William Henry Seward

by Glyndon G. Van Deusen

An in-depth biography of William Henry Seward, who served in the New York State Senate, as governor of New York (1839-1943), and in the United States Senate (1849-1861). A close adviser to Pres. Abraham Lincoln, he served as U.S. Secretary of State (1861-1869). He helped prevent foreign recognition of the Confederacy and obtained settlement in the Trent Affair.

Genres: Biography

677 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Glyndon G. Van Deusen graduated from the University of Rochester in 1925 with an A.B. degree. In 1926 he received an A.M. from Amherst College, and in 1932 a Ph.D. degree from Columbia University. He began teaching at the University of Rochester in 1930 as an instructor in the history department. In 1933 he became an assistant professor, in 1942 an associate professor, and in 1947 a full professor of history. From 1954 to 1962 he was the chairman of the history department, and from 1957 to 1960 he was the associate dean of graduate studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read several books specifically about Abraham Lincoln I wanted to learn more about Henry Seward, his relationship with Lincoln, and more about strategies associated with post Civil War black freedom. While this book provides all of this I was left wanting more on my last two topics. I do recommend this book and I intend to continue my search for more on my two specific topics.

[Jerome Lafayette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although published more than half a century ago, Glyndon Van Deusen's biography of William Seward is still the golden ring of Seward scholarship, and much more full of life than Walter Stahr's 2012 biography of Seward.

What perhaps most animates Van Deusen's work is his thorough understanding of New York politics in the 19th century: he had earlier also written a biography of Thurlow Weed, the long-time Republican boss and strategist of New York, and the research that the author put into that book pays off splendidly with his Seward book.

Also, Van Deusen is the kind of writer that most historians should emulate: he explains complicated political and policy issues knowledgeably, but always keeps the narrative rolling along, never bogging down at any one point.

He is additionally an elegant writer in the sense that he didn't show off. More recent biographers have felt a need to impress readers with the literary quality of their work, and sometimes that can be both annoying and distracting. Van Deusen, in this work, clearly avoided such temptations.

[Clayton Brannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable man who, as Governor, US senator, and Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of State, would have made a great President. The author has a very readable style of writing; unlike many writers, he doesn't use obscure words that keep you from having to refer yourself to the dictionary. An easy read, and for a biography, that is a rare trait.

[John Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted more on his pre civil war political career

[Gilbert Wesley Purdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptional biography of an exceptional man. You don't know the politics of the years leading up to the Civil War or of the Lincoln Administration until you know the life of Seward. There are only a very few facts forwarded in these pages, it seems to me, that even an expert on the period would challenge. At 660+ pages, Barely a paragraph is superfluous. The last 60 pages include thorough notes, bibliography and index.