About book Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives Of William Tecumseh Sherman (2014)
As I made my way through 'Fierce Patriot', I knew that I enjoyed this book--it was about one of my favourite figures in all of American history, one whom I really didn't know a great deal outside of the major events of his life--but I kept wishing it were better.When I was teaching, I always had my non-AP students do a term paper (AP students had to do three book reviews over the course of the year). As the time came for them to turn in the paper, I would warn them that the most important question they had to deal with as they prepared to write was, 'where do I begin? I've got all this material that I've researched and now I have to put it in some sort of order.'I'm not entirely sure that O'Connell satisfactorily answers that question. He divides the book into three parts. One is Sherman the strategist and general. Second is 'his boys', the Army of the Tennessee and the Army of the West he used as his instrument. And then finally was Sherman's family and personal life. Each is dealt with separately. Although O'Connell does make cross-references and cites material treated previously in the latter portions of the book, I never had a sense of coming to grips with the complete Sherman. In addition, there were occasional holes in his coverage (his life in the Sherman family before Cump's adoption by the Ewings, for example).I think his appreciation of Sherman is a very sound one and he draws upon excellent primary materials to support his views very substantively and expertly. But, again, toward the end, another hole opens up, and he seems to be racing to the finish, becoming a bit superficial in his handling of Sherman's last years.A good book, yes. Some very good thoughts about the subject, and very sound interpretations. But I'm not happy with how it was organised and with the gaps in coverage. An excellent biography on a truly amazing individual. Obviously an individual of amazing strengths and talents but also a person with deep flaws.While eventually being one of the key reasons the union army was ultimately successful, Sherman failed to show any significant successes initially in business or militarily. Indeed after his first major command [which he was given despite his request that he never be so assigned] he suffered a mental breakdown and had to be relieved of command.His views on race relations were archaic even for his times. He treated natives and people of colour in ways that were completely unacceptable and unnecessary. Yet he also was respectful towards members of those races and tended to have good relations with individuals with whom he dealt.There seems no doubt that he had an unabiding love for his wife [who was also his step-sister with whom he lived from the age of 9] but their marriage consisted mainly of long periods of separation [although they did have 8 children].I would strongly recommend the book.
Do You like book Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives Of William Tecumseh Sherman (2014)?
Love the modern voice of the author will certainly add his other books to my to be read list.
—l3ubbles
This an excellent biography of Sherman. It is the best biography that I have read this year.
—Brianna
Fascinating book with details about the Civil War, and of course Sherman's life.
—wicked
first rate ... well conceived and written ... fascinating American
—rgeorge
I received this book free from the GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway.
—sing760
