Purge This Land W/Blood Book

I recently became interested in John Brown, the man, after doing a section hike of the Appalachian trail, and passing through Harper's Ferry - site of his raid which helped to precipitate the Civil War. I wanted a thorough, yet balanced biography, one that does more than simply uphold commonly held caricatures. I desired to have a clear snapshot of the times in which he lived, how he thought, and something of what motivated his actions. This biography by historian, Stephen B. Oates, does all that and more. It is well-researched, thoroughly objective, and empathetic without being fawning. I highly recommend it to anyone who interested in is this period in American history, and/or the character of John Brown.