by Mary Bobbitt Townsend (Univ. of Missouri Press, 2010). It is the first full biography of the German-American. Before and after the war chapters bookend those detailing the general's participation in Wilson's Creek & Pea Ridge, the Vicksburg Campaign, Chattanooga, Atlanta & the March to the Sea, and Mobile Bay & Reconstruction. It is understandable that Townsend being the gg-grandaughter of Osterhaus would raise hagiographical concerns, but the publisher rarely disappoints and historian Earl Hess assures us in his Introduction that the author has produced a "first-rate biography".
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Booknotes - "Yankee Warhorse"
I will be very keen on reading the newly arrived Yankee Warhorse: A Biography of Major General Peter J. Osterhaus by Mary Bobbitt Townsend (Univ. of Missouri Press, 2010). It is the first full biography of the German-American. Before and after the war chapters bookend those detailing the general's participation in Wilson's Creek & Pea Ridge, the Vicksburg Campaign, Chattanooga, Atlanta & the March to the Sea, and Mobile Bay & Reconstruction. It is understandable that Townsend being the gg-grandaughter of Osterhaus would raise hagiographical concerns, but the publisher rarely disappoints and historian Earl Hess assures us in his Introduction that the author has produced a "first-rate biography".
by Mary Bobbitt Townsend (Univ. of Missouri Press, 2010). It is the first full biography of the German-American. Before and after the war chapters bookend those detailing the general's participation in Wilson's Creek & Pea Ridge, the Vicksburg Campaign, Chattanooga, Atlanta & the March to the Sea, and Mobile Bay & Reconstruction. It is understandable that Townsend being the gg-grandaughter of Osterhaus would raise hagiographical concerns, but the publisher rarely disappoints and historian Earl Hess assures us in his Introduction that the author has produced a "first-rate biography".
4 comments:
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Hi Drew
ReplyDeleteI was looking forward to hear something about this book. Like you, I was a little worried about the authors relationship with subject. I also agree with you that Univ. Missouri generally does a good job with their publishing. I didn't buy the Slocum bio. that I believe they also published. The reviews were mixed.
It is good to hear that Earl Hess feels that the biography is well done.
Look forward to your review on this book and the Spartan Band brigade history.
Regards
Don
About time!
ReplyDeleteDon,
ReplyDeleteI didn't read the Slocum book, either, but the recent Ewing and Lane bios were pretty good.
David,
ReplyDeleteWe can scratch another one of the big ones off the list. Guys like von Steinwehr, Blenker, Weber, Schimmelpfennig, etc. are not very enticing subjects (at least to me), but the likes of Willich, Kautz, Weitzel might be.