This book paints a vivid picture of Jefferson Davis as a multifaceted, often charismatic man who mirrored the turbulent times in which he lived and who stood solidly for the South that he loved. Ranging over the complete span of his long life, it shows him as a hardworking Mississippi planter, a compassionate slave owner, a hero of the Mexican War, and an able secretary of war under Franklin Pierce. But it is on the years of the Civil War and Davis' controversial performance as president of the Confederacy that the book naturally focuses. Loved by many for his eloquence, courage, loyalty, and devotion, he was vilified by many more for his well-known obstinacy and vanity, his feuds with his best commanders, and his unwillingness to delegate responsibility to others. Judicious, balanced, compassionate, Jefferson Davis is an enthralling account of a remarkable man.
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“A fine, objective portrait in paradox, shrewdly detailing how Jefferson Davis’ character flaws rendered him woefully unsuited to be President of the Confederacy…A dispassionate, well-researched, and skillful biography of a complex and controversial figure.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“This is a pragmatic but sympathetic biography that explains why Davis was respected but never loved by the citizens of the Confederate states.”
— Publishers WeeklyBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
William Charles “Jack” Davis is a retired history professor who taught at Virginia Tech. An acclaimed expert on the Civil War, he has served on a number of advisory boards, including the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, the Civil War Preservation Trust, the Museum of the Civil War Soldier in Petersburg, Virginia, the National Park Service, as well as on the Lincoln Prize and Pulitzer Prize nominating juries.
Jeff Riggenbach (1947-2021) narrated numerous titles for Blackstone Audio and won an AudioFile Earphones Award. An author, contributing editor, and producer, he worked in radio in San Francisco for more than thirty years, earning a Golden Mike Award for journalistic excellence.