Braxton Bragg

The Most Hated Man of the Confederacy

By: Earl J. Hess

Narrated by: Jonathan Yen

Civil War historian Earl J. Hess presents a compelling biography of Braxton Bragg, the commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee from the summer of 1862 to the end of 1863.

©2016 Earl J. Hess (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Well-documented, Hess's examination of Bragg is balanced and fair and will interest all Civil War aficionados." ( Library Journal)

Thought-provoking

This book explains the controversy about the Confederate General Braxton Bragg (1813-1876). Hess makes the argument that Bragg’s treatment by history has been unfair. Hess attempts a historical assessment of Bragg.

The book is well written and researched. I think that Hess has written a useful, balanced and thoughtful biography. The author has revealed new evidence on the controversial Bragg. Hess described Bragg’s failure to tell his story after the war allowing the unsubstantiated claims and criticism to go forward in history. Hess went through the claims and criticism of Bragg and looked for substantiating evidence. The key important take away I had from this book was that it is a cautionary tale for historians about simply repeating the claims of previous authors without doing proper primary research. Earl Hess is a military historian specializing in the United States Civil War.

The book is fourteen and a half hours. Jonathan Yen does a good job narrating the book. Yen is an actor, voice artist and audiobook narrator.

Clearly a fan of Bragg AND himself...

...the author flails at other historians while fashioning excuses for a failed Commander. Braggs inability to instill respect in his subordinates is somehow the fault of those he commanded...and not his. Clearly Hess was never in the military or forgot the number one axiom... it is always the fault of the man in charge… Even when it appears it isn't. That said, nonetheless shed a lot of light on a cross Bragg might not deserve... the one of cruelty to his own troops. Well, researched and well documented, has nevertheless seems afflicted with a kind of narcissism "I'm right and everyone else is wrong" that taints his history.

gettin' unlucky in kentucky

bragg is not such a moron as ol' shelby foote makes him out to be

Enough with the ridiculous accents

Could we stop with the ridiculous accents please? I assume most of us are adults and can comprehend a quote without the added antics.While the story is good I find the narrator distracting.

An Attempt to Vindicate Bragg

As the title indicates, Bragg has been largely reviled by historians for a century and a half. Hess has taken the arduous ask of attempting to rehabilitate Bragg by spinning every possible excuse available. Historians who have denigrated Bragg are all plagiarists (according to Hess) who didn't do their own research. While Hess does present pro-Bragg sources, they do not match the number or status of his critics. But it is an interesting POV and worth reading/listening.

The narration by Yen is incredible!