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A review by davidpwebber
The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War by Joanne B. Freeman
informative
tense
medium-paced
A largely enjoyable read that paints a picture of pre-Civil War Congress as a dirty, smelly, hot, disgusting cesspool of angry men trying to beat the shit out of each other. The parallels between then and now are quite striking, primarily in the sense that much of violence perpetrated during this period was courtesy of slave-owning Southern representatives against mostly flaccid, rule-following Northerners. This is literally the same predicament we are dealing with right now, though with less physical violence, as Republicans flout the rule of law in the face of their Democratic colleagues and the nation, while Democrats sit on their fucking hands like a bunch of inept children, too scared to challenge the rising tide and apparently all too happy to let it wash over them.
The only way anything ended up changing was because some Northern representatives (most of this takes place in the House, not the Senate) finally stood up to the bullying and took matters into their own hands, calling out the Southerners on their bullshit and presenting a strong and unified front. This book stopped short of the Lincoln years but we all know Lincoln was a LEADER, the type Democrats sorely need and seem to actively campaign aginst.
Some Goodreads reviews said this book was dry and repetitive; I didn't feel that at all. The writings of Benjamin French and his journey are definitely the most interesting part. As I like to mention, we can learn all we want about leaders and the powerful men of history, but I find the less-notable people far more engaging to learn about. French is exactly that type of person, so I quite enjoyed following his life, career, and shifting politics. He was a man, just like any other man, with concerns, with confusion, struggles, family issues, and the like, and he changed his positions more than once. He was human, and I think this book was strongest when focused on that aspect.
The only way anything ended up changing was because some Northern representatives (most of this takes place in the House, not the Senate) finally stood up to the bullying and took matters into their own hands, calling out the Southerners on their bullshit and presenting a strong and unified front. This book stopped short of the Lincoln years but we all know Lincoln was a LEADER, the type Democrats sorely need and seem to actively campaign aginst.
Some Goodreads reviews said this book was dry and repetitive; I didn't feel that at all. The writings of Benjamin French and his journey are definitely the most interesting part. As I like to mention, we can learn all we want about leaders and the powerful men of history, but I find the less-notable people far more engaging to learn about. French is exactly that type of person, so I quite enjoyed following his life, career, and shifting politics. He was a man, just like any other man, with concerns, with confusion, struggles, family issues, and the like, and he changed his positions more than once. He was human, and I think this book was strongest when focused on that aspect.