Jefferson Davis, American

I'm so happy to have read this book. He was an interesting man and not a villain. I continue to be struck by the parallels between our current political times and those surrounding the civil war, when positions were polarized and no compromise was possible, and the major issues of the day were framed in terms of right and wrong, good and evil, all with specific reference to god, religion and morality.

While Lincoln is the most written about American. Jefferson Davis hs somewhat slipped into obscurity. I guess tis does make sense in that to the victor go the spoils. This is the first biography of Jefferson Davis that I have read and i found it to be very interesting.

I think it is really interesting whne you start making the comparisons. Jefferson Davis was about a year older than Lincoln. Both were born in Kentucky. Lincoln was born to a family where the father had worked hard to acquire a fair amount of land and then lost it through no fault of his own and then struggled the rest of his life. Davis was born to a well to do family that sole their land and obtained more land in Mississippi and became a notably well to do family. show more Lincoln's relationship with his father was always estranged while Davis had a very close relationship with his father though he lost him at a young age. His oldest brother who was about 18 years older than Jefferson's stepped in and Davis relationship with his brother was very close. Lincoln was self taught and spen not quite a year in school. Jefferson Davis was sent to school from a young age and went to a prep school and eventually West Point. Jefferson Davis fought in the Mexican American war and was a hero and gained great popularity from his hero status. Lincoln was very vocal about his opposition to this war and was unpopular and it cost him a second term in Congress. Davis was clearly the front runner for the President of the Confederacy while Lincoln appeared to be a dark horse, though in this case appearances wer very deceiving. Upon assuming the Presidency both started reading the Bible more and more through their terms. Both lost sons during their Presidency. After the war Lee was considered the hero of the south while Lincoln is remembered in the north. Again Lincoln is the most written about American of all time while Jefferson Davis has slipped somewhat into obscurity. show less

This is such an excellent biography that I have now sought out other books written by the author to read them as well.