A Soldier's Passion for Order

Sherman

De: John F. Marszalek

Narrado por: Kevin Charles Minatrea

General William Tecumseh Sherman has come down to us as the implacable destroyer of the Civil War, notorious for his burning of Atlanta and his brutal march to the sea. A probing biography that explains Sherman's style of warfare and the threads of self-possession and insecurity that made up his character.

©1993 John F. Marszalek (P)2013 Redwood Audiobooks

Reseñas de la Crítica

"John Marszalek's no-nonsense biography covers all the bases." ( Washington Post Book World)

"A thoughtful and generally sympathetic biography of one of the Civil War's most controversial commanders." ( USA Today)

“In Sherman, John F. Marszalek has written the premier biography of the brilliant Civil War general. Based on exhaustive research, written smoothly, and argued intelligently, it easily surpasses any existing volume on William Tecumseh Sherman's lengthy and controversial life.” ( Journal of American History)

Great

Superb history of the times and man
The greatest general in this difficult time period

Story well done. reader performance a distraction

What did you love best about A Soldier's Passion for Order?

This is a comprehensive look at William Tecumseh Sherman from childhood through his role in the Civil War and afterwards.

What didn’t you like about Kevin Charles Minatrea’s performance?

The reader, Kevin Charles Minatrea, "creates" accents for statements (quotes) by the various characters in the story that are a major distraction from the otherwise smooth flow of the author's text. He has nothing on which to base his "manufactured" accents because there are no recordings of the characters actual voices .

Any additional comments?

The "made up" accents are almost enough of a distraction to stop me reading this book.

Probably better to read.

What did you like best about A Soldier's Passion for Order? What did you like least?

The book is nothing if not a thorough portrait of Sherman. That's what it promises. That's what it delivers. The author doesn't filter out any details, which made the book a little dense for my taste.

Really not a fan of the voice the performer picked for Sherman. Not sure if there was a historically accurate story behind it, but "old prospecter" isn't the choice I would have made for the voice of the character most quoted throughout a 20 hour book.

What was most disappointing about John F. Marszalek’s story?

I really like Sherman before I read this book (pictured him as a conflicted general doing what he felt was for the greater good). I think it's worth listening to regardless of your opinion on Sherman, but hearing about how balls-to-the-wall racist he was quickly rendered him un-likable.

It's hard to tell if it's the writing or the performance, but for whatever reason I just got the impression that the book was trying to hard to paint Sherman as a good guy. For all the racism, and killing of native american women and children, it seems like whats most pushed on the reader/listener is "Sherman was a likable family man, who was respected by everyone who knew him."

I'm all for showing both sides of a complicated man, but I got too strong a feeling that I was being told I should forgive his shortcomings.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yeah, as long as it didn't glorify Sherman. Sherman was a whole lot of bad things wrapped up in an insecure person, and he revolutionized the way war is made. How have movies not been made about him already?

Well, it is Sherman....

Would you listen to A Soldier's Passion for Order again? Why?

I can't say I would listen to this book again. The content is well arranged and the story told is good, although the initial moves to best characterize the debate between Northern and Southern opinions is rather simplistic. I live in South Carolina and when approached about an opinion on Sherman it is easy to see him as a war criminal by today's standards and unethical by his own standards.

Going into the reading with a biased perspective you get the opportunity to understand Sherman as a man. The book covers his religious views, family life, loss, gains, and carries you all the way up to the ending (he dies... hope I am not giving anything away).

Much of my frustration with this material is that you get a perspective that he is one of our own when many of us consider him as an invader. His burning of Columbia is met with the same comments we hear everyday, but truthfully we see a person that had no issues with disrupting the organizations that develop fundamental changes to a society. That is, churches and schools.

In presentation the story is good. I disliked some of the more questionable details getting left to the end. Some periods are glossed over, but it would be difficult to find someone that in South Carolina welcome Sherman to dinner as the text seems to imply.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator seems to have variations in volume and tone, which I believe is due to rerecording sections. I could swear I heard a telephone ring in the background of the audio, but you would only notice it with the volume at an extremely high level.

The only issue I have otherwise is that all of the characters seem to have a similar voice. Sherman's voice is okay, but often it sounds like he is talking to himself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I can't say anyone can listen to something so long in one sitting...

Any additional comments?

I know the first review and make or break a book. I honestly enjoyed this book and would recommend it. It is not the best, but it is more than enough to keep you entertained and presented well enough to enjoy at points. You will get frustrated and will experience joy at certain passages.

You should get this book and listen to it, but keep in mind that you may find yourself repeating sections as you get confused. When the narrator bumps into the microphone you will hear a loud noise. He careful about the volume of listening. Most of all, enjoy the book.

Great Book

My only objection was the voice of Sherman ... I'm not sure he sounded like Walter Brennan