In my opinion, the subject of this book, William Seward, has to be one of the most underrated, unappreciated public servants that the United States has ever had. He was even vilified at times in his own day--for example, for his part in the U.S. purchase of Alaska (for 2 cents an acre! How outlandish!), and other things.
Although more expensive of a Whispersync deal than I like to post, being the hyper-frugal person that I am, when considering the subject matter, the fine ratings, a 22 1/2 hour listening time, and discount over buying the audiobook alone at Audible (75%), this was a must-post for me.
Title: Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man.
Genre: Non-Fiction (History (U.S.)/Biography).
Author(s): Walter Stahr.
Price: $7.48 ($3.99 ebook (marked down) + $4.49 Whispersync audio).
Regular Price of Audio, by Itself, at Audible: $29.95 (1 credit).
Ebook Rating/Number of Reviews: 4.3 stars/149 reviews (Amazon).
Audio Rating/Number of Ratings: 4.2/49 ratings.
Pages/Audio Length: 721/22 hours and 29 minutes.
Narrator(s): William Dufris.
Audible URL: http://www.audible.com/pd/History/Se...ok/B00DCZA26C/.
Amazon URL (you can get the whole Whispersync deal here): https://www.amazon.com/Seward-Lincol.../dp/B006IDDAOG.
Comments:
Book Description (Amazon):
From one of our most acclaimed new biographers– the first full life of the leader of Lincoln’s “team of rivals” to appear in more than forty years. William Henry Seward was one of the most important Americans of the nineteenth century. Progressive governor of New York and outspoken U.S. senator, he was the odds-on favorite to win the 1860 Republican nomination for president. As secretary of state and Lincoln’s closest adviser during the Civil War, Seward not only managed foreign affairs but had a substantial role in military, political, and personnel matters.
Some of Lincoln’s critics even saw Seward, erroneously, as the power behind the throne; this is why John Wilkes Booth and his colleagues attempted to kill Seward as well as Lincoln. Seward survived the assassin’s attack, continued as secretary of state, and emerged as a staunch supporter of President Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s controversial successor. Through his purchase of Alaska (“Seward’s Folly”), and his groundwork for the purchase of the Canal Zone and other territory, Seward set America on course to become a world empire.
Seward was not only important, he was fascinating. Most nights this well-known raconteur with unruly hair and untidy clothes would gather diplomats, soldiers, politicians, or actors around his table to enjoy a cigar, a drink, and a good story. Drawing on hundreds of sources not available to or neglected by previous biographers, Walter Stahr sheds new light on this complex and central figure, as well as on pivotal events of the Civil War and its aftermath.