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Synopsis
In Sherman, Lee Kennett offers a brilliant new interpretation of the general's life and career, one that probes his erratic, contradictory nature. Here we see the making of a true soldier, beginning with the frontier society and the extraordinary family from which he came, his formative years at West Point, and the critical period leading up to the Civil War. Throughout the spirited battles at Bull Run and Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg, and ultimately, the Great March, Sherman displayed a blend of drive, determination, and mastery of detail unique in the annals of war.
By drawing upon previously unexploited materials and maintaining a sharp, lively narrative, Lee Kennett presents a rich, authoritative portrait of Sherman — the man and the soldier — who emerges from this work more human and more fascinating than ever before.
Book Magazine
During the Civil War, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman waged a psychological battle aimed at breaking the resolve of American civilians. Sherman's mental stability has often been doubted, but Kennett, after closely examining the question of Sherman's sanity, is largely sympathetic to his subject. Although the author of Marching Through Georgia: The Story of Soldiers and Civilians During Sherman's Campaign concentrates chiefly on Sherman the general, he pays ample attention to the man behind the title, discussing Sherman's distinguished family, his years at West Point, as well as his less-than-successful tenure as a banker in San Francisco. This balanced study of a controversial figure will prove an interesting read, both for historians and Civil War buffs.
—Glenn Speer
(Excerpted Review)