Grant

[Rob Wick]

Steve,

Not yet. I have it and it will be something I definitely have to read (as well as Allan Nevins' two-volume biography of Rockefeller among others), but I did use a part of it when I was putting together a sample chapter for my original book plan. Tarbell was in a fight with F.N. Doubleday over her Life of Lincoln being published by McClure Publishing after S.S. McClure sold his interest in the publishing company to Doubleday. Tarbell didn't want Doubleday to publish it because Doubleday had defended Rockefeller in an article he had written for The World's Work. Chernow talked about how Doubleday's article was part of a concerted effort by Rockefeller to burnish his image to the public.

Generally speaking I think Chernow is a good biographer. I have read his biography of Hamilton (listened to it, actually on cassete, which I think took a total of 35 hours out of my life) and I have his biography of Washington. My problem is all his books are such a time commitment that I have to have a real interest in slogging through it, despite his accessible and pleasing style. To be honest, if I wasn't writing about Tarbell, I doubt I would read Rockefeller, but again it's because it would be such a time commitment.

Best
Rob

Best
Rob