07/28/2014
One of the most illustrious members of the Founding generation, John Marshall attended Virginia’s ratifying convention, served in the state legislature and Congress, was a diplomat and Secretary of State, and ultimately became the nation’s most influential Chief Justice. He was also among the best-liked men of his time. But what Unger (Mr. President), a biographer of John Quincy Adams, Noah Webster, and George Washington among others, delivers is more hagiography than biography. To boot, he takes sides in the political conflicts of the early nation. Unger has it in especially for Marshall’s second cousin Thomas Jefferson. Among the “enemies of the federal government” of which he became president, Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, “abandoned the Revolution,” built an “incongruously pretentious home,” had a “mean-spirited gossip” of a daughter, may have made near “treasonous” decisions as governor, wielded “all but dictatorial powers” as president, “unleashed his political attack dogs,” and “nurtured political divisions and chaos.” While its facts are straight, the book’s interpretation is extreme and offers nothing revelatory. Moreover, it lacks the authority of recent studies of Marshall by R. Kent Newmyer and Jean Edward Smith. Maps & illus. (Oct.)
What Would the Founders Think?, 9/30/14
“Harlow Giles Unger follows John Marshall from his birth in 1755 to his death in 1835, but he does more than that. He shines a bright light on the men we call Founders…Unger's biography is also a fascinating history of the turbulent times in which Marshall lived…This is an extensively researched biography of a man who is too little remembered today. It's become a cliché to say that a book reads like a novel, but that doesn't make it any less true. Unger is a superb writer.”
New York Journal of Books, 9/30/14
“Highly readable…Unger's rigorously researched book offers a window into the everyday life of 18th and 19th century North America…Unger's biography of John Marshall reveals how he saved the nation, but also democracy's fragility.”
Bookviews, November 2014
“One man who played an extraordinary role in defending the Constitution is finally given his rightful honors in Harlow Giles Unger's book…A book that will give you a very different view of the men we hold in such great honor…A great book.”
InfoDad, 10/23/14
“Fascinating…A treat for scholars interested in early American history and an eye-opener for non-historians seeking insight into the unusual balance of powers within which the U.S. government functions.”
American History, December 2014
“A rousing, eye-opening life and times of one of the most underappreciated figures in American history…As an account of the courtroom dramas in which Marshall was involved, the foreign and domestic intrigues, the clashes of temperamental geniuses, Unger's book is unsurpassed.”
Roanoke Times, 9/28/14
“Unger is a masterful storyteller. As he unfolds Marshall's personal life, his career at law and his service as chief justice, Unger also provides a concise tale of the birth of the United States as a unified country under the Constitution. This biography serves the dual purpose of explaining Marshall's critical role in saving the nation from chaos while giving a concise account of the social and political forces at play during the nation's salad days…In telling the story of Marshall, Unger provides keen insight into the very foundation of the United States of America and an excellent introduction to the United States Constitution and the Supreme Court, especially for those who want to know the story without having to read volumes of case law and sometimes arcane exegetical texts.”
Library Journal, 10/1/14
“Unger is very familiar with the founding fathers…His research is heavy on primary sources…Those interested in the founding fathers will appreciate this scholarly, accessible title.”
Kirkus Reviews, 8/1/14
“A cradle-to-grave biography of the U.S. Supreme Court's longest-serving chief justice…Unger chooses to present all aspects of Marshall's life, including his military heroism and his extraordinary devotion to a chronically ill wife and their children…It is well-researched, and the author is skilled at portraying the characters and viewpoints of Marshall's political friends and foes. Thomas Jefferson comes across as a stubborn, politically motivated and sometimes hypocritical man, and Unger employs the Marshall-Jefferson enmity effectively, adding tension to the narrative. A vigorous account of an influential American life.”
New York Post, 7/17/14
“Read. Be proud of our country.”
Booklist, 9/15/14
“Unger offers a comprehensive account of Marshall's life and career that provides interesting insights into his personal qualities and political sympathies…But Unger is at his best covering the history-altering judicial activities of the court under Marshall, especially as the court clashed with the executive power of the Jefferson and Jackson administration…A well-done tribute to the man who made the judiciary a truly coequal branch of the national government.
By varying his tone, pacing, and volume, narrator Robert Fass brings this portrait of Chief Justice John Marshall to dramatic life. The adjustments in his reading style seem natural and appropriate. In quoting the fiery Patrick Henry, Fass nearly yells (although the editor adjusts the volume, so the effect is there without shattering the listener’s eardrums). Then he takes a more theatrical tone with the words of Daniel Webster. For Marshall himself, he adopts a studied tone, which is fitting for the champion of a centrist judiciary. Fass generally takes a solemn approach for quoting court rulings. In the rest of the work, Fass carries the reading along smoothly, with an engaging tone. It would have been easy to fall into a somnolent rhythm, but Fass resists. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
2014-07-16
A cradle-to-grave biography of the U.S. Supreme Court's longest-serving chief justice. Independent scholar Unger (John Quincy Adams, 2012, etc.) treats the influential John Marshall (1755-1835) as a hero. He was a distinguished officer and an effective state leader in Virginia before studying law and being appointed to the Supreme Court at the beginning of the 19th century. Marshall would serve as chief justice for 35 years (a record tenure), establish the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and write decisions that solidified the primacy of the federal government over often resentful state governments. During Marshall's tenure on the court, the justices handed down nearly 1,200 rulings; Marshall served as the lead writer for more than 500 of those. His opinion in Marbury v. Madison (1803) set a precedent, never enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, that the Supreme Court possessed the power to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional. Since the court employed no police force, concern arose that its unpopular rulings would be ignored or would at least be unenforceable. Through his authoritative demeanor and easy way with his colleagues and others, Marshall exuded credibility, which in turn encouraged U.S. presidents to send federal troops if needed to enforce rulings. Unger chooses to present all aspects of Marshall's life, including his military heroism and his extraordinary devotion to a chronically ill wife and their children. As a result, Marshall's Supreme Court appointment does not occur until halfway through the biography. Though the narrative sometimes veers toward hagiography, it is well-researched, and the author is skilled at portraying the characters and viewpoints of Marshall's political friends and foes. Thomas Jefferson comes across as a stubborn, politically motivated and sometimes hypocritical man, and Unger employs the Marshall-Jefferson enmity effectively, adding tension to the narrative. A vigorous account of an influential American life.
