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Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy
The first major biography of the statesman who fought for racial and economic equality alongside Presidents Lincoln and Grant.
During his seven-decade career in public life, George Sewall Boutwell sought to “redeem America’s promise” of racial equality, economic equity, and the principled use of American power abroad. From 1840 to 1905, Boutwell was at the center of efforts to abolish slavery, establish the Republican Party, assist President Lincoln in funding the Union war effort, facilitate Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, impeach President Andrew Johnson, and frame and enact the Fourteenth and Fifteenth civil rights amendments. He helped lay the foundations of the modern American economy with President Grant, investigated white terrorism in Mississippi in the 1870s, and opposed American imperialism following the Spanish-American War alongside Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain, and Booker T. Washington. The son of a Massachusetts farming family of modest means, George Boutwell would do battle during his career with American political royalty, including Henry Cabot Lodge and Teddy Roosevelt.
The first major biography of an important public figure who has long been hiding in plain sight, Boutwell is as much a history of nineteenth-century US politics as it is a critique of the failures of governance during a turbulent and formative period in American history.
During his seven-decade career in public life, George Sewall Boutwell sought to “redeem America’s promise” of racial equality, economic equity, and the principled use of American power abroad. From 1840 to 1905, Boutwell was at the center of efforts to abolish slavery, establish the Republican Party, assist President Lincoln in funding the Union war effort, facilitate Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, impeach President Andrew Johnson, and frame and enact the Fourteenth and Fifteenth civil rights amendments. He helped lay the foundations of the modern American economy with President Grant, investigated white terrorism in Mississippi in the 1870s, and opposed American imperialism following the Spanish-American War alongside Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain, and Booker T. Washington. The son of a Massachusetts farming family of modest means, George Boutwell would do battle during his career with American political royalty, including Henry Cabot Lodge and Teddy Roosevelt.
The first major biography of an important public figure who has long been hiding in plain sight, Boutwell is as much a history of nineteenth-century US politics as it is a critique of the failures of governance during a turbulent and formative period in American history.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 12, 2025
In movies and TV, there is the phenomenon of "that guy". It's usually someone who shows up and left and right but is never the main character or star. I think this perfectly encapsulates the life of George Boutwell which is chronicled in Boutwell by Jeffrey Boutwell. (I tried rewriting the sentence multiple times but there is not way to break up all those Boutwells.)
Let's look at some of the stats for the man you most likely just said "who?" about when you read the first paragraph. He was in American politics for seven decades. He was a governor, Secretary of the Treasury, senator, and representative. He worked with Lincoln, Grant, and was a major player in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson (who, as a reminder, sucked). He stood up for civil rights and was a fervent anti-imperialist. So why the heck is he so unknown?
That is exactly what the author (yes, they are related) seeks to explain. Boutwell was more like a best supporting actor than lead. He was always involved, but he was not the expert orators of his peers and could be quite prickly about things. Needless to say, I learned a lot about him since I started from nothing.
The author Boutwell does a good job laying out the multitude of events his subject was a part of. I had a few minor critiques of his writing. There are times where he jumps to later events in the middle of the narrative which throw off the flow. Other sections could probably have been shortened. These are minor issues in an overall very good book.
(This book was provided as a review copy by W.W. Norton and Company.)
Let's look at some of the stats for the man you most likely just said "who?" about when you read the first paragraph. He was in American politics for seven decades. He was a governor, Secretary of the Treasury, senator, and representative. He worked with Lincoln, Grant, and was a major player in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson (who, as a reminder, sucked). He stood up for civil rights and was a fervent anti-imperialist. So why the heck is he so unknown?
That is exactly what the author (yes, they are related) seeks to explain. Boutwell was more like a best supporting actor than lead. He was always involved, but he was not the expert orators of his peers and could be quite prickly about things. Needless to say, I learned a lot about him since I started from nothing.
The author Boutwell does a good job laying out the multitude of events his subject was a part of. I had a few minor critiques of his writing. There are times where he jumps to later events in the middle of the narrative which throw off the flow. Other sections could probably have been shortened. These are minor issues in an overall very good book.
(This book was provided as a review copy by W.W. Norton and Company.)
November 1, 2025
Small town lawyer outside the wealthy elite, Governor of Massachusetts, Representative in Congress, Senator, Secretary of the Treasury, and fighter against imperialism to the very end.
Take a step back from the biggest names of the 19th century and learn about a man who was there for many of our biggest fights. He was the frontman testing the waters for Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, He championed the Civil War amendments and documented for Congress when Reconstruction failed.
When fights arose on how to fund our nation with its expanding role came about-- he was in the bureaucratic trenches figuring out how to create a new system.
Not a perfect man but an interesting one who lived his life as best as his ambition and principles could let him. He is a good mirror to see America in the 19th Century. Boutwell's life show the choices against the grain one man can make even if not everything succeeds. He believed in Our Repbulic and the rights of all Americans and people of the world to build a nation that represents them.
Take a step back from the biggest names of the 19th century and learn about a man who was there for many of our biggest fights. He was the frontman testing the waters for Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, He championed the Civil War amendments and documented for Congress when Reconstruction failed.
When fights arose on how to fund our nation with its expanding role came about-- he was in the bureaucratic trenches figuring out how to create a new system.
Not a perfect man but an interesting one who lived his life as best as his ambition and principles could let him. He is a good mirror to see America in the 19th Century. Boutwell's life show the choices against the grain one man can make even if not everything succeeds. He believed in Our Repbulic and the rights of all Americans and people of the world to build a nation that represents them.
January 6, 2025
The old adage of calling someone "the most important person you never heard of" is cliche, but it certainly applies to George Boutwell. His political career spanned Massachusetts Governor, Abraham Lincoln's first commissioner of revenue, a US congressman, then Ulysses S. Grant's secretary of the treasury and a US Senator. With Civil War imminent, he participated in the Peace Convention negotiations, then after the war, he served as one of the managers of the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. Through it all, Boutwell maintained strong principles of equality and compassion. He stood up for emancipation and equal rights, then later was vocal in his opposition to the growing US forays into imperialism during the Spanish-American war. He was indeed an important player from the mid through end of the nineteenth century. Jeffrey Boutwell, a distant ancestor of George, has written an impeccably researched and yet intensely readable biography.
David J. Kent
Author, Lincoln: The Fire of Genius
David J. Kent
Author, Lincoln: The Fire of Genius
January 11, 2025
Thank you so much to Goodreads, WW Norton and Company, and Jeffrey Bout well for the ARC.
It was very informative and extensively researched and I learned a lot about this period of time in United States history. As informative as it was the author also did a brilliant job at telling the story so it was easy to read and kept me wanting to read more.
It was very informative and extensively researched and I learned a lot about this period of time in United States history. As informative as it was the author also did a brilliant job at telling the story so it was easy to read and kept me wanting to read more.
May 8, 2025
Learning About George Boutwell
Many people, both well-known and obscure, have made valuable contributions to our country. Counted among those less-known is George Sewall Boutwell (1818 - 1905), who enjoyed a seven-decade career of public service yet remains little remembered today. Jeffrey Boutwell, a writer, historian, and science policy specialist (as well as distant relation of his subject) has written the first major biography of Boutwell titled, Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy. In it he tries to show why George Boutwell is important and deserves wider remembrance.
The author states that his interest in his subject stemmed from reading a book about the Reconstruction Era and becoming fascinated by the courage George Boutwell showed while serving in the US Senate. While Reconstruction was nearing its end, Boutwell traveled to Jackson and Aberdeen, Mississippi to document white supremacist violence and efforts there to deny Black voting rights during elections in 1875. Boutwell and his committee collected extensive evidence about the extent and nature of the intimidation inflicted upon Black Americans.
Learning this information moved the author to explore George Boutwell's career in depth, including his service in the Lincoln and Grant administrations and his role in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. This moving and thorough biography is the result. The book consists of an Introduction and Epilogue and five chapters discussing Boutwell's early life, his service during the Lincoln administration, his role during the Johnson presidency, his long-term relationship with Ulysses Grant, and his later years.
Boutwell was born into a farming family in Massachusetts of modest means and was largely self- taught. As a young man, he became active in business, law, and politics and served two terms as a Democratic governor of Massachusetts while still in his early 30s. Strongly opposed to slavery, Boutwell left the Democratic Party in 1854 and participated in the formation of the Republican Party in Massachusetts. He participated in drafting the 1860 Republican platform leading to the election of Abraham Lincoln. Boutwell distinguished himself during Lincoln's administration as the first Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, responsible for raising the funds necessary for the prosecution of the Civil War. Boutwell then served as a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts where he helped draw up the Articles of Impeachment against Andrew Johnson, participated in drafting the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, and began a long friendship with Ulysses S. Grant.
During Grant's first term, Boutwell served as the Secretary of the Treasury where he foiled an attempt by speculators to capture the gold market and worked to put the United States on sound financial footing by retiring the large Civil War debt. Throughout, he was a strong supporter of equal political and civil rights for African Americans. Boutwell served in the Senate during Grant's second term and urged him to remain firm on Reconstruction.
Denied a second term in the Senate, Boutwell remained active in politics and had another important moment in the public eye late in his life. He strongly opposed imperialism and the United States conquest of the Philippines following the Spanish American War. Boutwell became leader of the opposition to annex the Philippines and spoke out eloquently against it. Although a staunch Republican since 1854, Boutwell felt so strongly about the Philippine Annexation that he changed his political affiliation again and returned to the Democratic Party.
Jeffrey Boutwell writes well with knowledge of and admiration for his subject. The book weaves together Boutwell's life and activities with complex, momentous events across several periods of American history. The author stresses Boutwell's lifelong commitment and activism in the areas of equal rights for African Americans and his careful, detail-oriented service as Commissioner of the IRS and as Secretary of the Treasury. The author also shows impressive insight into American history during Boutwell's long years of service. The book occasionally loses its focus on Boutwell in its discussion of the broader history. And while the author discusses Boutwell's accomplishments in detail, Boutwell himself remains an enigma. The book shows Boutwell's public life but much less of the private man. This may be due to the reticence of the nineteenth century on private matters and to Boutwell's tendency to work behind the scenes and in part out of public view.
The author in fact points to Boutwell's reticence as a reason for his relative historical neglect. He also suggests that Boutwell has suffered inattention due to his role in the Johnson impeachment, his affiliation with the Grant presidency and its taints of corruption, his strong support of Radical Reconstruction, and his opposition to annexation of the Philippines. Historians have revised and revisited their views of each of these matters in recent years.
Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy tells the story of a dedicated and thoughtful public servant, something of an unsung hero, who made important contributions to the United States. Jeffrey Boutwell has performed a service in writing this book which will be of interest and benefit to students of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
This review was posted on the Emerging Civil War (ECW) website on April 3, 2025 and is used here with permission.
Robin Friedman
Many people, both well-known and obscure, have made valuable contributions to our country. Counted among those less-known is George Sewall Boutwell (1818 - 1905), who enjoyed a seven-decade career of public service yet remains little remembered today. Jeffrey Boutwell, a writer, historian, and science policy specialist (as well as distant relation of his subject) has written the first major biography of Boutwell titled, Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy. In it he tries to show why George Boutwell is important and deserves wider remembrance.
The author states that his interest in his subject stemmed from reading a book about the Reconstruction Era and becoming fascinated by the courage George Boutwell showed while serving in the US Senate. While Reconstruction was nearing its end, Boutwell traveled to Jackson and Aberdeen, Mississippi to document white supremacist violence and efforts there to deny Black voting rights during elections in 1875. Boutwell and his committee collected extensive evidence about the extent and nature of the intimidation inflicted upon Black Americans.
Learning this information moved the author to explore George Boutwell's career in depth, including his service in the Lincoln and Grant administrations and his role in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. This moving and thorough biography is the result. The book consists of an Introduction and Epilogue and five chapters discussing Boutwell's early life, his service during the Lincoln administration, his role during the Johnson presidency, his long-term relationship with Ulysses Grant, and his later years.
Boutwell was born into a farming family in Massachusetts of modest means and was largely self- taught. As a young man, he became active in business, law, and politics and served two terms as a Democratic governor of Massachusetts while still in his early 30s. Strongly opposed to slavery, Boutwell left the Democratic Party in 1854 and participated in the formation of the Republican Party in Massachusetts. He participated in drafting the 1860 Republican platform leading to the election of Abraham Lincoln. Boutwell distinguished himself during Lincoln's administration as the first Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, responsible for raising the funds necessary for the prosecution of the Civil War. Boutwell then served as a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts where he helped draw up the Articles of Impeachment against Andrew Johnson, participated in drafting the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, and began a long friendship with Ulysses S. Grant.
During Grant's first term, Boutwell served as the Secretary of the Treasury where he foiled an attempt by speculators to capture the gold market and worked to put the United States on sound financial footing by retiring the large Civil War debt. Throughout, he was a strong supporter of equal political and civil rights for African Americans. Boutwell served in the Senate during Grant's second term and urged him to remain firm on Reconstruction.
Denied a second term in the Senate, Boutwell remained active in politics and had another important moment in the public eye late in his life. He strongly opposed imperialism and the United States conquest of the Philippines following the Spanish American War. Boutwell became leader of the opposition to annex the Philippines and spoke out eloquently against it. Although a staunch Republican since 1854, Boutwell felt so strongly about the Philippine Annexation that he changed his political affiliation again and returned to the Democratic Party.
Jeffrey Boutwell writes well with knowledge of and admiration for his subject. The book weaves together Boutwell's life and activities with complex, momentous events across several periods of American history. The author stresses Boutwell's lifelong commitment and activism in the areas of equal rights for African Americans and his careful, detail-oriented service as Commissioner of the IRS and as Secretary of the Treasury. The author also shows impressive insight into American history during Boutwell's long years of service. The book occasionally loses its focus on Boutwell in its discussion of the broader history. And while the author discusses Boutwell's accomplishments in detail, Boutwell himself remains an enigma. The book shows Boutwell's public life but much less of the private man. This may be due to the reticence of the nineteenth century on private matters and to Boutwell's tendency to work behind the scenes and in part out of public view.
The author in fact points to Boutwell's reticence as a reason for his relative historical neglect. He also suggests that Boutwell has suffered inattention due to his role in the Johnson impeachment, his affiliation with the Grant presidency and its taints of corruption, his strong support of Radical Reconstruction, and his opposition to annexation of the Philippines. Historians have revised and revisited their views of each of these matters in recent years.
Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy tells the story of a dedicated and thoughtful public servant, something of an unsung hero, who made important contributions to the United States. Jeffrey Boutwell has performed a service in writing this book which will be of interest and benefit to students of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
This review was posted on the Emerging Civil War (ECW) website on April 3, 2025 and is used here with permission.
Robin Friedman
May 18, 2025
I picked up this book because I, too, have some Boutwell ancestry back in the 18th century and earlier, so the subject of this biography, George Sewall Boutwell, and the author, Jeffrey Boutwell are both distant cousins of mine. George was a resident of Massachusetts, a farmer and tradesman, who also studied law and practiced as a lawyer, who got into politics, initially a Democrat, who served as a governor of Massachusetts. He was totally anti-slavery and so in the mid-1850s he ended up as one of the founders of the Republican Party. During Abraham Lincoln's presidency, he served as the Commissioner of Internal Revenue which was important for financing the Civil War. Thereafter he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he supported the Reconstruction efforts in the South to ensure racial equality and African Americans the right to vote. He was one of the pushers of President Andrew Johnson's impeachment (which failed by one vote in the Senate), because he felt the Johnson was too lenient on the ex-Confederates. In Ulysses S. Grant's first term, he served as Grant's Secretary of the Treasury. Thereafter he served as a Senator from Massachusetts.
In the late 19th century, he opposed American imperialism, not wanting us to annex Hawaii, and, after the Spanish-American War of 1898 opposing our taking over the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other territories. He was one of the founders of the Anti-Imperialist League and served as its first president. As such, he opposed the foreign policies of Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, and late in life, he left the Republican Party. It was all a losing cause for them - Roosevelt (who succeeded McKinley as president when the latter was assassinated in 1901) prevailed. Boutwell died on February 27, 1905, at his home in Groton, Massachusetts.
This is a well-researched, well-written book. The author goes at great lengths to explain the contexts of the times and why George took the positions he did. Reading it, one really gets a feel for what was going on throughout the mid to late 19th century in the United States.
In the late 19th century, he opposed American imperialism, not wanting us to annex Hawaii, and, after the Spanish-American War of 1898 opposing our taking over the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other territories. He was one of the founders of the Anti-Imperialist League and served as its first president. As such, he opposed the foreign policies of Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, and late in life, he left the Republican Party. It was all a losing cause for them - Roosevelt (who succeeded McKinley as president when the latter was assassinated in 1901) prevailed. Boutwell died on February 27, 1905, at his home in Groton, Massachusetts.
This is a well-researched, well-written book. The author goes at great lengths to explain the contexts of the times and why George took the positions he did. Reading it, one really gets a feel for what was going on throughout the mid to late 19th century in the United States.
April 4, 2025
The author’s website explains why anyone who cares about 19th-century American history should read this book:
“George S. Boutwell is the most consequential American political figure you've never heard of. During his career from 1839 to 1905, he was Governor of Massachusetts, served in the U.S. House and Senate, was Treasury Secretary for Ulysses Grant and Commissioner of Internal Revenue for Abraham Lincoln, helped create the Republican Party in the 1850s, and challenged the efforts of Presidents McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt to annex the Philippines in 1900 following the Spanish-American war. He was instrumental in framing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, initiating the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and investigating white vigilante violence against Blacks in Mississippi in the 1870s.”
Jeffrey Boutwell (who shares a common ancestor with George Boutwell) writes superbly and leaves us admiring George Boutwell, though he does not hesitate to criticize him where appropriate. We admire George Boutwell because he was not only an abolitionist as to slavery, but because he was ahead of his time in fighting for equal rights for African Americans in every respect, including the right to vote. We admire him also for his fight against American imperialism in the late 19th century and for standing up for his principles without regard to the consequences. It seems amazing that George Boutwell isn���t better known, but this book will change that.
“George S. Boutwell is the most consequential American political figure you've never heard of. During his career from 1839 to 1905, he was Governor of Massachusetts, served in the U.S. House and Senate, was Treasury Secretary for Ulysses Grant and Commissioner of Internal Revenue for Abraham Lincoln, helped create the Republican Party in the 1850s, and challenged the efforts of Presidents McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt to annex the Philippines in 1900 following the Spanish-American war. He was instrumental in framing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, initiating the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and investigating white vigilante violence against Blacks in Mississippi in the 1870s.”
Jeffrey Boutwell (who shares a common ancestor with George Boutwell) writes superbly and leaves us admiring George Boutwell, though he does not hesitate to criticize him where appropriate. We admire George Boutwell because he was not only an abolitionist as to slavery, but because he was ahead of his time in fighting for equal rights for African Americans in every respect, including the right to vote. We admire him also for his fight against American imperialism in the late 19th century and for standing up for his principles without regard to the consequences. It seems amazing that George Boutwell isn���t better known, but this book will change that.
February 26, 2025
The author is an indirect descendant of George Boutwell. Boutwell served in a wide variety of public positions. He started from humble beginnings which then stretched from Congress and the Senate, to being Lincoln's collector of revenues and helping to define the early stages of tax administration, to being a major force in the radical republicans after the Civil War, to helping to codify the US Codes. He was a faithful supporter of civil rights including having a major role in writing the 14th Amendment. During his career he moved among four parties (including having a role in the founding of the GOP only to withdraw from it when the party moved to jingoism. So over a very long political career he moved among four parties.
So why is he not well known - there are plenty of reasons in part coming from a stern New England approach to life but also because at each stage other players to the limelight. There are a lot things which he did were the initiations of things to come but I also think many of his most cherished beliefs were not subject to figuring out how to get most of what he wanted.
So why is he not well known - there are plenty of reasons in part coming from a stern New England approach to life but also because at each stage other players to the limelight. There are a lot things which he did were the initiations of things to come but I also think many of his most cherished beliefs were not subject to figuring out how to get most of what he wanted.
November 6, 2024
After reading this Advance Review Copy of Boutwell, Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy, I stand in admiration of life well lived. He bravely stood up for the Black Civil Rights and fought against American imperialism.
He knew the value of education, hard work and determination. He believed in religious freedom, and was a member of the Transcendentalist Club, along with Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller and Bronson Alcott. His home town, Groton, Massachusetts was in the 1840s a part of the Underground Railroad. Boutwell learned from a black mother of the tragic experience of having her daughter sold down the river. He saw for himself the slave pens.
His character and determination to work for civil rights are shown in the description of the scenes vividly depicted in this book. His experience with presidents spans from the birth of the Republican Party with Abraham Lincoln all the way to Teddy Roosevelt.
I highly recommend this book.
He knew the value of education, hard work and determination. He believed in religious freedom, and was a member of the Transcendentalist Club, along with Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller and Bronson Alcott. His home town, Groton, Massachusetts was in the 1840s a part of the Underground Railroad. Boutwell learned from a black mother of the tragic experience of having her daughter sold down the river. He saw for himself the slave pens.
His character and determination to work for civil rights are shown in the description of the scenes vividly depicted in this book. His experience with presidents spans from the birth of the Republican Party with Abraham Lincoln all the way to Teddy Roosevelt.
I highly recommend this book.
February 27, 2025
Wonderfully researched and expertly written historical account of a previously unknown political figure of the second half of the 19th century. Author Jeffrey Boutwell brings to life an important chapter and character in American history navigating a long and storied political career from Massachusetts to Washington DC. George Boutwell’s life spanned roles as a state politician and eventually governor of MA, in congress and serving in the Lincoln and Grant administrations. This biography brings to life a tumultuous era in US history with interesting parallels to certain elements of modern political challenges such as presidential impeachments, fighting for human rights of historically oppressed peoples, and constitutional interpretations. A well written and highly enjoyable account!
July 1, 2025
What I really liked about this book was how Jeffrey Boutwell took a figure who was involved (though not at the center) of many of the major changes in American life from 1850-1900 and not only told his story, but used his life to illuminate the developments of the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Gilded Age and the rise of American imperialism.
There are a few moments where Boutwell (the author) dips into hagiography about Boutwell (the subject), but not so much that it's too distracting from the overall book. This would serve as a nice addition to Americans' understanding of the late 19th century.
There are a few moments where Boutwell (the author) dips into hagiography about Boutwell (the subject), but not so much that it's too distracting from the overall book. This would serve as a nice addition to Americans' understanding of the late 19th century.
February 25, 2025
A must read for lovers of history and democracy
“Boutwell,” a historical treaty and biography is an instructive and fascinating read. The book reestablishes Boutwell as a leading figure in our political history from the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. More importantly, it raises relevant questions in today’s America: the need to follow the laws, the issue of pronounced social inequality, and the resurgence of white supremacy. Has the country changed at all since 150 years ago?
“Boutwell,” a historical treaty and biography is an instructive and fascinating read. The book reestablishes Boutwell as a leading figure in our political history from the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. More importantly, it raises relevant questions in today’s America: the need to follow the laws, the issue of pronounced social inequality, and the resurgence of white supremacy. Has the country changed at all since 150 years ago?
February 17, 2025
Boutwell is a thoroughly researched biography about a very important and capable behind-the-scenes figure who was instrumental in advocating for the abolishment of slavery and who was a confidant to two of our greatest presidents. The book is much more than a biography as it provides the context of the times that influenced the actions of the nation's leaders. I'm receiving a great education through this book.
December 12, 2025
Boutwell was a remarkable figure of his time. A remarkable politician who stood up to hatred for equality.
However, Boutwell lacked the visionary clarity that figures like Sumner had, and this biography is less good at getting into the political coalition-building that workhorse politicians should rightly be credited for. Although I enjoyed this biography, I recommend Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation by Zaakir Tameez more.
However, Boutwell lacked the visionary clarity that figures like Sumner had, and this biography is less good at getting into the political coalition-building that workhorse politicians should rightly be credited for. Although I enjoyed this biography, I recommend Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation by Zaakir Tameez more.
March 16, 2025
History told through the life of the supporting cast.
This is a well researched biography of a nineteen century leader who, because he was never a president or a general I for one did not know. The book is well written and provides many insights into America through slavery, the Civil War, and reconstruction by a critical player.
This is a well researched biography of a nineteen century leader who, because he was never a president or a general I for one did not know. The book is well written and provides many insights into America through slavery, the Civil War, and reconstruction by a critical player.
February 22, 2025
Terrific biography of this important figure of the Lincoln era.
May 6, 2025
Should be standard history reading
July 20, 2025
Interesting account of an important if mostly forgotten figure in the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Anti-Imperialism movements. Life that really traces much of this chapter of US History.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews