Oates, Stephen B.

Abraham Lincoln: Man Behind the Myths, The

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A Man Greater than the Myths
A Concise, Readable Study of our Greatest President.
It did not elaborate on the question of Lincoln's parentage.
Separating mythos from the mortal

Abraham Lincoln: Man Behind the Myths, The
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Lincoln

ASIN: 0060924721

Book Description

Stephen B. Oates discerns the historical truth from the mythical legend that surrounds Lincoln in this original and fascinating portrait of America's 16th president.

Customer Reviews:

A Man Greater than the Myths.......2006-06-29

In this small but valuable volume, Oates explores the reality beyond the two sources of Lincoln myth: the primary myth of a saintly and folkloric Lincoln of Carl Sandburg and a secondary myth of the 'white honky' Lincoln of the 1970's revisionists. Oates emphasizes that Lincoln drew deeply upon the "spirit of his age", which was a profoundly revolutionary time across the world. Oates relates how Lincoln absorbed one of the core lessons of America from the example of Henry Clay: : "in this country one can scarcely be so poor, but that, if he will, he can acquire sufficient education to get through the world respectably".

That slavery was the cause of the Civil War is beyond all doubt. As Oates explains, however, the North did not go to war to free the slaves. In the standard phrasing, the North went to war to 'preserve the union'. Oates explores Lincoln's fears that the spread of slavery in the wake of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision would lead to the destruction of democratic society. The debate then still raged on the world stage whether a republican form of government could last. Lincoln rejected the "ingenious sophism" that states could freely leave the Union. "With rebellion thus sugar coated [southern leaders] have been drugging the public mind of their section for more than thirty years." Secession posed nothing less than a final challenge to popular government. If a minority could destroy the government any time it felt aggrieved, then no government could endure. Thus the war had to be fought to preserve not just the American Republic, but the possibility of republican government.

Lincoln did in fact oppose slavery from early on. His views on racial matters apart from slavery became more fully progressive over time. Lincoln, however, hoped that slavery would slowly melt away in a losing competition with free labor and that liberated slaves would resettle in Africa. It is part of Lincoln's greatness that he later gave up these views. Oates explores this evolution in his thinking. Oates debunks the notion that the Emancipation Proclamation was unimportant in liberating the slaves. Oates also refutes the notion that Lincoln would have favored an easy hand during Reconstruction. On the contrary, the evidence strongly suggests he would have led the so-called Radical Republicans.

Highly recommended for any reader with an interest in Lincoln, the Civil War era, or really pretty much any American.

A Concise, Readable Study of our Greatest President........2001-10-20

If you're interested in understanding what the man Abraham Lincoln was like, this is the book for you. This short, well-documented study of our sixteenth President cuts through the myths and the utter nonsense that have been written about Lincoln to expose the real hero behind these tales. This work shows Lincoln as the driven, courageous yet fallible man who never gave up on his dream of freedom for all men. Highly recommended!

It did not elaborate on the question of Lincoln's parentage........1999-09-19

As an amateur genealogist I discovered that I was a sixth cousin, five times removed to President Abraham Lincoln through the Lincoln and Holmes families. On page 21 ( Abraham Lincoln, The man Behind The Myths ) Mr. Oates wrote that there was a mistaken belief that Thomas Lincoln was not Abraham's real father rather it was a Senator John C. Calhoun or a Henry Clay. If this was true it would mean that I was not related to President Abraham Lincoln. How would such a rumour start ? Is there any documented evidence that Nancy Lincoln had an affair with one of these men while being married to Thomas Lincoln. At the time I am trying to locate Stephen B. Oates so I can get this matter cleared up. Sincerely, Mr. Blair E. Bartlett, 87 Shillington Road, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, E2J 4K7 1-506-696-6175

Separating mythos from the mortal.......1998-04-06

We invented Abraham Lincoln. Not the man, of course, but the myth, that solemn and statuesque giant memorialized eternally overlooking the Capitol mall. The power of that myth and the quiet dignity of its personage dwarfs us all. But the myth is not the man. Myths never are. Stephen Oates in his _Abraham Lincoln, The Man Behind the Myths_, does not seek to diminish the man but rather to clarify him, separating the mythos from the mortal. And it is not an undaunting task, it seems, for overly soon after Lincoln's tragic end the mills began to churn. The public's shredding of the White House interior for mementos while Mary Lincoln lay debilitated in the next room seems symbolic of the wolfpack mentality in Washington even today. And every new memoir published by another family acquaintance of the Lincoln's almost always got it wrong, and tore anew at the heart of the family. We may not have memorialized and glorified our modern-day tragic heroes to such an extent, for we have simultaneously tried to scandalize them. But the tabloid trade it seems has always been a yellow paper. Even Lincoln was vilified in his time and after. He was, Oates, reminds us, one of the most unpopular living presidents of our history. But though the legacy ballooned to heroic proportions after his passing, the man seems to have been lost in it all, remaining only in the hearts of the family leaving quietly and unattended down the steps of the White House never to return.

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An Interesting Insight into History

Portrait of America (Vol.2)
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0395900786

Customer Reviews:

An Interesting Insight into History.......2002-03-26

We use this in my US History AP course and it's an interesting supplement. We read one piece each week. Some are amazing, others are rather pointless, but the book does a nice job of introducing each piece, and I also like the glossary they have with terms used. Overall it's pretty good.

To Purge This Land With Blood: A Biography of John Brown

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Solid history and decent prose.
Strike the Blow- The Story of a Revolutionary Abolitionist
The research is showing
You don't know John Brown

To Purge This Land With Blood: A Biography of John Brown
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: University of Massachusetts Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0870234587

Customer Reviews:

Solid history and decent prose........2007-06-22

There are a lot of books on Brown, for good reason. He is a fascinating figure, a sort of mythical creature. Many books dumb this aspect down through their soggy prose and endless fact-logging, but the prose in this book is not too bad. Oates doesn't relate too much worthless information, which is common in the social sciences. I remember reading one Brown biography that debated whether his cabin was made out of pine or oak. Many historians cannot understand that not all pieces of information were created equal.

Seriously though, the prose here is decent and the history seems fairly accurate. There are some passages that are poetic in their way, and I was affected by many aspects of Brown's personality and U.S. History that Oates managed to describe quite well. Times of revolution can make for excellent reading, especially when the world today seems very difficult to change. Brown tried to change it, and in the minds of many, he did. So, for those unfamiliar with Brown, he makes for a good story.

It is obvious at times that Oates is angling to not "alienate" the Southern reader. He talks about how Southerners "had a right to be scared" and makes the argument that slavery-accepting Southerners were not such bad people, etc. Racism was widespread, only slightly less so in the North, so this is partially reasonable. However, there is hardly any material about how disgusting slavery really was. There are good reasons that John Brown was violently opposed. Basically, Oates is trying to be "balanced." What that means is he is giving both sides of the argument, even when one of them has been proven to be self-evidently stronger. Slavery was wrong, and it died out, and good riddance to the Southerners who accepted and perpetuated it.

If you want to read about how nasty slavery really was, and I recommend that you do if you are open-minded about judging characters such as Brown, then you can start with some of the slave narratives, for example the narratives of Frederick Douglass and Mary Prince.

John Brown was one of the few people who doesn't just stand around and watch while injustices abound. He acts, and that is the reason that many cannot stand him. He is a profoundly moral person, and that is threatening to people who are not. They cannot understand that it is better to kill a thousand men then to let millions rot in slavery.

Highly recommended, just don't get thrown off by the "balance."

Strike the Blow- The Story of a Revolutionary Abolitionist.......2006-02-05

Please note that the substance of the following review has been used in the review of W.B. Dubois's book on John Brown reviewed elsewhere. Both books offer a good prospective on the life of John Brown and can be profitably read together. Dubois's book is a decent historical narrative of Brown's life from an earlier time and in a more partisan perspective. Oates book reflects more modern academic methods of analysis and research and tackles the weaknesses in other interpretations. In that sense, Oates book is close to the definitive study of John Brown's life. Most importantly, both books reflect a Northern view of Brown exploits previously long absent from the historical record. My review reflects the need to study an important American fighter for justice and for today's generation to learn some lessons from his life.

I would like to make a few comments on the role of Captain John Brown and his struggle at Harper's Ferry in 1859 in the history of the black liberation struggle. This is appropriate as I am writing this review during Black History Month of 2006. Unfortunately John Brown continues to remain one of the very few white heroes of the revolutionary struggle for black liberation.

From fairly early in my youth I knew the name John Brown and was swept up by the romance surrounding his exploits at Harpers Ferry. For example, I knew that the great anthem of the Civil War -The Battle Hymn of the Republic had a prior existence as a tribute to John Brown. I, however, was then neither familiar with the import of his exploits for the black liberation struggle nor knew much about the specifics of the politics of the various tendencies in the struggle against slavery. I certainly knew nothing then of Brown's (and his sons) prior military exploits in the Kansas wars against the expansion of slavery. If one understands the ongoing nature of his commitment to struggle one can only conclude that his was indeed a man on a mission. Those exploits also render absurd a very convenient myth about his `madness'. This is a political man and to these eyes a very worthy one. In the context of the turmoil of the times he was only the most courageous and audacious revolutionary in the struggle against the abolition of slavery in America.

Whether or not John Brown knew that his strategy would, in the short term, be defeated is a matter of dispute. Reams of paper have been spent proving the military foolhardiness of his scheme at Harper's Ferry. This misses the essential political point that militant action- not continuing parliamentary maneuvering advocated by other abolitionists- had become necessary. What is not in dispute is that Brown considered himself a true Calvinist avenging angel in the struggle against slavery and more importantly acted on that belief. In short, he was committed to bring justice to the black masses. This is why his exploits and memory stay alive after over 150 years.

Brown and his small integrated band of brothers fought bravely and coolly against great odds. Ten of Brown's men were killed including two of his sons. Five were captured, tried and executed, including Brown. These results are almost inevitable when one takes up a revolutionary struggle against the old order and one is not victorious. One need only think of, for example, the fate of the defenders of the Paris Commune in 1871. One can fault Brown on this or that tactical maneuver. Nevertheless he and the others bore themselves bravely in defeat. As we are all too painfully familiar there are defeats of the oppressed that lead nowhere. One thinks of the defeat of the Chinese Revolution in the 1920's. There other defeats that galvanize others into action. This is how Brown's actions should be measured by history.

Militarily defeated at Harpers Ferry, Brown's political mission to destroy slavery by force of arms nevertheless continued to galvanize important elements in the North at the expense of the pacifistic non-resistant Garrisonian political program for struggle against slavery. Many writers on Brown who reduce his actions to that of a `madman' still cannot believe that his road proved more appropriate to end slavery than either non-resistance or gradualism. That alone makes short shrift of such theories. Historians and others have misinterpreted later events such as the Bolshevik strategy which led to Russian Revolution in October 1917. More recently, we saw this same incomprehension concerning the victory of the Vietnamese against overwhelming military superior forces. Needless to say, all these events continue to be revised by some historians to take the sting out of there proper political implications.

The research is showing.......2001-03-12

In the preface of his book, author Oates states it is not his intention to determine the mental capabilities of his subject, abolitionist John Brown. But, he certainly paints a vivid enough picture so the reader can determine for himself if Brown is a crazy old coot, a cold blooded murderer, or a man on a mighty mission or a combination of all three. I had just read Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks (a fictionalized version of Brown's life; see my review) and it made me want to read a real biography of Brown. If anything, this book made me appreciate Banks' immagination even more. To Purge This Land with Blood is a very detailed account of Brown's life, maybe too detailed. Every character, no matter how inconsequential, is named. And this sea of names and places can be mindboggling. I found much of the book slow going and already knowing the outcome of Brown's life didn't compel me to move on quickly. But, after reading the book, I now believe I now know Brown. And isn't that the purpose of biography?

You don't know John Brown.......1999-11-29

If you were, like I was, taught that John Brown was not much more than a well-meaning madman then you don't know the John Brown of history. Oates does a great job of dispelling that myth as well as presenting for the first time the full picture, thoroughly footnoted, of the man who may have sparked the Civil War. I have small gripes with some of the text, but none worth mentioning here. Read it and be impressed.

With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln

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One of the Best Biographies I have read
A great biography on Abraham Lincoln
Debunks the saint and presents a human
The End of Lincoln's Presidency.
Readable and Informative

With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness

ASIN: 0060924713

Amazon.com

Someone once said that more books have been written about Abraham Lincoln than any other person in history save Jesus and Shakespeare. Indeed, it is impossible to understand the Civil War without getting to know the complex figure of the 16th president. More than any other biographer, Stephen B. Oates brings the plain-talking man from Illinois to life as a canny politician, a doting husband, and a determined wartime leader. Oates has an appealing appreciation for Lincoln's majestic control of the English language, his raw humor, and his undeniable heroism. The final pages, covering Lincoln's death and his legacy, are graceful and moving.

Book Description

A masterful biography of Lincoln that follows his bitter struggle with poverty, his self-made success in business and law, his early disappointing political career, and his leadership as President during one of America's most tumultuous periods.

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best Biographies I have read.......2007-02-06

Professor Oates in my opinion did an outstanding job in the biography he did on Lincoln. While it is not as verbose as Donald's, it was well written and to be honest I could not set the book down. For anyone who does not have the time to read a larger volumn on Lincoln I suggest Oates. If you have time then I suggest you read both and also read "Team of Rivals. They are all outstanding volumns. This biography though is articulate, a good length and at times you can see the great passions in Lincoln the boy from Kentucky, the youth in Illnois and the 16 President of the United States. I give it a 5 stars a must read for any history student and I think a must for every American.

A great biography on Abraham Lincoln.......2007-01-23

In this work, Oates succeeds in illuminating the political and personal life of Abraham Lincoln. For readers interested in the psychological and social nature of the man, this may not be the best selection. However, Oates does an excellent job portraying how Lincoln worked his fingers to the bone while developing his standing as a lawyer and politician. His description of Lincoln as a rough and tumble political longshot made 16th President of the United States in the election of 1861 is vivid and memorable. Much information is also included on how Lincoln and his administration struggled with the issue that would become his legacy: slavery in America. That said, Oates neglects to discuss in any great detail the economic influence of the nation's cotton industry on the political and social conditions of the era.

Debunks the saint and presents a human .......2007-01-13

Lincoln, widely considered our best president, has been sainted in many quarters. Indeed he saved the union, freed the slaves, and preserved the constitution, but he was human too. Stephen Oates presents him warts and all - a man struggling with depression, a weak manager entrusting too much to his people, and a leader fighting a congress rallied against him for both being too progressive and too reactionary. It was a tough time, and many times the wonder is how Lincoln managed to bend without breaking.

The book is outstanding as a scholarly work, and as popular history. Enjoy!

The End of Lincoln's Presidency........2007-01-12

Lincoln said "that he was now convinced that this was a great movement of God to end slavery." Yet, he shied away from a Presidential decree. Abraham Lincoln wote: "that the money required to fight the war for 87 days would buy all of the slaves in Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri and would shorten the conflict by a lot more than any 87 days." He claimed "to respect the property right of loyal Southerners." I believe Stephen Oates is wrong when he states matter-of-factly "that slavery is at the root and branch of the rebellion" (that's what he called our Great Civil War. General William S. Rosencrans would have been the first to debate Lincoln's philosophy.

It's strange how much Lincoln depended on help from God, when he was not a member of any church. There were a flurry of rumors that he would be abducted on Inauguration Day. On November 9, 1863, he attended the play "The Marble Heart" at Ford;s Theatre which was one of John W. Booth's better roles. He was not likely to forget Booth's raven hair and black mustache, nor that John was a dashing actor, wearing a fashionable stovepipe hat.

There is a black and white picture of Ford's Theatre which adjoined the Star Salon. He watched Booth perform just days before he delivered the Gettysburg Address from which comes the title of the book: with malice toward none "and justice for all." John W. Booth did not agree. This time, he was not flashy, but dressed more like a frontiersman; he was a wild-looking man in felt hat and boots with spurs. The audience recognized Booth and thought at first that it was part of the play. Some people heard him shout "The South shall be free." He broke his shin bone when he tumbled onto the stage. Dr. Sam A. Mudd attended to his injury. On April 21, newspapers carried reports that Booth had been cornered in Virginia and killed.

Andrew Johnson had been governor of Tennessee and Lincoln's vice president. It fell on his shoulders t try to clean up the mess the country was in, brother against brother. Back on January 17, 1851, Lincoln did not attend his father's funeral. Zachary Taylor died in July, 1850, and Abe Lincoln in his eulogy to the former president reminded one "that we, too, must die." He read from ont of his favorite poems, "Mortality," which ends thusly, "'Tis the wink of an eye, 'tis the draught of a breath, From the blossoms of health, to the paleness of death. From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud, Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud!"

Six weeks after Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural address, he was dead. It's not easy being humble or proud when one is dying. He'd said that both sides (North and South) read the same Bible and pray to the same God.

Readable and Informative.......2006-04-15

Stephen B. Oates has written a very good biography of moderate length (440 pages) and insight. The author traces Lincoln's life, his hopes and fears, his unquenchable ambition. There is an equally good account of his years in the White House, when together with his stellar (if feuding) cabinet Lincoln led the nation through the dark days of the Civil War. Historians and Lincoln buffs desiring deeper insights might prefer a lengthier biography such as LINCOLN by David Herbert Martin, or even TEAM OF RIVALS which isn't a biography, but a character study of Lincoln and his cabinet. But for a more general readership desiring a solid, readable book about the 16th President, this is an excellent choice.

The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion

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The Fires of Jubilee, Nat Turner's Regellion
The Fire of Nat Turner
Learning the truth about the legend
So-So Chronicle of the 1831 Slave Rebel
A must read book on Nat Turner's insurrection in the South

The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story from Early America

ASIN: 0060916702

Book Description

The bloody slave rebellion led by Nat Turner in Virginia in 1831, and the savage reprisals that followed, shattered beyond repair the myth of the contented slave and the benign master and intensified the forces of change that would plunge America into the bloodbath of the Civil War.

Customer Reviews:

The Fires of Jubilee, Nat Turner's Regellion.......2007-01-10

It is a very graphic book. It decribes all events very well, not boring at all.

The Fire of Nat Turner.......2001-05-31

This book is about the insurrection of Nat Turner against his slaveholder. This book is very good for a person who enjoys factual historical events about a slave striving for freedom. The book demonstrates the acts of the human spirit. It also shows the things Nat Turner did for freedom, however some of those acts were not becoming of a just person. Overall this is a great book that depicts the historical background of Nat Turner and his rebellion.

Learning the truth about the legend.......2000-08-30

Nat Turner led the largest slave rebellion in American history. That is an indisputable fact. Unfortunately, not much else is known about the life of this legendary figure. Why did he do what he did? How was he able to do it? What was it about the man that made people follow him into insurrection? In his book, "The Fires Of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion", author Stephen B. Oates attempts to answer these questions. Oates clearly did extensive research on his subject. He manages to unearth many new facts about Nat Turner that were previously unknown. Oates presents a vivid picture of what Nat Turner's life must have been like as a slave. He presents enough facts about Nat Turner to give the reader the beginnings of an idea of what motivated the man. He describes in detail the visions that Nat claimed to have had and the formations of the planned rebellion. Then, once the rebellion starts, Oates gives a moment by moment account. As I read it I found myself picturing what it must have looked and sounded like as it was happening. I felt real tension. Unfortunately, many facts about Nat Turner will simply never be known. The historical records just don't exist. Despite this, Stephen B. Oates has crafted an extraordinary biography. His work has brought us closer than ever to understanding who Nat Turner was and what he did.

So-So Chronicle of the 1831 Slave Rebel.......1999-01-14

This book is about the best I've located on the subject of Nat Turner and his rebellion. That, however, is not a good as it sounds since I've not come across hardly any books at all on the subject. The author does a good job in detailing the life of Nat Turner and his bloody slave revolt. The only qualms with the book arises 1) when the author glibbly dismisses the strong possibility of Nat being mentally unbalanced, 2) the author glosses over the more pressing reasons for the Civil War to only concentrate on slavery, 3) and the bizarre trip the author took through Virginia to get a feel for where the rebellion happened. This trip was very insulting to southern blacks and whites as the author acted as though he was taking a ride through Lion Country Safari and didn't want any of the "animals" (ie the county's people) to bite him.

A must read book on Nat Turner's insurrection in the South.......1997-10-07

I read this book as part of my supplemental reading for college. I must admit that I really had no interest in reading it, but as soon as I started reading the 'foreword', I was hooked. The story of Nat Turner, as seen through the eyes of Stephen Oates, is absolutely riveting. I ended up reading the book in less than 3 days, as I just didn't want to put it down. Stephen Oates has a way of writing that transforms the reader into the actual rebellion and allows one to see and feel the circumstances before, during and after the Nat Turner insurrection and the consequences of it to the South. I highly recommend the book to anyone who has any interest in American history and I'm sure that others will enjoy being transported back into time, as I did.

Let the Trumpet Sound: Life of Martin Luther King, Jr., The

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Good Overview
A blueprint for change
Masterful balanced biography
The Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Important book about a hero

Let the Trumpet Sound: Life of Martin Luther King, Jr., The
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 006092473X

Book Description

Winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Book Award and the Christopher Award, this brilliant examination of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. portrays a very real man and his dream that shaped America's history.

Customer Reviews:

Good Overview.......2006-02-24

For many of us, the Civil Rights era happened when we were too young to understand. This is a good overview of the man and his times. Many people who were just names before, became people to me.

Although, I believe King made some serious mistakes, I understand for the first time why he should have a national holiday. I had no idea he was such an impressive person. Keep in mind, this book was written by a serious historian; not just someone who wished to canonize King.

A blueprint for change.......2005-02-05

As a student activist during my college years, I was introduced to this book by one of many mentors. They said that this was a detailed account of how Dr. King and his soldiers pushed forward their agenda for change in America. It was more than that. It was a powerful testament of the conviction of Dr. King and the gameplan for dealing with racist America. He did not work alone but his analysis of each situation proved to be very timely and accurate. Later on, of course, his effectiveness lost a little of its punch but you can not change the success that came from his branch of the Movement. Stephen Oates so elequently noted the techniques and strategies used during the turbulant sixties. It gave me information on how to handle the media, the powers that be, other members of my allies and prepare for possible backstabbers. That was my reason for reading the book. However, I got SSSOOO much more.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a revolutionary. His faith in God was the driving force behind in nonviolent stance. His studies of Gandhi and Martin Luther further solidified his position. Destined for greatness from the time of his birth, MLK was always preparing himself (and being prepared) for that big moment. He was intelligent, charismatic and thorough in approach to segregation. A family man, a minister, a scholar and an activist. This book is a good starting point for not just learning about King but understanding him. He IS (not was) bigger than "I Have A Dream", bigger than boycotts, bigger than nonviolence. Thanks to Oates and this masterpiece, he can be celebrated for what he was, an instrument of change and the Prince of Peace.

Masterful balanced biography.......2004-05-17

Stephen Oates writes a masterful biography of one of the pivotal figures of the twentieth century. Today we view Martin Luther King Jr. as a saint, and a model of what the human spirit can achieve. In his day, he was viewed by many in the South with fear, hatred and loathing.

It is easy to view this situation in hindsight, and assume that everyone was just ignorant. Oates writes of the complex history, the battles within and outside "the movement" and how divided the nation was at the time. Oates also does not shirk away from many of Martin Luther King's personal weaknesses. In this sense, he humanizes the great leader, instead of canonizes him.

In the end, I am left with three conclusions:
1 - Martin Luther King Jr. indeed found a way to overcome hatred with love, and in doing so helped America avoid a race war.
2 - The message of civil rights was both religeous and personal. Despite today's views of the right being the party of religeon, in his day the southern liberal movement was galvanized in the church.
3 - Despite this, he was a flawed individual. His human weakness does not diminish his accomplishment.

The book is not light reading. Read it. Let it soak in. And comprehend.

The Life of Martin Luther King Jr........2002-05-07

This book was about a big part of our United States History. It was about Civil Rights. Martin Luther King Jr. was a big Civil Rights activist in the 1960's. I learned quite a bit about Martin Luther Kings's life that I did not know before I had read this book.
Martin Luther King was one of the most important people of our country's history. He fought for African-Americans Civil Rights. He was a very determined man, who was alwyas put into jail numerous times for his "peaceful protests". He had given several speeches as well. The author of this book is Stephen B. Oates. He is a good writer, who has written 16 books.He has also won many literary prizes such as the Christopher Award. This book is very well written. He clearly tells the story as if he had experienced it. His strenghts include: Getting actual quotes from the people that were important in this time, having pictures of Mr. King and others, and having footnotes that explained the story more in depth. I can not think of many weaknesses that he has. However, the book was long but I did not expect it to be short due to the importance of the topic. I would reccomend this book to many people. The reason why is because it tells you in depth stories about Martin Luther King Jr. and his life, but it does have profanity and innappropriate content for young children. All in all, this was a very good biography and taught me many things.

Important book about a hero.......2001-11-07

This is the best biography I've read, not only about King but overall. Oates does a fine job balancing between illuminating details that help make King accessible to the reader without getting bogged down in this detail. Likewise, this balance provides a fine introduction to the Civil rights movement. (I don't consider a weakness of Let the Trumpets Sound that Oates doesn't dwell on certain of Kings weaknesses, as he instead focuses on King's message and actions; again, I think Oates concentrates on the myriad aspects of King's life, and the movement, that truly were important.)

Anybody trying to learn more about the Civil rights Movement should read this (along with such books the Autobiograpohy of Malcolm X and any of a number of books about Gandhi).

With Malice Toward None - The Life of Abraham Lincoln
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With Malice Toward None - The Life of Abraham Lincoln
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: Harper & Row, Publishers, New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H13Z6S

Portrait of America: From the European Discovery of America to the End of Reconstruction
Average customer rating:

It makes me tired just thinking about it!

Portrait of America: From the European Discovery of America to the End of Reconstruction

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | Colonial Period | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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Portrait of America

Elements of Literature: Fifth Course : Literature of the United States With Literature of the Americas

America: A Narrative History (6th Edition, Volume One)

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America: A Narrative History, Brief Sixth Edition, One-Volume Edition

ASIN: 0618220232

Book Description

Portrait of America is an anthology of essays written by some of America's most eminent historians. Suitable for U.S. history survey courses, the collection has a loose biographical focus. The essays in this secondary source reader humanize American history by portraying it as a story of real people with whom students can identify.</p>

Each selection is preceded by an introduction that sets the context and a helpful glossary that identifies important individuals, events, and concepts. Study questions, at the end of each essay, suggest points for class discussion and encourage students to make comparisons between selections.</p><ul>

The Eighth Edition includes an essay in which six major historians reflect on the historical significance of September 11, 2001.</ul>

Customer Reviews:

It makes me tired just thinking about it!.......2000-07-26

This was an assigned book for my college History course, and I can say that I pity all those poor students who have to read this book too. While the content is actually pretty decent, each section is far too long. I had to drink two cups of coffee for every essay, and even then if I didn't have notes I wouldn't have remembered a word. All I can say is highlight what's important, and learn to speed-read!

The Approaching Fury: Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861 (Voices of the Storm)

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Very Good on the politics of ONE of the causes of the WBTS
No Better Way To Read History
Unique approach - very good reading
Excellent Way to Understand What Led Up to the Civil War
Excellent For Teachers

The Approaching Fury: Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861 (Voices of the Storm)
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Death in the Andes
The Whirlwind of War: Voices of the Storm, 1861-1865 (Voices of the Storm)
America Compared: American History In International Perspective Since 1865
America Compared: American History in International Perspective, To 1877
The Penguin History of Latin America (Penguin History)

ASIN: 0060928859

Amazon.com

Acclaimed and prolific historian Stephen B. Oates looks at the events leading to the American Civil War through the eyes and words of 13 historic figures. Beginning with the Missouri Crisis of 1820 and ending with the outbreak of hostilities, Oates presents the viewpoints of such famous personages as Henry Clay and John Brown. The author blends fact and fiction to bring the people and events to life, and this unique treatment makes the period's complicated history accessible to the general reader.

Book Description

Stephen B. Oates tells the story of the coming of the American Civil War through the voices, and from the viewpoints, of 13 principal players in the drama, including Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Nat Turner, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglass. This unique approach shows the crucial role that perception of events played in the sectional hostilities that bore the United States irreversibly into civil war.

In writing the monologues, Oates draws on the actual words of Ills speakers and simulates how they would describe the crucial events in which they were the principal actors or witnesses. All the events and themes in the monologues adhere to historical record.

The result is an exciting history that brings the personalities and events of the coming of the American Civil War vividly to life.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good on the politics of ONE of the causes of the WBTS.......2004-08-04

I was skeptical of this book when I read in the preface that Oates was going to tell us what the key players said and what "they might have said". However, I was very pleased with the even handedness and accuracy of his content. The style of the book proved refreshing and placed the chronological events into an interesting weave. HOWEVER, he leads the reader to believe that slavery and its politics was the ONLY reason for the eventual conflict. The resulting carnage was a product of many more and very complicated factors of which we should all be aware.

No Better Way To Read History.......2001-12-29

This is an incredible work deserving of the highest awards and accolades for scholarship and literature. What an exhilirating way to read history! The first person narrartives, so skillfully and beautifully written, drew me into the events and emotions in ways that I have never experienced reading other history texts. This is the way to learn and enjoy history and I hope parents and educators take note.

Unique approach - very good reading.......2001-06-24

I first read Oates' Whirlwind of War and enjoyed that so much that I thought I'd give this one a try. My interest in the Civil War was broadened by this book into a desire to better understand the setting prior to 1860. I really liked Oates' "first person" writing technique. It takes an extremely good understanding of the person as well as the historic facts to do this and Oates carries this off well. Read both books!

Excellent Way to Understand What Led Up to the Civil War.......2001-01-18

I thought I knew a lot about this era but this book gave me even greater insight. I hesitated to read it at first because I'm a little skeptical of those "in their own words" treatments.But Oates presents a balanced (for the most part) account, using the speeches, letters, and diaries of the likes of Henry Clay, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Jefferson Davis, Mary Boykin Chesnut, Stephen A. Douglas, and Abraham Lincoln rather than creating monologues for them of his own design. He doesn't result to dramatic license, trying to make these folks conform to his idea of what they were like, but presents them as accurately as one can given the sources available. The only quibble I'd put forth is that he has Calhoun refer to his slaves as "niggers," even though there is no documentary evidence that he ever did so (even in private letters he referred to them as "negroes"). Anyone interested in the issues and events that led up to the Civil War must read this book! I recommend it most highly.

Excellent For Teachers.......2000-09-17

I am in the middle of this book currently and I am very impressed with Oates' ingenious writing technique. The only thing I see lacking in this book is the amount of source citing for scholars. Anyone using this book for scholarly purposes should use the bibliography and go from there. As a medium for teaching, this book is unparalleled. By teaching the forces at work through the eyes of the people that lived it students will be much more interested than if they were learning the bare facts. This is an outstanding supporting text for use in a classroom.

The Whirlwind of War: Voices of the Storm, 1861-1865 (Voices of the Storm)

Average customer rating:

What the participants might have thought at the time.
A innovative and entertaining approach to Civil War history.
not up to his other works
Accurate portrait of Lee-Longstreet Gettysburg controversy
Whirlwind suffers from age old stereotypes and myths.

The Whirlwind of War: Voices of the Storm, 1861-1865 (Voices of the Storm)
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

The Approaching Fury: Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861 (Voices of the Storm)
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Allegiance: Fort Sumter, Charleston, and the Beginning of the Civil War

ASIN: 0060930926

Amazon.com

The middle book in an anticipated trilogy, The Whirlwind of War is a unique study of the Civil War. Oates recounts the great struggle through a series of first-person monologues told in the voices of prominent figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, William Tecumseh Sherman, Mary Boykin Chestnut, Ulysses S. Grant, Frederick Douglass, John Wilkes Booth, and others. This original narrative technique brings a kind of freshness to an old and familiar story. It seems as if the characters speak directly to the reader; and Oates, an accomplished historian and biographer, is scrupulous about sticking as close to the historical record as he can. The book's one weakness is that it doesn't deliver a totally comprehensive telling of the Civil War despite its length of more than 700 pages. But the flip side is its strength: the way it helps readers understand the motives, perceptions, and behavior of the Civil War's most important actors. Sometimes it seems like there are too many books written on the Civil War. Oates nonetheless provides a welcome contribution to the field. --John Miller

Book Description

An intensely dramatic and intimate portrayal of the people, events,influences and consequences of the American Civil War, The Whirlwind of War builds on the great themes and follows many of the important figures that were introduced in The Approaching Fury.

Customer Reviews:

What the participants might have thought at the time........2006-08-20

Oates's treatment of the Civil War through fictionalized statements by major participants is a notable achievement. It really is not a military history of the war, but a history of what these participants thought about the war as it progressed. There are some weaknesses to this approach, mostly that the author must choose one version of some events under debate by historians without being able to outline the debate, as might be done in a conventional history. Also, such fictionalization must remain conjectural, even though in Oates's case it is buttressed by great research, and Oates must necessarily limit himself to relatively few participants. Still, by taking seriously the thoughts and opinions of those involved, Oates gives us a much more "alive" picture of the war as it unfolded. Although it took me a few pages to become accustomed to the method, I was impressed by the overall effect.

A innovative and entertaining approach to Civil War history........2000-06-11

"The Whirlwind of War" is a very well written book about the American Civil War, with an especially innovative approach. Author Stephen B. Oates interweaves imaginary first-person written accounts of eleven of the war's key figures - among them Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, U.S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, William T. Sherman, Mary Boykin Chesnut and Mary Livermore - to present the story of America's most tragic war a dramatic and compelling way.

Although the first-person soliloquies are fictional, they are based on obviously extensive and meticulous research, and are filled with historical facts which are detailed and accurate. Actually, Oates adds little in the way of new historical data or interpretation in this book, although the new information on John Wilkes Booth, and the descriptions of the Northern hospital camps by Cornelia Hancock make compelling reading. What I found most fascinating about "The Whirlwind of War" was how effectively Oates was able to bring the characters' personalities so much to life in their soliloquies. Oates doesn't pretend to try to write in the style of Lincoln, Davis, Grant, or the others; still, he allows their personalities to shine through completely. I felt I really got to know the tormented Abraham Lincoln, the laconic U.S. Grant, the profane, manic-depressive William T. Sherman, the reserved and dignified Robert E. Lee, and the bitter Jefferson Davis through their first-person accounts.

Oates' imaginative writing in "The Whirlwind of War" makes it an especially entertaining book, one which gives readers an accurate and reasonably detailed understanding of the people and events which made up America's bloodiest conflict. Highly recommended!

not up to his other works.......1999-12-05

I found this book tiresome compared to part one [Voices of the Storm] and his other biographies [Lincoln and Martin Luther King] which are outstanding and recommended. The vehicle he uses --e.g. 11 voices of historical figures from the War who alternate perspectives from chapter to chapter is contrived, of questionable authenticity in many segments and eventually, to me, distracting. In volume one this technique gave me a sense of political issues --it just was not as effective in this volume which focused mostly on military issues. A military history needs maps and diagrams to give the reader a sense of what was happening, where and when. The absence of such support weakened that aspect of the story. McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom is a better source for information on the flow of the Civil War than this volume.

Accurate portrait of Lee-Longstreet Gettysburg controversy.......1999-06-13

A good addition to the corpus of historical literature about America's most horrendous war and tragedy.

Oates' treatment of Lee, Longstreet, et al, at Gettysburg is solid and well-documented. To consider as a "popular Civil War myth" Longstreet's sulking, insubordinate, and ultimately devastating performance at Gettysburg, as another reviewer does, is an opinion, and an innacurate one at that--and if Glenn Tucker believes as such, he is misguided as well.

Our day is replete with "historians" who amass selective mountains of facts and figures to arrive at the pre-ordained, and often incorrect, conclusions they desire. Glenn Tucker, Alan Nolan, and Michael Shaara notwithstanding, "Old Pete" Longstreet demonstrated an obstinate lack of cooperation with and support for his commanding officer's orders at Gettysburg, as well as a half-hearted effort at positioning his First Corps for battle on the second day of that engagement--all the while urging Lee on to Longstreet's own course of action that Lee wisely considered and rejected.

Lee wanted an early morning attack on the second day--not the third. His mistake was in placing similar trust in lesser corps commanders like Longstreet and Ewell as he had in Stonewall Jackson. On the evening of the first day at Gettysburg, Lee said, with Longstreet present, "If the enemy is there in the morning, I mean to attack him." The enemy was there, Longstreet had abundant time to get his men there, and Stonewall Jackson would not have needed a picture drawn for him (Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, etc.)--nor would he have rebelled against the authority over him.

The Confederates came within an eyelash of overruning the Federals on the second day at Gettysburg. Without the eight hours or so of additional preparation time provided Meade's army by Longstreet's foot-dragging, what do you think would have been the result?

Whirlwind suffers from age old stereotypes and myths........1998-09-16

Mr. Oates' first volume in his new and unique Civil War saga was well written and well researched. Although I enjoyed the second volume well enough, I was disappointed to find that he gave credibility to some popular Civil War myths, namely in the case of the Longstreet Gettysburg controversy. Mr. Oates would have done well to consult the most complete and exhaustive work on the subject - Glenn Tucker's "Lee and Longstreet at Gettysburg". Recent research like that of Glenn Tucker's proves that Longstreet acted with vigor and professionalism in coordinating the attacks on the second day at Gettysburg, although he differed with Lee on where the attack should be made. As for Lee ordering an attack at dawn on the third day, it just didn't happen. Mr. Oates has written a decent book, but his treatment of the Gettysburg campaign was flawed, and that is unfortunate. Longstreet deserves much of the credit for creating the only bright spots of that camaign for the Confederate side. I would recommend Mr. Tucker's book for anyone interested in truth rather than controversy. The only other point that I disliked was the treatment of Sherman. I feel he comes off rather simple and shallow. Truth is, Sherman was a military genius and our popular opinion of him is colored by how he was portrayed by the press during the war. He was extremely articulate, immensely thorough and perhaps the most professional and clear minded general the North produced. He was well ahead of his time and many of his controversial opinions have been proven correct and accurate in the generations since the war.

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