About the Author

H. W. BRANDS holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin. A New York Times bestselling author, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in biography for The First American and Traitor to His Class.

Reviews

“Jackson was an American original, a wholly fascinating figure whom H. W. Brands brings to life in a big, rich biography. . . . Brands weaves together keen political history with anecdote and marvelous sense of place to produce a vivid tableau.” —The Boston Globe

“A great story. . . . Serves up everything you might expect in a ripping yarn: murderous duels, savage Indian raids, equally savage counterattacks.” —The Washington Post Book World

“Highly readable and entertaining. . . . [Brands] presents Jackson, warts and all, as the fascinating and exceedingly real character that he was and lets the man emerge from behind the image to stand on his own.” —Dallas Morning News

“Revealing. . . . A masterful, detailed account of Jackson's life and his contributions to the nation. Thoroughly researched and thoughtfully told.” —The Oregonian

"Altogether splendid.... Scrupulous in its scholarship, it is aimed at the general reader and it is very good to read. It is also deeply informative, without being in the least hagiographic, about its remarkable subject and the world he lived in and changed so greatly." —The New York Sun

"Engaging ... A definitive work." —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"He covers a complex life with extraordinary ease.... Brands has mined the archives and produced a creditable, highly readable and definitely worthwhile study." —Chicago Tribune

"Gives readers a great sense of the man and the rugged Western life that molded him.... It offers insight into how one American leader gained his fame." —San Francisco Chronicle

"Wonderfully told." —The Seattle Times

"Vivid.... Breaks the bonds of academic writing with pace, detail, and a sense of the sweep of history." —San Antonio Express-News

"[Brands] writes with a measured glide that catches the reader's interest. He is a talented, brilliant in description, and easy in tone; in short, Brands is fun to read." —The News-Observer

"Entertaining and hard to put down.... What reader could quarrel with a book that gives you pistols at dawn, an enduring love story, Indian battles, high political drama and some spectacular battlefield scenes?" —The Tennessean

"A rich description of the seventh president's remarkable personality." —Foreign Affairs

"Intensely engaging.... Meticulously renders Jackson's life with unflinching detail. He also conveys the vagaries of war, life on the frontier, the perilous state of the union and brass-knuckles politics of the day. A bracing, human portrait of both a remarkable man and of American democracy." —Publishers Weekly

"Brings 'Old Hickory" to vivid life." —National Review

In recent years, plenty of biographies have taken a new look at Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and more. Now, says the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The First American, it's Andrew Jackson's turn. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

"Jackson was an American original, a wholly fascinating figure whom H. W. Brands brings to life in a big, rich biography. . . . Brands weaves together keen political history with anecdote and marvelous sense of place to produce a vivid tableau." -The Boston Globe

"A great story. . . . Serves up everything you might expect in a ripping yarn: murderous duels, savage Indian raids, equally savage counterattacks." -The Washington Post Book World

"Highly readable and entertaining. . . . [Brands] presents Jackson, warts and all, as the fascinating and exceedingly real character that he was and lets the man emerge from behind the image to stand on his own." -Dallas Morning News

"Revealing. . . . A masterful, detailed account of Jackson's life and his contributions to the nation. Thoroughly researched and thoughtfully told." -The Oregonian

"Altogether splendid.... Scrupulous in its scholarship, it is aimed at the general reader and it is very good to read. It is also deeply informative, without being in the least hagiographic, about its remarkable subject and the world he lived in and changed so greatly." -The New York Sun

"Engaging ... A definitive work." -Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"He covers a complex life with extraordinary ease.... Brands has mined the archives and produced a creditable, highly readable and definitely worthwhile study." -Chicago Tribune

"Gives readers a great sense of the man and the rugged Western life that molded him.... It offers insight into how one American leader gained his fame." -San Francisco Chronicle

"Wonderfully told." -The Seattle Times

"Vivid.... Breaks the bonds of academic writing with pace, detail, and a sense of the sweep of history." -San Antonio Express-News

"[Brands] writes with a measured glide that catches the reader's interest. He is a talented, brilliant in description, and easy in tone; in short, Brands is fun to read." -The News-Observer

"Entertaining and hard to put down.... What reader could quarrel with a book that gives you pistols at dawn, an enduring love story, Indian battles, high political drama and some spectacular battlefield scenes?" -The Tennessean

"A rich description of the seventh president's remarkable personality." -Foreign Affairs

"Intensely engaging.... Meticulously renders Jackson's life with unflinching detail. He also conveys the vagaries of war, life on the frontier, the perilous state of the union and brass-knuckles politics of the day. A bracing, human portrait of both a remarkable man and of American democracy." -Publishers Weekly

"Brings 'Old Hickory" to vivid life." -National Review