Customer Reviews

Jeb Stuart

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

JEB STUART, WRITTEN BY JOHN W. THOMASON JR. IS SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT. THOMASON BRINGS TO LIFE THIS MYSTERIOUS LEGEND IN A WAY LIKE NO OTHER. HIS VIVID DESCRIPTION OF STUART'S CHILDHOOD, WARLIFE AND DEATH PUTS YOU BACK IN THE MID 1860'S. STUART HIMSELF AND THE CIVIL WAR AS A WHOLE ARE PRESENTED WITH THE UTMOST DETAIL AND PRESCISION. JEB STUART IS ONE OF THE TRUE CIVIL CLASSICS AND IT GIVES YOU THE CLEAREST PICTURE OF THE MAN AND THE TIMES OUT OF ANY BIOGRAPHY I KNOW OF

I wanted to give it 3.5 stars... Maj.Gen. "Jeb" Stuart -- flamboyant, a little showy and proud, sometimes very opinonated... tough, stern, and successful in battle... great with the ladies... lover of songs, poetry, and a good laugh, and very gentle to his wife and kids. The book covers the Army of Northern Virginia fairly well and in a very detailed manner, but for this reason, I felt the author sometimes digressed a bit from Stuart's story. Nevertheless, the parts about Stuart are definately colorful. Includes many of Stuart's letters to his wife during the war, as well as some interesting stories about the people around him. Also includes some interesting ink sketches by the author.

As a military officer and artist Thomason presents a unique view of a most complex and larger-than-life Civil War legend in this reprinted version of his original book (? 40's). Certainly ranks among the great biographers of Stuart...others are McClellan and Blackford (both served under Stuart) and Burke Davis and Emory Thomas (both of which can be obtained thru Amazon). The book is a "must" for a Stuart devotee and/or serious Civil War student

I read this book for an analytic book report, and its a very heavy read for someone who just wants a simple biography. It trails off often about battles, and if you want information, you really have to look for it.