Reviews for John C. Calhoun

The average rating for John C. Calhoun based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-07-30 00:00:00 Cassandra Barno Although I have fundamental disagreements with Von Holst, and see this biography as in some ways a historiographic slander, it is impossible not to praise the work as a magnificent example of what biography should be. Von Holst wrote beautifully, clearly, and maintained his polemical edge throughout the book without ever losing the provocative tone that somehow propels the narrative in a sprightly fashion. Its worth reading, largely because Von Holst identifies with precision the constitutional and intellectual battles waged by Calhoun. He also provides an excellent view of Calhoun's actual positions, which allows the modern scholar to understand why Calhoun's intellect proved so brilliant and so dexterous.

Review # 2 was written on 2021-03-06 00:00:00 Zaiman Ceo Comprehensive study of the election of 1884. I will say that I'm mystified by how inadequate his coverage was of African American politics during this period, especially since he gave such thorough coverage to other groups and issues during this time. I'm curious as to how much research he even did into black newspapers during this period. I know there's a lot out there about African Americans and the election of 1884, because, well, I wrote a chapter of my master's thesis on it. :)