Article first published as Book Review: Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands on Blogcritics.
About:
Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands is a biography of the 7th President of the United States. Currently Professor Brands (@hwbrands) is tweeting the history of American in haiku, very original, entertaining, educational and highly recommended.
I read this book as part of a goal to read, in order, all of the biographies of the presidents of the United States who have passed away.
- 656 pages
- Publisher: Anchor
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1400030722
My rating for Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times — 5
Buy this book in paper or in electronic format*
Thoughts:
Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands manages to convey just how complex Andrew Jackson was as a person, husband, general and president. The book brings to life its subject by combining history and literary methods to make an interesting and fascinating profile.
Even though many people have forgotten about President Jackson (even though he is much better known than other presidents) he had led a full and exciting life. Mr. Brands starts, where else, in the beginning being born into poverty, fighting the British in the Carolinas, becoming a lawyer, Congressman (R-TN), a militia general and ultimately President of these United States.
Mr. Brands does not skip over the uncomfortable past of this complicated man. Jackson fought the Native Americans savagely as he did the English in New Orleans during the War of 1812. However, Jackson’s foremost battles where in the courtroom or as Chief Executive and Mr. Brands does an excellent job explaining political concepts and intrigue in the context of the times. After all, Old Hickory was the first president who was not born an aristocrat nor was he a rich man as were the six previous men.
Even though this biography is quite hefty, Brands combines action, intrigue and an all-American rags to riches story. The book packs a massive amount of research, written in an easy to digest and fluid format
Synopsis:
Andrew Jackson was born in northern South Carolina and at the age of 13 was already a member of the Revolutionary Army and a prisoner of the British. After securing his release, his mother left him an orphan at the age of 14, but Jackson thrived and became a lawyer through apprenticeships. By 1788 Jackson became the solicitor for Nashville, a frontier town.
Jackson was a brawler, gambler and kept dueling with pistols well into middle age, he also traded slave, speculated on land and horses as well as being a merchant. Thriving in his new state of Tennessee, Jackson was soon elected head of the militia with the rank of major general. Despite having a little military experience, Jackson proved to be a capable commander and a ruthless yet resourceful Indian fighter. After smashing British defenses at the Battle of New Orleans, Jackson became a great American military hero, rivaled only by Washington which led him to the presidency in 1828.
Buy this book in paper or in electronic format*
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I bought this book.
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account
BOOK BLOGGERS – Have you read Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times? If so link up your review below:
3 Comments
That sounds like a great project! I tend to gravitate more toward memoirs than biographies. I’d really have to be interested in Andrew Jackson to tackle this one – that is a long bio!
I like biographies only because I always feel that memoirs have some agenda and very few are reflecting of the person.
Book Review: Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter R. Borneman | Man of la Book