History in perspective ...

Here are thoughts on some recent non-fiction books dealing with historical topics:

IF YOU ASK ME by Eleanor Roosevelt contains her “essential advice” on ten issues that reverberate today, including women, race, politics, religion and health.  Based on her advice column which appeared in Ladies Home Journal, this will be a fun – and eye opening – book for students to consult.  Each answer is followed by the date it appeared in brackets, like this: “Do you really think all men are created equal? Yes, but they do not always have an equal opportunity for development, either before or after birth. [November 1943]” IF YOU ASK ME has a short introduction written by one of Roosevelt’s granddaughters, several pages of notes, a bibliography, and suggested additional reading, plus a series of photographs on the end papers.   

Readers, especially students, will be surprised by the relevance to today of many of the comments that “ahead-of-her-time” Eleanor Roosevelt made decades ago. 

HEIRS OF THE FOUNDERS by H. W. Brands is subtitled “The Epic Rivalry of Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Daniel Webster, the Second Generation of American Giants” and focuses on a period of history about which I particularly enjoy reading.  These three men were indeed political titans and skilled orators. Brands does an excellent job of relating key events in their lives, including multiple failed attempts to achieve the Presidency. The debate over nationalism versus states’ rights, plus regional differences (East vs. West and North vs. South) of this era (roughly 1810 to 1850, from the war of 1812 to the Missouri Compromise) are highlighted as well.   

A best-selling author, Brands holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin; two of his books, The First American (about Benjamin Franklin) and Traitor to His Class (about FDR), were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. Teachers and students of American history will find HEIRS OF THE FOUNDERS to be very readable – almost like a novel. It contains pictures of the three men at various ages and of their homes and offers extensive notes and a comprehensive index.  HEIRS OF THE FOUNDERS received a starred review from Library Journal.   

 

IMPEACHMENT: AN AMERICAN HISTORY is the combined work of four authors: Jeffrey A. Engel (who writes about the Constitution and discusses Donald Trump in an Introduction and Conclusion); Jon Meacham (on Andrew Johnson); Timothy Naftali (on Richard Nixon); and Peter Baker (on Bill Clinton).  Clearly, these writers are knowledgeable scholars and have created a powerful text, filled with relevant quotes like this one from Gerald Ford (1970): “What is an impeachable offense? An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.” They contrast the circumstances and motivations of the three times when impeachment has been used, arguing that there were strong political motivations in the cases of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, but more bipartisan support for the clearer case of “high crimes and misdemeanors” involving Richard Nixon’s actions. IMPEACHMENT: AN AMERICAN HISTORY received a starred review from Kirkus ("impeccably researched and well-presented").

On a related note, see also Meacham’s recent reflection in The New York Times on George H. W. Bush. 

Final Resting Place by Jonathan F. Putnam

FINAL RESTING PLACE by Jonathan F. Putnam is a historical mystery with Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas as two of the main characters. In fact, they oppose each other in a murder trial based on actual events from “the highest profile trial of the year in Springfield” where Lincoln (a Whig) defended a Democrat accused of murdering a political rival and Douglas (a Democrat) acted as prosecutor. What makes this mystery especially appealing are the numerous references to the very contentious Illinois election held on August 6, 1838, almost exactly 180 years ago.  It was fascinating to read about the raucous political debates, anonymous and abusive letters to the editor, influential newspaper coverage, and religious revival. Lincoln’s real life friend Joshua Speed narrates this story and comments at one point, “Life in the frontier town had been oriented around three nearly universal public institutions: Politics, Commerce and Liquor.”

Although referring to a slightly later (1850s) period, a recent New York Times article by Jennifer Finney Boylan, “The New Know-Nothings,” draws some intriguing parallels to today’s political partisanship, especially changes in the Republican Party. Putnam, too, mentions this comparison in his historical note: “Those who think the current political moment is beset by unique coarseness and animosity would do well to study the American political environment of the nineteenth century, especially in the Western states such as Illinois.” If you enjoy historical mysteries based on solid research, definitely look for FINAL RESTING PLACE - it is filled with personal anecdotes, courtroom drama and political twists.

Putnam is a Harvard-trained lawyer and amateur Lincoln scholar who has written two other books in this series: These Honored Dead and Perish from the Earth.  Once you have enjoyed those, consider Girl in Disguise and the Seneca Falls Inheritance series, excellent historical mysteries set in the mid-1800s.  

Spending time in another time ....

It feels as though I spent a good part of this holiday weekend in another century.  First, I read News of the World by Paulette Jiles which is set in 1870 Texas and I was absolutely immersed in the travels of Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd and Johanna Leonberger.  Captain Kidd, a veteran of three wars and an honorable and trustworthy man who took pride in entertaining and educating others, was asked to transport a young Kiowa captive back to her family. News of the World tells the story of their 400 mile sometimes harrowing adventure and of the growing affection between the Kep-dun and his 10 year-old charge. A former printer, Kidd supports himself as an itinerant reader of the news – a fascinating thought and profession in itself. Author Jiles clearly conveys the times through small details; referring briefly, for example, to the first professional baseball team (Cincinnati Red Stockings), the first female law college graduate and the construction of a new bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn. She excels, however, in deftly describing life and characters on the trail. Add this title to your reading list: News of the World received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus and was nominated for the National Book Award for Fiction.

Turning to non-fiction and the 1899 kidnapping of two brothers, I began Truevine by Beth Macy, a true story of the Jim Crow South.  Truevine tells of the exploitation of two African American albinos, George and Willie Muse, in the “freak” show at Ringling Brothers Circus, offering a look at segregation and at circus life in the 1920’s. Similarly to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Truevine also describes the author’s search for facts about the brothers and their mother’s attempts to find them. A non-fiction narrative, Truevine received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, is appearing on several “best books” lists and may have appeal across the curriculum. Macy’s first full-length investigative work, Factory Man (2014), was a New York Times bestseller.     

Moving forward through the 20th century was a key theme in Fannie Flagg’s new feel good novel, The Whole Town’s Talking.  This story recounts the life of Elmwood Springs, Missouri from 1889 to present day through the many happenings involving several generations of its inhabitants.  First, there is Lordor Nordstrom who finds a mail order bride, Katrina. Later, his grandson, Gene, goes off to fight in WWII; there’s even a murder or two to investigate.  Award-winning author Fannie Flagg refers to numerous events and popular culture from 20th century America as she chronicles the ways in which many colorful characters impact the Sweet Clover Dairy, the town, and the cemetery called Still Meadows.  Here’s a favorite quote: “a cute, red-haired boy who looked just like someone had picked up a large bucket of freckles and thrown them at him.”  The Whole Town’s Talking, filled with Flagg’s vivid, homespun descriptions, will certainly make you smile.  Enjoy!