The Most Famous Man In America
Our friend Debby Applegate just came out with a book from Doubleday this year, The Most Famous Man In America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher.
Beecher is not so famous these days but most have heard of his sister Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
The book is nothing short of captivating. This tale of the Reverand Beecher’s life, fraught with hardship and scandal, but also marked with the greatest of success, is the best depiction of man’s duality that I have ever read.
I was struck by truth being stranger than fiction at several points in the book. The timing of Beecher’s big speech in the South with Lincoln’s assassination is uncanny, and Debby structures the telling for maximum drama. The most intriguing behaviour to me was that of Theodore Tilton, one of the men Beecher supposedly cuckholded. You’ve got to read it. The actions of these people are explained by their living in a nearly unimaginable social context, but Debby makes you imagine it.
One thing a parent can’t help but notice is the frequency of child death in 1800s America. The Beechers lost several children. I am humbled by people who have trudged on through loss after loss like that. It is no wonder they thrashed about in search of dignity and joy. It seems few modern people have any such excuse.
At any rate. Thanks, Debby. This book really affected me, not to mention, it’s a huge scholarly achievement that is bound to propel you into being “The Most Famous Historian In America”!
on October 20th, 2006 at 9:43 am
I received a B&N gift certificate recently, and was wondering what to get with it. Now I know. Thanks!