Reviews

"An engaging, highly readable account of the conditions, events, and personalities of the years preceding the Civil War and a critical, personal view of Buchanan's leadership."--History: Reviews of New Books"Understanding Buchanan, his presidency, and the coming of the Civil War is no small task. To this enterprise Smith brings crisp prose, effective organization, and a sense of the provocative."--Journal of Southern History"Smith moves President Buchanan closer to center stage as the drama of the immediate pre-Civil War period unfolds. An insightful and refreshing historical narrative."--Midwest Quarterly"A perceptive account of the coming of the Civil War. Lively, thought-provoking, but always sensible history."--Choice