Treating the practice of history not as an isolated pursuit but as an aspect of human society and an essential part of the culture of the West; John Burrow magnificently brings to life and explains the distinctive qualities found in the work of historians from the ancient Egyptians and Greeks to the present. With a light step and graceful narrative; he gathers together over 2;500 years of the moments and decisions that have helped create Western identity. This unique approach is an incredible lens with which to view the past. Standing alone in its ambition; scale and fascination; Burrow's history of history is certain to stand the test of time.
#82949 in Books T J Stiles 2003-10-28 2003-10-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x 1.10 x 5.20l; 1.19 #File Name: 0375705589544 pagesJesse James Last Rebel of the Civil War
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Putting an American Legend in the Context of His TimesBy Lionel S. TaylorThis is a throughly researched book that puts Jesse James in historical context and tries to separated the myth from the man. Stiles also explained why there was a myth to begin with. Why out of all the outlaws that were around during that time did Jesse James get so much attention? The author argues that James's public personas was a combination of the publicity that he got from a sympathetic newspaper editor John Edwards and his own efforts to publicize his exploits and justify what he did. James was symbolic of the larger political struggle in Missouri and other border states during the Civil War and his notoriety was in part due to his usefulness as a symbol and rallying point for pro Confederate and anti Reconstruction forces in the state at the time. Stile implies that as the forces that originally supported him got what they want; James became less useful as a political rallying point and the very people that at one time supported him or looked the other way from his crimes turned against him. James at the end of his life became a man out of time.After reading this book I had mixed feelings I found myself very unsympathetic to Jesse James's cause and political ideas and the chapters about his time with "Bloody Bill" Anderson made me look forward to his ad his brothers death. But I also felt after having finished the book that this was the story of a person that had been one of the surviving causalties of the Civil Way. His formative years were spent with a terrorist group committing atrocities agains fellow citizens and when the war was over he James did not seem to be able to move on like his older brother Frank. This well written book portrays Jesse James as the living embodiment of the Civil War in the border states and the destructive effect it had on the people that were a part of it.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Jesse James: New Info for Me About His Early Life and Influences of His Mother and Surrogate FathersBy addictThis book by T.J. Stiles is an amazing recounting of the life of Jesse James. Dominated by a strong and pro-slavery mother who was widowed when her minister husband died when Jesse was just two years old; the James brothers were active in guerrilla activities during and after the civil war.J.T. Stiles is a meticulous writer. I enjoyed the book tremendously and recommend J. T. Stiles as a great historian and author.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. There were some wonderful details that linger after readingBy Paul Jones JohnsonThe book seemed to ponder what it wanted to be. It walked a line for this reader between being a sociological analysis of the context of the times that produced and sustained Jesse or a detailed biography of the man. There were some wonderful details that linger after reading.
