Lincoln's autocrat

[STS Lincolnite]

I think because Stanton could undoubtedly be a bit of an ill-tempered jerk at times, the blame for many of the negative things that happened in the Lincoln administration got heaped on him (especially long after the fact, fueled and augmented by Mr. Eisenschimel's accusations). I'm sure some of the criticism is due but I also think that much of it is not.

I have intentionally avoided this particular book as I heard from several people that they did not care for it. I have read one of Mr. Marvel's other books and wasn't particularly impressed (though stylistically it was engaging). To paraphrase Mr. Lincoln, I felt that though his facts were more or less correct, he came to entirely the wrong conclusion.

I also know that Walter Stahr (who wrote the recent biography of Seward) is working on a biography of Stanton. I have met and corresponded with Walter a couple of times. He hopes to have his biography of Stanton completed for a Christmas 2016 publication date. I will wait for that one. Perhaps I will go back and read Mr. Marvel's offering afterward to compare and contrast.