The Life of Andrew Jackson

This in-depth biography of Andrew Jackson was originally published as two works. Andrew Jackson: The Border Captain was published in 1933, and Andrew Jackson: Portrait of a President. When the two were published together as The Life of Andrew Jackson later in '37, together they earned James a Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1938.

The work is very detailed and very interesting, offering everything from a picture of life in the pre-Revolution frontier country of the Carolinas and Tennessee to the events of the Revolution itself in those territories (Jackson, still in his middle teens, served as a courier in the Revolutionary forces), to Jackson's ascension to military command (primarily against Indians in Tennessee and Florida) to a show more fascinating account of Jackson's generalship in the Battle of New Orleans and then on to his political career and, obviously, his presidency. I learned a lot about the issues of the day, and Jackson in James' hands certainly comes off as a figure of strength and integrity. That's the good part.

Unfortunately, to a modern-day reader, Jackson's attitude about and treatment of Indians is essentially brushed over. In particular, his support before and during his presidency for the Indian Removal Act that violated previous treaties and led ultimately directly to the infamous, horrifying and tragic Trail of Tears is pretty much shrugged off. The Trail of Tears is not mentioned specifically, nor even the huge mortality rate of the people forced to walk from Florida to present-day Oklahoma. Also, James, himself a Missourian born in 1891, actually presents a short but jaw-dropping defense of slavery! Jackson was a life-long slaveholder, though James goes out of his way to present his subject as benign and compassionate to his slaves. That's all fine, but by 1938 to still be defending the institution as beneficial to its victims sort of boggles the mind. Nevertheless, it is instructive to know that in 1938 such an opinion (and, again, this is an opinion presented by James himself, not offered as the opinion of the historical figures he's portraying) would not keep an author from such a prestigious prize as the Pulitzer. That's one of the reasons I enjoy reading histories sometimes that are decades old if not more (this one was published, by now, 80 years ago!). I don't like the fact that a distinguished biographer would be presenting those opinions, but it's instruction and important to know it. show less

Hardback. It has no dust cover, but, the front part and the description leaf of a dust cover have been cut out and kept inside the book. This is two books complete in one volume.
A Pulitzer Prize Winning Biography.

2/15/23