Reviews for Manual of American History, Diplomacy and Government

The average rating for Manual of American History, Diplomacy and Government based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-05-31 00:00:00 Duatis Llash While the author takes into account the history of Eberly, he speculates on what she would have said or done in certain situations. What is lacking from the narrative is the notion of her importance in the Texas Republic as one of the original settlers and her part in the Archive War. While she, herself, does not give much into the Archive story, her interview notes taken by Mary Austin Holley are a fascinating insight into the roles of pioneer women. Eberly is truly an inspiring woman that goes beyond the tall tale/myth that was created around her posthumously.

Review # 2 was written on 2018-07-04 00:00:00 Bruce Hansen Michael Bakewell's biography of Lewis Carroll, written 20 years ago, is a very detailed, comprehensive account of the life of the enigmatic and very complex man who was Charles Dodgson. In fact, for me it was sometimes too specific and pedantic. And why he uses Dodgson's pseudonym in the title is perplexing, as the biography captures Dodgson's entire life, even though, admittedly, Carroll was a significant part. It is a straightforward biography; facts are recounted chronologically and presented in a completely unbiased manner, with opposing views given where possible; there is not a great deal of personal analysis. With such a complicated man there was a lot to cover- his family life and relationships, his religious faith, his inventive genius in making up intriguing word games, his study of mathematics, his photography, his love of the theatre, his compulsive obsession with young girls (today this reads like pedophilia, but Bakewell properly perceives this from the Victoria perspective; the coverage of this aspect is fascinating) and his corresponding inability to form adult relationships with women. I especially enjoyed the part where he writes the two 'Alice' books and 'The Hunting of the Snark', whereas the parts concerning his books on logic and mathematics and the interminable interactions with the lives of his brothers, sisters and other relatives, bogged it down for me. It's always fun to read what critics said at the time of the publication of his books. For example, on 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland': 'We fancy that any child might be more puzzled than enchanted by this stiff, over-wrought story. The illustrations are grim and uncouth'. Ha! In the last chapter Bakewell notes how characters and phrases from the Alice books are still used in our everyday conversations making them two of the most quoted of books. You'll also read of what happened to the original Alice.