Christian Schlect's profile

His Soul Keeps Marching On, November 11, 2009

"John Brown's Trial" is a well-chosen title for Mr. McGinty's fine legal history.

Students of the American Civil War era as well as people specifically interested in the fairness of how John Brown was brought to account by the state of Virginia for his deeds at Harper's Ferry will enjoy this clearly written and complete account.

Should there be a heaven and hell, John Brown now looks down from lofty heights on those, now in a great and fiery depth, who in 1859 so adamantly defended the South's system of human slavery.

Admirable, November 7, 2009

This book provides a view of Abraham Lincoln's presidential leadership skills from the standpoint of Civil War naval affairs. It is not a history of the ships or average sailors of the period.

Professor Symonds relates how President Lincoln grew as a military leader during the war while handling the diverse crew of naval leaders that had stayed with the Union when the South first bolted. The Cabinet infighting between Welles, Seward, Chase etc. is nicely drawn, as are descriptions of foreign relations frictions brought about by actions at sea.

I liked that the author peppered his narrative with President Lincoln's small stories, often used by that great man to make… Read more

The Founding Father, November 5, 2009

A book that is not bad, but not great.

The inner person that was George Washington is notoriously difficult to pin down and it is no surprise that Professor Morrison relies on explaining his subject's political philosophy through general discussions of classical republican thought, the Enlightenment, and religious (Protestant) foundations. And much of this material is quite useful to a better understanding of our first president. Certainly George Washington was not just a brilliant leader, but one who was exposed throughout his life to great books and advanced thinking. While not blessed with much in terms of formal higher education, he was no blockhead.

Sometimes… Read more