for the better because Davis' cause failed.
January 13, 2013
Cooper has put together a lot of information and made it readable. He did not produce a page turner, but he does not put you to sleep either. The book is not interpretive, but Davis is presented more as a hero than a traitor.
While I am not qualified to judge the completeness of the biography, it seemed complete until it ended abruptly with Davis's death. I did an internet search to learn more about the death and aftermath of Davis. The funeral was significant and should have had more than a mention in the book. While there is some information on Varina as a widow, given her outstanding role in this book (and JD's life), some commentary on her widowhood should have been included. I don't know if there are other gaps.
There is a lot here. Davis led an outsized life, and a totally amazing one given the confines of his health and times. Just the amount of travel, in the 19th century mode, sometimes through war zones, is staggering. He was where the action was, be it as a child just happening to visit Andrew Jackson's Hermitage on the way to school or fighting a pivotal battle in the Mexican War or being at Zachary Taylor's side in death or fleeing Richmond just before it fell. He served as US Secretary of War and later as the Commander in Chief of the country's only domestic enemy. After the war he met leaders and luminaries at home and abroad.
He managed his plantation (earning him $40,000/yr making him one of the richest men in Mississippi) from remote locations, but in government, he was a fanatical micro-manager. Later in life as the COO of an insurance company, he was obviously not micro-managing the receipts and expenditures. Despite his fame, he could not make ends meet in the "Gilded Age". He turned down college presidencies because they did not pay well enough. He made a point of not accepting charity, but accepted free residence and board from admirer, and later inherited the woman's full estate.
Cooper seems to take Davis at his word on his lack of responsibility for the southern secession; I do not. I read the quotes in this book as showing how Davis sowed regional paranoia. Davis framed issues that had little practical effect on Mississippi voters such as to the location of the western border of Texas or the ability of slave owners (what % of the population?) to take "their property" to Washington DC as major affronts to the Southern pride. His pre-war "we're not there yet" attitude towards secession certainly doesn't reflect a commitment to the Union. If he wasn't a "disunionist"/"secessionist" as he claimed, he completely converted to a fanatical one in less than 2 months after secession occurred. While Cooper does not fawn over or flatter Davis, he puts him, as the title suggests, in better light than I think is deserved.
As I read his words, I hear Davis making an elaborate defense for his self interested actions. I hear him idealizing slavery because he needed it to run his plantation. I hear him inflating the impact of any new "free soil" state on the South to win elections. From this rhetoric, a war was created. From here, the "lost cause" had begun.
It's hard to believe that the Confederate leaders, who well knew the population and industrial balance of the north and south, could actually tell the citizens of their "new country" that they could build an army from scratch and win a war. It's also hard to believe that these leaders could print money with no backing, but Davis did just this. He cheer lead the cause even after Lee's surrender. He was obviously delusional at the end, but was he throughout? Did he, with his military background, once he realized there would be no foreign help, really believe the south could win this war? With Cooper's book as background, I hope to find and read interpretive work on Davis, and his also intriguing wife, Varina.
While I am not qualified to judge the completeness of the biography, it seemed complete until it ended abruptly with Davis's death. I did an internet search to learn more about the death and aftermath of Davis. The funeral was significant and should have had more than a mention in the book. While there is some information on Varina as a widow, given her outstanding role in this book (and JD's life), some commentary on her widowhood should have been included. I don't know if there are other gaps.
There is a lot here. Davis led an outsized life, and a totally amazing one given the confines of his health and times. Just the amount of travel, in the 19th century mode, sometimes through war zones, is staggering. He was where the action was, be it as a child just happening to visit Andrew Jackson's Hermitage on the way to school or fighting a pivotal battle in the Mexican War or being at Zachary Taylor's side in death or fleeing Richmond just before it fell. He served as US Secretary of War and later as the Commander in Chief of the country's only domestic enemy. After the war he met leaders and luminaries at home and abroad.
He managed his plantation (earning him $40,000/yr making him one of the richest men in Mississippi) from remote locations, but in government, he was a fanatical micro-manager. Later in life as the COO of an insurance company, he was obviously not micro-managing the receipts and expenditures. Despite his fame, he could not make ends meet in the "Gilded Age". He turned down college presidencies because they did not pay well enough. He made a point of not accepting charity, but accepted free residence and board from admirer, and later inherited the woman's full estate.
Cooper seems to take Davis at his word on his lack of responsibility for the southern secession; I do not. I read the quotes in this book as showing how Davis sowed regional paranoia. Davis framed issues that had little practical effect on Mississippi voters such as to the location of the western border of Texas or the ability of slave owners (what % of the population?) to take "their property" to Washington DC as major affronts to the Southern pride. His pre-war "we're not there yet" attitude towards secession certainly doesn't reflect a commitment to the Union. If he wasn't a "disunionist"/"secessionist" as he claimed, he completely converted to a fanatical one in less than 2 months after secession occurred. While Cooper does not fawn over or flatter Davis, he puts him, as the title suggests, in better light than I think is deserved.
As I read his words, I hear Davis making an elaborate defense for his self interested actions. I hear him idealizing slavery because he needed it to run his plantation. I hear him inflating the impact of any new "free soil" state on the South to win elections. From this rhetoric, a war was created. From here, the "lost cause" had begun.
It's hard to believe that the Confederate leaders, who well knew the population and industrial balance of the north and south, could actually tell the citizens of their "new country" that they could build an army from scratch and win a war. It's also hard to believe that these leaders could print money with no backing, but Davis did just this. He cheer lead the cause even after Lee's surrender. He was obviously delusional at the end, but was he throughout? Did he, with his military background, once he realized there would be no foreign help, really believe the south could win this war? With Cooper's book as background, I hope to find and read interpretive work on Davis, and his also intriguing wife, Varina.
February 17, 2019
Jefferson Davis is arguably the most controversial American that has ever lived, but he might also be the most misunderstood. He was obviously the face of and lead the Confederate States of America after the southern states seceded from the Union, but he was a lot more than that. He graduated from West Point, served valiantly as a colonel in the Mexican-American War, served as U.S. Congressman and Senator from Mississippi, and served as Secretary of War during Franklin Pierce's administration.
William J. Cooper Jr. tells Jefferson Davis's story so vividly in Jefferson Davis, American. This was one of the best biographies I've ever read. One of the things I appreciated was how linear Cooper kept the timeline. So may bios flashback or digress in time that it can become hard to follow, but Cooper kept moving forward and I always knew the timeframe of the events.
Davis definitely had his faults. His views on slavery and the subjugation of blacks are difficult to comprehend in today's world. He also mismanaged the Confederacy's finances and failed (along with his generals) in the western theater during the Civil War. Cooper effectively argues in this bio that seceding was the last thing that Davis wanted to do, but Davis believed as Thomas Jefferson did that the southern states and the people had a right to do what they did. Davis was stalwart and steadfast in his beliefs and his cause, which to me after reading, appear to be his great asset, but also lead to his downfall.
I recommend Jefferson Davis, American if you want to learn more about Jefferson Davis and why he made the decisions and took the actions he did during his life.
P.S. This bio has probably been on my TBR the longest out of all my books. I wish I hadn't put it off as long as I had, but I'm glad to finally have read it!
William J. Cooper Jr. tells Jefferson Davis's story so vividly in Jefferson Davis, American. This was one of the best biographies I've ever read. One of the things I appreciated was how linear Cooper kept the timeline. So may bios flashback or digress in time that it can become hard to follow, but Cooper kept moving forward and I always knew the timeframe of the events.
Davis definitely had his faults. His views on slavery and the subjugation of blacks are difficult to comprehend in today's world. He also mismanaged the Confederacy's finances and failed (along with his generals) in the western theater during the Civil War. Cooper effectively argues in this bio that seceding was the last thing that Davis wanted to do, but Davis believed as Thomas Jefferson did that the southern states and the people had a right to do what they did. Davis was stalwart and steadfast in his beliefs and his cause, which to me after reading, appear to be his great asset, but also lead to his downfall.
I recommend Jefferson Davis, American if you want to learn more about Jefferson Davis and why he made the decisions and took the actions he did during his life.
P.S. This bio has probably been on my TBR the longest out of all my books. I wish I hadn't put it off as long as I had, but I'm glad to finally have read it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2020
William J. Cooper Jr has taken on a complex character in an even more complicated time in history. The introduction sets out that we must consider Jefferson Davis, not in today's context, but in the context of the Antebellum South. This is is vital to fairly assessing Davis as he was both a slave holder and a believer in the racial superiority of whites, however this was more common than not among Southern whites in the Southern States pre-civil war. Davis must be judged as a man within the context of the antebellum south.
The life of Jefferson Davis contained more tragedy than joy. The loss of his first wife and four sons as well as his constant battles with illness outline a very resilient character. Despite these devastating blows, Davis continued to progress militarily and politically.
His break came through success in the Mexican War, he was rightly hailed as a war hero and returned to his native Mississippi as a cherished son. Davis' affinity to the Democratic party seemed natural given his admiration of iconic states rights defenders such as Andrew Jackson and John C. Calhoun. The narrative progresses through his ever more confrontational political relationship with the North and the conflict between North and South seems inevitable.
Secession came and Davis was elected as head of the new Confederate States of America. Whilst finding his feet in that role, the war came. Much has been made of placing the blame of defeat with Jefferson Davis. Whilst his crippling attention to detail, deliberations in making decisions and outright errors in the Western Theatre of War definitely contributed to the Confederates falling, he cannot take sole responsibility. The Federals enjoyed far superior numbers and greater talent leading their armies.
His imprisonment marked the beginning of life after the war. He was in some sense a victim of politics at this point. As neither President Johnson nor the Republican-dominated House wished to concede any ground by condemning or releasing him. This led to Davis being incarcerated for over 18 months and further health complications.
Cooper portrays Davis as somewhat of a lost soul in the latter years of his life. He had no political views to represent, only a memory to cherish and a cause to defend. His floating between administrative jobs marked a clear departure from the life he was used to.
This biography detailed one of the most divisive characters in American history. Whilst maintaining the constitutionality of secession, Davis always claimed to be a follower of Jacksonian democracy. He believed in states rights and strict constructionism. In his later years he stated that slavery was just a bi-product of the way of life he was striving to protect. This is definitely an oversimplification. Whilst he was undoubtedly a defender of Mississippi rights, and states rights in general, slavery was by no means just one factor. Slavery was THE factor that led to secession. Southern society was built upon the relationship of master and slave, to underplay the significance of this in the forming of the Confederacy would be to ignore the clear historical facts.
The end of the book sees the beginning of legacy of the lost cause, the idea that the Confederacy was righteous and courageous and only fell foul to a more numerical and murderous foe. It is clear that this is a romanticisation of a cause intended at maintaining the slave society of the south and that, in practice seemed destined to fail.
The life of Jefferson Davis contained more tragedy than joy. The loss of his first wife and four sons as well as his constant battles with illness outline a very resilient character. Despite these devastating blows, Davis continued to progress militarily and politically.
His break came through success in the Mexican War, he was rightly hailed as a war hero and returned to his native Mississippi as a cherished son. Davis' affinity to the Democratic party seemed natural given his admiration of iconic states rights defenders such as Andrew Jackson and John C. Calhoun. The narrative progresses through his ever more confrontational political relationship with the North and the conflict between North and South seems inevitable.
Secession came and Davis was elected as head of the new Confederate States of America. Whilst finding his feet in that role, the war came. Much has been made of placing the blame of defeat with Jefferson Davis. Whilst his crippling attention to detail, deliberations in making decisions and outright errors in the Western Theatre of War definitely contributed to the Confederates falling, he cannot take sole responsibility. The Federals enjoyed far superior numbers and greater talent leading their armies.
His imprisonment marked the beginning of life after the war. He was in some sense a victim of politics at this point. As neither President Johnson nor the Republican-dominated House wished to concede any ground by condemning or releasing him. This led to Davis being incarcerated for over 18 months and further health complications.
Cooper portrays Davis as somewhat of a lost soul in the latter years of his life. He had no political views to represent, only a memory to cherish and a cause to defend. His floating between administrative jobs marked a clear departure from the life he was used to.
This biography detailed one of the most divisive characters in American history. Whilst maintaining the constitutionality of secession, Davis always claimed to be a follower of Jacksonian democracy. He believed in states rights and strict constructionism. In his later years he stated that slavery was just a bi-product of the way of life he was striving to protect. This is definitely an oversimplification. Whilst he was undoubtedly a defender of Mississippi rights, and states rights in general, slavery was by no means just one factor. Slavery was THE factor that led to secession. Southern society was built upon the relationship of master and slave, to underplay the significance of this in the forming of the Confederacy would be to ignore the clear historical facts.
The end of the book sees the beginning of legacy of the lost cause, the idea that the Confederacy was righteous and courageous and only fell foul to a more numerical and murderous foe. It is clear that this is a romanticisation of a cause intended at maintaining the slave society of the south and that, in practice seemed destined to fail.
March 24, 2022
This book gives an excellent look into the life of Jefferson Davis and the actual politics of the defunct Confederacy States of America. It's extremely detailed going into Jeff Davis's beginnings in Kentucky, through his time as a senator, battles in the Mexican American war, the Secretary of War, the president of a rebellion and his final days at Beauvoir.
Cooper Jr does a great job right at the start not taking any sides. He does point out times where Jeff Davis in the same speech would preach union pre-civil war but later would state that he did believe secession to be legal and was for his state if it seceded. Cooper does use Varina Davis(his wife) memoirs which can at times be blatantly biased but I don't disagree with the source as it's an excellent source of information on Davis.
The most interesting part to me was the inner workings of the CSA(Confederate States of America). I had never read a book until this point on the creation and the politics of the CSA. Again, Cooper does a great job of walking a straight line where he just let's the facts present themselves. This was clearly evident during the final year or so of the CSA when they started to discuss using slaves as soldiers and emancipation as a reward for service. Also, his straight refusal to accept defeat even on the run after Richmond is sacked is laid out for the reader to determine what to think. There is a great conversation between Davis and PGT Beauregard that was the highlight of his time in the CSA as it just shows Davis's bizarre thinking.
The book also gives credit where credit is due. He was a good I would say very good secretary of war. This didn't surprise me as I had previously read a book about Franklin Pierce and in that book it discussed his time very briefly. Cooper does a good job of again showing Davis thinking outside the box trying to come up with innovations, build a transcontinental railroad, improve the capital and many more. In my opinion Davis deviates from his traditional thinking when he was in this role and that's why it stands out as where he excels best.
For those readers that are wanting to know the origin of the "lost cause", you do get that glimpse as the Cooper goes into detail of Davis's about 3 year prison life and post civil war years. It's an interesting read about the statues that start going up towards his end of his life due to the current time period of events when this book was read by me.
If you are looking for an anti-Davis, anti-CSA, pro-Davis or pro-CSA this book is not for you. But if you are like me and want a good extremely detailed non-biased book this is the one for you.
Book Review - 5/5 Stars
Cooper Jr does a great job right at the start not taking any sides. He does point out times where Jeff Davis in the same speech would preach union pre-civil war but later would state that he did believe secession to be legal and was for his state if it seceded. Cooper does use Varina Davis(his wife) memoirs which can at times be blatantly biased but I don't disagree with the source as it's an excellent source of information on Davis.
The most interesting part to me was the inner workings of the CSA(Confederate States of America). I had never read a book until this point on the creation and the politics of the CSA. Again, Cooper does a great job of walking a straight line where he just let's the facts present themselves. This was clearly evident during the final year or so of the CSA when they started to discuss using slaves as soldiers and emancipation as a reward for service. Also, his straight refusal to accept defeat even on the run after Richmond is sacked is laid out for the reader to determine what to think. There is a great conversation between Davis and PGT Beauregard that was the highlight of his time in the CSA as it just shows Davis's bizarre thinking.
The book also gives credit where credit is due. He was a good I would say very good secretary of war. This didn't surprise me as I had previously read a book about Franklin Pierce and in that book it discussed his time very briefly. Cooper does a good job of again showing Davis thinking outside the box trying to come up with innovations, build a transcontinental railroad, improve the capital and many more. In my opinion Davis deviates from his traditional thinking when he was in this role and that's why it stands out as where he excels best.
For those readers that are wanting to know the origin of the "lost cause", you do get that glimpse as the Cooper goes into detail of Davis's about 3 year prison life and post civil war years. It's an interesting read about the statues that start going up towards his end of his life due to the current time period of events when this book was read by me.
If you are looking for an anti-Davis, anti-CSA, pro-Davis or pro-CSA this book is not for you. But if you are like me and want a good extremely detailed non-biased book this is the one for you.
Book Review - 5/5 Stars
February 4, 2021
First off I’d like to note that this is the longest book I’ve ever read to date (2/4/21). As for the contents of this book, I’d suggest you only pick this one up if you really wanna learn about Jeff Davis. This book goes over his entire life, from little baby Jeff to old age; the book even goes into detail about his father Samuel and his beginnings. As someone who is heavily interested by antebellum life and the civil war in general, I found this book very interesting.
I have 3 issues with this book. Firstly, the later chapters are LONG, some over 50 pages, and no page breaks. I’m someone that doesn’t like to stop reading until I finish a chapter; I also happen to consider myself a slow reader. So with long chapters, my turtle-like reading, and small font, some of these chapters took me approximately 3 hours to finish. Secondly, the author seems to repeat certain things over and over again, almost written on a way as if it’s being presented for the first time; this annoyed me especially during the longer chapters. And lastly, the author occasionally would abruptly stop talking about whatever it was he was currently writing about to talk about what Jeff’s wife was doing at this time, or his brother. I have no problem with this idea of describing everything and everyone, but the timing of some of these shifts really irked me.
Overall, though with many flaws, this is a book I’d recommend to someone who wants to learn about Jefferson Davis. I learned so much about the man and the time period.
I have 3 issues with this book. Firstly, the later chapters are LONG, some over 50 pages, and no page breaks. I’m someone that doesn’t like to stop reading until I finish a chapter; I also happen to consider myself a slow reader. So with long chapters, my turtle-like reading, and small font, some of these chapters took me approximately 3 hours to finish. Secondly, the author seems to repeat certain things over and over again, almost written on a way as if it’s being presented for the first time; this annoyed me especially during the longer chapters. And lastly, the author occasionally would abruptly stop talking about whatever it was he was currently writing about to talk about what Jeff’s wife was doing at this time, or his brother. I have no problem with this idea of describing everything and everyone, but the timing of some of these shifts really irked me.
Overall, though with many flaws, this is a book I’d recommend to someone who wants to learn about Jefferson Davis. I learned so much about the man and the time period.
March 17, 2024
Engaging, comprehensive, thorough (800+ pages), well-researched and well written. The details of Davis's life before and after the Civil War are particularly fascinating.
August 5, 2021
Superb book. A must read for anyone interested in US history.
August 6, 2019
This is one of those books that has stayed with me. Like him or hate him, the man was very interesting. It took me 3 years to read this, while in Graduate school, due to no extra time for personal reading. I alloted myself 10 minutes a night to read it though, before I collapsed. (Single mom, job, school). It inpired me to travel to many places that were mentioned in the book so that I could see first-hand: where he was born, lived, went to school, went to college, was married, captured, imprisoned, traveled to by steamboat...
March 11, 2011
The title of this book is not only fitting, but serves as a much needed tribute to a great patriot.
Jefferson Davis graduated from West Point, served with honor in the Mexican-American War, was elected to the House and Senate, and was Franklin Pierce's Secretary of State. Yet, modern Americans remember Jefferson Davis only from the years 1861 onward when he was elected President of the Confederacy and, after the war, became the living symbol of an unrepentant rebel.
Jefferson Davis would find much to fault in the modern assessment of his career. Rather than the leader of a rebel nation, he considered himself as a defender of the true meaning of the American Revolution and an enemy of domestic tyranny. A passionate states' rights Democrat, Jefferson Davis revered the Constitution and believed in the ultimate sovereignty of the states, which included the right to secession. In Davis's mind, Southern independence would preserve the American Revolution, not destroy it.
While Davis was a stirring orator and excellent spokesman for the Confederate cause, he possessed weaknesses that greatly hampered the South's ability to conduct a war. Davis was a terrible judge of ability and often appointed men to military and civilian positions to which they were ill equipped to perform. Additionally, Davis got himself bogged down in bureaucratic minutia which were not worth the president's time. Though the defeat of Confederacy cannot alone be attributed to his style of leadership, his nearly impossible task was made even more difficult by these faults.
This was a hefty book but seemed to fly by. By the end of it, I felt a strong affinity for Davis and wanted to know more. Though more sympathetic to Davis than other biographies, this book presents the man in full, a defender of freedom, a strong family man, a patriot that devoted his life to the Union, and severed ties with his beloved country when he felt that it had been swayed under the powers of tyranny. Though he was a man of impressive strengths he also possessed paralyzing weaknesses. Overall, the book gives an objective and accurate account of Davis's life, neither glorifying or demonizing the man. After reading this book, I am convinced that Jefferson Davis was a great man of his time and should be remembered not only as a patriot, but as an American.
Jefferson Davis graduated from West Point, served with honor in the Mexican-American War, was elected to the House and Senate, and was Franklin Pierce's Secretary of State. Yet, modern Americans remember Jefferson Davis only from the years 1861 onward when he was elected President of the Confederacy and, after the war, became the living symbol of an unrepentant rebel.
Jefferson Davis would find much to fault in the modern assessment of his career. Rather than the leader of a rebel nation, he considered himself as a defender of the true meaning of the American Revolution and an enemy of domestic tyranny. A passionate states' rights Democrat, Jefferson Davis revered the Constitution and believed in the ultimate sovereignty of the states, which included the right to secession. In Davis's mind, Southern independence would preserve the American Revolution, not destroy it.
While Davis was a stirring orator and excellent spokesman for the Confederate cause, he possessed weaknesses that greatly hampered the South's ability to conduct a war. Davis was a terrible judge of ability and often appointed men to military and civilian positions to which they were ill equipped to perform. Additionally, Davis got himself bogged down in bureaucratic minutia which were not worth the president's time. Though the defeat of Confederacy cannot alone be attributed to his style of leadership, his nearly impossible task was made even more difficult by these faults.
This was a hefty book but seemed to fly by. By the end of it, I felt a strong affinity for Davis and wanted to know more. Though more sympathetic to Davis than other biographies, this book presents the man in full, a defender of freedom, a strong family man, a patriot that devoted his life to the Union, and severed ties with his beloved country when he felt that it had been swayed under the powers of tyranny. Though he was a man of impressive strengths he also possessed paralyzing weaknesses. Overall, the book gives an objective and accurate account of Davis's life, neither glorifying or demonizing the man. After reading this book, I am convinced that Jefferson Davis was a great man of his time and should be remembered not only as a patriot, but as an American.
March 14, 2019
First of all, the book appeared to be well researched, but seemingly superficial. It is worth reading, for people with a deep interest in that era.
As far as my impressions of the man, (as if anyone cares), he lacked the vision to see beyond his immediate environment and demonstrated a lack of basic leadership skills that are required to manage a complex organization. He was unable/unwilling to delegate, unable to build an effective team, and unable to develop/execute an effective strategy. Although an able legislator, his did not demonstrate any of the capabilities needed by an effective executive. Even given the period that he lived in, his views on states rights and slavery, along with his conduct of the war, were evidence of his short-sightedness and the perspective required of a great leader.
As far as my impressions of the man, (as if anyone cares), he lacked the vision to see beyond his immediate environment and demonstrated a lack of basic leadership skills that are required to manage a complex organization. He was unable/unwilling to delegate, unable to build an effective team, and unable to develop/execute an effective strategy. Although an able legislator, his did not demonstrate any of the capabilities needed by an effective executive. Even given the period that he lived in, his views on states rights and slavery, along with his conduct of the war, were evidence of his short-sightedness and the perspective required of a great leader.
October 1, 2021
For 'captivating' I would give it a 1-2-Star rating, but for 'historicity' I would hover around a 4-Star rating. From a student of little notable accomplishment at West Point, to other troubles throughout his military years and his life during Democratic Party-political times, we see the man who strongly felt the US Constitution supported the right to own slaves, "that very class of persons as property" because: "They were not put upon the footing of equality with white men." Davis, of course, "rejected Republican assertions that slavery belittled labor." "Davis deemed the slaves themselves an unfortunate race that he and his fellow masters had to tutor and cares for... He believed blacks inferior to whites, and... social peace required the superior race to possess absolute legal control and power over the inferior. Thus, slavery must remain in place." Sounds familiar... oh, yes... to ignorant to fill out a voting ballot, unable to locate voting stations, incapable to know how and where to get a personal photo ID, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
With Democrats Franklin Pierce as President and William R. King as Vice, Davis' the pathway of destiny was set for Davis - "slavery could not have a stronger friend in the White House." Davis' ascension and prestige within the Democratic Party and on into the newly established frontier of the Confederate States, reveals a sad story of a life filled with political and ideological misguidance, which included his Party's infamous Dred Scott decision.
President Davis and... War! "There are three major methods of financing a war: taxation, borrowing, and fiat money, with taxation the least inflationary... by 1863 the Confederate economy had become unmanageable. In January 1864, the inflation rate exploded past 600 percent... Davis never comprehended the dimensions of the disaster." These days he would have simply blamed others for this mess.
This work in more than just a biography of Davis, it features much concerning those around him, including his parents, and the happenings of their times. Davis' Second wife, a child bride who was fortunately 18 years old by the time they married, has a story and a special place of her own in this work - Davis was fast approaching his 37the birthday at the time. If you happen to have a grandparent, or great-grand, you may know that 15-25 years between age was not specifically uncommon.
This work also covers the war with Mexico to secure the lands Mexico 'commandeered' from Native Americans for James Polk's(D) 'expansion' endeavors that stemmed from Andrew Jackson's(D) 'Manifest Destiny' vision robbing land from the poor to give to the control of the elites.
Davis claimed he would never play the obstructionist and that supported 'State sovereignty' which included a state's right to secede from the Union. He also claimed, contrary to opponents’' accusations, that he never backed the majority Democratic position of legislative repudiation - the Democratic Party being the haven of repudiation. One wonders how he would have dealt with his Party's current habit of bailouts, free 'stimulus' money, and Bail-Ins.
Davis, as with many of his affiliates, I found to be excessively boring; I had expected this to be otherwise. One must be a die-hard devotee to find excitement within the tales of these individuals lives.
Other works that may be of interest:
-Speeches and Writings: 1832-1858 (Library of America) by Abraham Lincoln
-Speeches and Writings: 1859-1865 (Library of America) by Abraham Lincoln
-The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek
-The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt 1949
-Death of a Nation: Plantation Politics and the Making of the Democratic Party
With Democrats Franklin Pierce as President and William R. King as Vice, Davis' the pathway of destiny was set for Davis - "slavery could not have a stronger friend in the White House." Davis' ascension and prestige within the Democratic Party and on into the newly established frontier of the Confederate States, reveals a sad story of a life filled with political and ideological misguidance, which included his Party's infamous Dred Scott decision.
President Davis and... War! "There are three major methods of financing a war: taxation, borrowing, and fiat money, with taxation the least inflationary... by 1863 the Confederate economy had become unmanageable. In January 1864, the inflation rate exploded past 600 percent... Davis never comprehended the dimensions of the disaster." These days he would have simply blamed others for this mess.
This work in more than just a biography of Davis, it features much concerning those around him, including his parents, and the happenings of their times. Davis' Second wife, a child bride who was fortunately 18 years old by the time they married, has a story and a special place of her own in this work - Davis was fast approaching his 37the birthday at the time. If you happen to have a grandparent, or great-grand, you may know that 15-25 years between age was not specifically uncommon.
This work also covers the war with Mexico to secure the lands Mexico 'commandeered' from Native Americans for James Polk's(D) 'expansion' endeavors that stemmed from Andrew Jackson's(D) 'Manifest Destiny' vision robbing land from the poor to give to the control of the elites.
Davis claimed he would never play the obstructionist and that supported 'State sovereignty' which included a state's right to secede from the Union. He also claimed, contrary to opponents’' accusations, that he never backed the majority Democratic position of legislative repudiation - the Democratic Party being the haven of repudiation. One wonders how he would have dealt with his Party's current habit of bailouts, free 'stimulus' money, and Bail-Ins.
Davis, as with many of his affiliates, I found to be excessively boring; I had expected this to be otherwise. One must be a die-hard devotee to find excitement within the tales of these individuals lives.
Other works that may be of interest:
-Speeches and Writings: 1832-1858 (Library of America) by Abraham Lincoln
-Speeches and Writings: 1859-1865 (Library of America) by Abraham Lincoln
-The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek
-The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt 1949
-Death of a Nation: Plantation Politics and the Making of the Democratic Party
May 5, 2018
My goal for reading this book was to get a better understanding of the political, social, and military points of view within the Confederacy through the life and times of Jefferson Davis. My initial reservation about this book in general was that it would be a sympathetic account of Davis and the Confederacy, but I found it to be fair and even-handed. The author showed neither praise for nor condemnation of Davis or his views. Extensive use of personal, family, and associates' correspondence presents Davis as the incongruous figure he was - devoted family man with a sense of duty on one hand, ardent and unapologetic supporter of slavery and the inferiority of the African race on the other. A couple of aspects about the book stand out. First, it doesn't include a battle-by-battle account of the Civil War. Individual battles are mentioned casually in terms of their overall effects to the war effort and not as central topics. Second, it doesn't include an abundance of Confederate pro-slavery rhetoric. Naturally, the topic is brought up often but mostly in the context of explaining Davis's reasoning behind certain views or in his public and private correspondence. In presenting Davis' pro-slavery platform, the author generally lets Davis speak for himself through the aforementioned forums. It's interesting to note that Davis faced two of the same major challenges that Lincoln did - dealing inept and unmotivated generals at times and strong opposition within his own party. (Lincoln proved to be superior in dealing the former, and both were equally effective in dealing with the latter). A couple of things that aren't usually considered were of interest to me. One was the logistics of Davis' retreat from Richmond during the final days of the war, traveling in a a dwindling caravan as a fugitive, with none of the celebration and ceremony he previously enjoyed as President of the Confederacy. The other was his efforts in his final years to resurrect his former cotton plantation into an income-producing operation with the use of former enslaved workers who now enjoyed both freedom of movement and the ability to demand wages, generally speaking for the time. His struggles to find an adequate workforce willing to work in a relatively-isolated area, even for wages, underscores the fact that much antebellum wealth was created by almost non-existent labor costs. Overall, I got from the book about what I wanted - a personal but unbiased view of a central figure on the Confederacy and a better understanding of the Southern viewpoint, all without getting too bogged down in the minutiae sometimes found in large volume biographies.
April 27, 2020
The stars are for the book, not Davis the man. Cooper starts by announcing he will not be judging Davis by 21st century standards, but time and again there is sneaking admiration in his text. Davis was a military hero (albeit in an unjust war). As a Senator he fought a rearguard action to maintain equality of influence between slave and free states. Cooper takes Davis at face value in statements Davis made about his desire to preserve the Union without ever coming to grips with the fact that Davis' proposed solution was unworkable --- as Davis himself knew. Lincoln did not impose the secession choice on the South, the firebrands did. The so-called Confederate States of America represented an existential threat to the United States, and once hostilities commenced from South Carolina, Lincoln had very little choice but to confront it. Cooper keeps talking about how Davis' beliefs were sincere, deeply felt, whatever. They may have been all of those things, but even at the time he held them they were illegal (secession, not slavery). Moreover, the propagation of the Lost Cause nonsense, some of which is attributable to Davis memoirs, has done this country incalculable harm.
Cooper does a good job with Davis in the 1810-1850 period. He works hard to make Varina Davis likable, but . . . still, according to his letters she made Davis happy. At least once she calmed down and allowed his will to be hers.
It is a complete look at his life, albeit a trifle skimpy about the actual Civil War. Davis' military influence is described, but not a whole lot about how he actually functioned as a civil "president."
Cooper does a good job with Davis in the 1810-1850 period. He works hard to make Varina Davis likable, but . . . still, according to his letters she made Davis happy. At least once she calmed down and allowed his will to be hers.
It is a complete look at his life, albeit a trifle skimpy about the actual Civil War. Davis' military influence is described, but not a whole lot about how he actually functioned as a civil "president."
April 19, 2018
This biography is very thorough and detailed. The writing style is engaging. The author stated that he wanted to understand Jefferson Davis as a man of his time and not condemn him for not being a man of our time. Cooper did an excellent job of that, not condemning Davis for his racist views, but seeking to understand why he thought the way that he did.
I was motivated to read this book because I am trying to understand the motivation behind the secession of the Confederate states. Slavery absolutely played an important role in the politics leading up to the Civil War, but to say that the war was about slavery is a gross oversimplification. To say that the Civil War was only about states' rights also misses the mark, since the right of primary concern was the right to own slaves. Sectionalism and a desire to preserve a certain way of life certainly played a role in the secession too. The reasons behind the secession are complex and somewhat nuanced, and taking the time to read about the Civil War as experienced by the president of the Confederate States enlightened my understanding of what led to that terrible conflict.
A story that I found striking was the death of his first wife, Sarah Knox Taylor, just three months after their marriage.
I was motivated to read this book because I am trying to understand the motivation behind the secession of the Confederate states. Slavery absolutely played an important role in the politics leading up to the Civil War, but to say that the war was about slavery is a gross oversimplification. To say that the Civil War was only about states' rights also misses the mark, since the right of primary concern was the right to own slaves. Sectionalism and a desire to preserve a certain way of life certainly played a role in the secession too. The reasons behind the secession are complex and somewhat nuanced, and taking the time to read about the Civil War as experienced by the president of the Confederate States enlightened my understanding of what led to that terrible conflict.
A story that I found striking was the death of his first wife, Sarah Knox Taylor, just three months after their marriage.
January 7, 2022
This is ridiculous. Abandoned at the end of the preface. This guy knows *nothing* about American History. In 3 pages he managed to slander not only Jefferson Davis but Robert E. Lee and "Stonewall" Jackson as well. The author doesn't seem to realize that America was *built* on slavery. Racial slavery. Now I hear that the statues of the Confederate generals are being destroyed or removed. I wonder, why not remove the pictures of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson from your banknotes? Founding Fathers? Yes, of course. Slave owners? Both of them. Washington even had an affair, and offspring, with a slave woman he *owned*, and this is a proven historical fact.
When the Confederacy was defeated the Union occupied, with military forces, all those States, and this kept going on for decades. This was but another form of slavery.
I majored in American History, especially the Civil War. Where it came from, what were the causes (money, as in every war ever fought), and also trying to understand the men who made such a radical decision, to break off from the Union.
Well, ask yourselves those same questions about the UK and Brexit. OUR Union can live without Cameron, May and Johnson--but they will soon understand that they can't live without us.
When the Confederacy was defeated the Union occupied, with military forces, all those States, and this kept going on for decades. This was but another form of slavery.
I majored in American History, especially the Civil War. Where it came from, what were the causes (money, as in every war ever fought), and also trying to understand the men who made such a radical decision, to break off from the Union.
Well, ask yourselves those same questions about the UK and Brexit. OUR Union can live without Cameron, May and Johnson--but they will soon understand that they can't live without us.
February 16, 2025
I thought Cooper did a very nice job of laying out the life of Jefferson Davis for the reader. He was fair, yet honest, in his assessment of Davis.
I appreciate the early parts of the book surrounding Davis’ childhood and early adult life. I was also honestly not aware that Jefferson Davis had been married before his marriage to Varina Davis. Also, the early chapters give the reader insight into just how Davis was shaped and came to hold some of the beliefs he had as an adult, and ultimately as the President of the CSA.
No sane person could ever look at slavery as a positive good. It, slavery, can only be seen as a terrible evil, and stain on our country; however, I do have a better understanding of what was going on in the US at the time that lead up to the Civil War, thanks to Cooper’s book. Love Davis, or hate him, but allow the information in this book to help you better understand the man, and what he was thinking, as he guided a fledgling nation against what was perceived as Northern aggression toward the South. His views on states rights were very interesting, and were obviously a large part of his decisions that led to secession. I would also argue that Davis was a great leader, but would probably not be considered a great President.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
I appreciate the early parts of the book surrounding Davis’ childhood and early adult life. I was also honestly not aware that Jefferson Davis had been married before his marriage to Varina Davis. Also, the early chapters give the reader insight into just how Davis was shaped and came to hold some of the beliefs he had as an adult, and ultimately as the President of the CSA.
No sane person could ever look at slavery as a positive good. It, slavery, can only be seen as a terrible evil, and stain on our country; however, I do have a better understanding of what was going on in the US at the time that lead up to the Civil War, thanks to Cooper’s book. Love Davis, or hate him, but allow the information in this book to help you better understand the man, and what he was thinking, as he guided a fledgling nation against what was perceived as Northern aggression toward the South. His views on states rights were very interesting, and were obviously a large part of his decisions that led to secession. I would also argue that Davis was a great leader, but would probably not be considered a great President.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
November 15, 2017
Title should be tweaked to "Jefferson Davis, Un-American." In addition to taking the wrong side in the Civil War, he displayed several traits that didn't reflect the character of the emerging American empire. If the business of America is truly business, his micro-management of the Confederate war effort was not a management technique to endear him to the generations of business gurus that would follow. And his attempts to reconcile the South's passion for independence and liberty with its determination to keep hundreds of thousands of people in bonds is as tortured and grim a moral philosophy as anything that came from the Old World.
That is not to say that he did not lead a life worth examining, and Cooper's biography is masterful, not only in telling Davis and the Confederacy's stories, but also in examining the antebellum events in American history that you know the names of but nothing else - the Wilmot Proviso, Free Soil Democrats, the Gadsden Purchase, assorted Compromises, etc.
That is not to say that he did not lead a life worth examining, and Cooper's biography is masterful, not only in telling Davis and the Confederacy's stories, but also in examining the antebellum events in American history that you know the names of but nothing else - the Wilmot Proviso, Free Soil Democrats, the Gadsden Purchase, assorted Compromises, etc.
May 24, 2020
There are so many biographies out there of Jefferson Davis. One of the most impressive was compiled by noted Southern history author William Davis, called Jefferson Davis, The Man and His Hour.
This books improves on William Davis's already impressive scholarship. Cooper is a fluent writer, and presents an understanding view of Davis' enormous challenges as president of the Confederacy. It does not feel like he is particularly sympathetic to Jefferson Davis, nor is he antagonistic. On the contrary, he seems to offer a balanced view of Davis' leadership qualities (or lack thereof), his many flaws, and the downright absurdity of his position, trying to lead a movement that was constantly losing ground throughout the war, while still rousing the public spirit.
Give Jefferson Davis credit: he was tenacious, and in the end, probably the last person on earth who truly believed that the Confederacy would survive.
Cooper provides us an insightful and perhaps the most compelling study of a man who will continue to fascinate historians for decades to come.
This books improves on William Davis's already impressive scholarship. Cooper is a fluent writer, and presents an understanding view of Davis' enormous challenges as president of the Confederacy. It does not feel like he is particularly sympathetic to Jefferson Davis, nor is he antagonistic. On the contrary, he seems to offer a balanced view of Davis' leadership qualities (or lack thereof), his many flaws, and the downright absurdity of his position, trying to lead a movement that was constantly losing ground throughout the war, while still rousing the public spirit.
Give Jefferson Davis credit: he was tenacious, and in the end, probably the last person on earth who truly believed that the Confederacy would survive.
Cooper provides us an insightful and perhaps the most compelling study of a man who will continue to fascinate historians for decades to come.
August 9, 2017
An interesting, thoughtful look at Jefferson Davis. Because most of us have grown up hearing Lincoln's side of the conflict, it was intriguing to hear a familiar story from an entirely new perspective. Most biographers eventually reveal personal bias through use of adjectives or characterizations, and Cooper is no exception. He characterizes a military reorganization that occurs late in the war as a masterstoke by Davis, when it would probably have been more accurate to state that his temporary solution was too little/too late, and caused more human suffering by extending the war. In fact, the author's pro-Davis bias is enough to make me curious to read more critical biography in the future. Also, I wish the book had had an epilogue to reveal what happened to his wife and children after his death (I had to look it up on Wikipedia!). But those qualifications aside, the book is well written and a must-read for any Civil War history buff.
July 24, 2023
I must admit knowing next to nothing about Davis before beginning this biography. His was a life peculiarly suited for his time and place. Although he is an honourable, stereotypical member of the Southern gentry - it is difficult to empathise with him.
Davis was after all, a successful manager of his agrarian estate, a military hero, a skilful politician, and a (relatively) kind slaveholder. He was by most accounts a charming, courteous and well-mannered man protective of the honour due to himself and his family. Yet, the intransigence in which he led his life reveals a lack of humility and an inability to adapt to changing circumstances.
It cannot be denied that next to the memory of his antagonist, Davis is almost morally dwarfed by the Great Emancipator. And rightfully so. But the manful manner in which Davis faced tragedy, both political and personal, is characteristic of the honour which he so cherished.
Davis was after all, a successful manager of his agrarian estate, a military hero, a skilful politician, and a (relatively) kind slaveholder. He was by most accounts a charming, courteous and well-mannered man protective of the honour due to himself and his family. Yet, the intransigence in which he led his life reveals a lack of humility and an inability to adapt to changing circumstances.
It cannot be denied that next to the memory of his antagonist, Davis is almost morally dwarfed by the Great Emancipator. And rightfully so. But the manful manner in which Davis faced tragedy, both political and personal, is characteristic of the honour which he so cherished.
July 16, 2024
One of if not the best biography I have ever read. Cooper justly critiques Davis's views on slavery and the Confederacy, but is historically fair and sympathetic to Davis as well. Cooper reiterates throughout the book that Davis saw himself as a true heir of the Founders and a true American patriot when it came to his interpretation of the Constitution. Until the end of his life, Davis heartily believed that Southern secession was a constitutional right guaranteed by the US Constitution. Cooper does a fantastic job of defending this argument by pointing out that Davis never asked for a pardon, accepting imprisonment after the war even though he believed himself innocent. Truly a fantastic biography of one of American history's most controversial figures. Historically fair without being vilifying. I would recommend this as my #1 recommendation for a biography of Jefferson Davis.
September 15, 2025
Jefferson Davis is best remembered as the President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War yet he had a long political career before that and always viewed himself as an local American citizen throughout his life.
in this exhausting researched biography William Cooper Jr. delves into Davis' life and career. Davis spent most of his life far from home being sent to schools to gain an education, serving in the military, or representing Mississippi in the U.S. Congress, serving as Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce or campaigning across Mississippi for the Democratic party.
Cooper does a great job of not defending Davis' views on slavery or state's rights yet navigating how strongly important these views were to Davis over his long life. Cooper also does an excellent job of discussing Davis' relationships with his family especially his brother Joseph who served as a surrogate father to Davis, his second wife Varina and their children.
This book is a great read for anyone interested in Jefferson Davis and U.S. history.
in this exhausting researched biography William Cooper Jr. delves into Davis' life and career. Davis spent most of his life far from home being sent to schools to gain an education, serving in the military, or representing Mississippi in the U.S. Congress, serving as Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce or campaigning across Mississippi for the Democratic party.
Cooper does a great job of not defending Davis' views on slavery or state's rights yet navigating how strongly important these views were to Davis over his long life. Cooper also does an excellent job of discussing Davis' relationships with his family especially his brother Joseph who served as a surrogate father to Davis, his second wife Varina and their children.
This book is a great read for anyone interested in Jefferson Davis and U.S. history.
October 27, 2019
I've never been interested in Jefferson Davis or his beliefs, but after reading a bio on Robert E. Lee, U.S. Grant & Abraham Lincoln I thought it was only fair to read one on Jefferson Davis & I'm so glad I did. I was taken back by how much I liked him & how contradictory his character was. I do wish the author had mentioned his involvement in the state capital design, Mary Bowser & Jim Limber though. I was also disappointed in the ending. I wish the author would've discussed his burial & given a quick rundown of what happened to his family after his death, but other than that I'm pretty happy with the author's telling of Davis's life.
October 22, 2020
Remarkable in its depth and detail. Over 700 pages but it never loses focus. While he is not someone who evokes empathy, he was remarkably consistent with his views on the constitution, state rights and his most offensive view of African Americans. If one is interested in a good overview of the legal aspects of the conflict, at least as pronounced by the South, this is a good book. It also paints a personal view of Davis, his family, and the numerous tragedies endured, including the death of 4 sons.
April 10, 2024
A very good and engaging biography. The South and Davis really came to life. It gave me a much broader perspective of the Civil War and the Confederacy.
I'd have given it five stars, but the author sometimes seems to draw conclusions that seem at odds with the facts he presents, which comes across as just a bit too apologetic. Even by the standards of his own time Davis can be judged more harshly than he is here. I'm sure in his own mind Davis was entirely respectable and consistent, but I don’t follow that self-evaluation as "slavishly" as the author seems to do just a little too much.
I'd have given it five stars, but the author sometimes seems to draw conclusions that seem at odds with the facts he presents, which comes across as just a bit too apologetic. Even by the standards of his own time Davis can be judged more harshly than he is here. I'm sure in his own mind Davis was entirely respectable and consistent, but I don’t follow that self-evaluation as "slavishly" as the author seems to do just a little too much.
August 19, 2021
Very thoughtfully written. Recommended!
I had never read much of anything about Jefferson Davis before, but I’m glad the first thing I read was this book. In our racially charged age, it is refreshing to read an account that approaches slavery with sensitivity while also avoiding polemics or politics. He treats Davis as a human being. The reader is left with room to disagree with Davis views while also respecting the man and where he is coming from. Highly recommended.
I had never read much of anything about Jefferson Davis before, but I’m glad the first thing I read was this book. In our racially charged age, it is refreshing to read an account that approaches slavery with sensitivity while also avoiding polemics or politics. He treats Davis as a human being. The reader is left with room to disagree with Davis views while also respecting the man and where he is coming from. Highly recommended.
February 21, 2019
3 1/2 stars. Overbearingly detailed at times but contains everything you would need/want to know. Wasnt captivating or thrilling but was certainly interesting enough to keep me reading.
September 28, 2020
Somewhat lengthy biography containing some 1st hand information ... Interesting part of our American History that would serve well for people to be aware of.
December 16, 2021
This is such an excellent biography that I have now sought out other books written by the author to read them as well.
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