Huey Long (Vintage)
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Huey Long (Vintage)
by T. Harry Williams
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39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
Politics 101, May 9, 2004
Reviewer:Dennis Phillips (Bulls Gap, Tennessee USA) -
Academic historians spend a lot of time complaining about the merits of so called popular history. This is of course mostly due to the fact that popular histories outsell what the academics turn out causing the academics to cry foul. I have read a fair amount of both types of history and have always felt that if the academics would turn out books that weren't so dull they could attract readers also. In his biography of Huey Long, T. Harry Williams delivers absolute proof that academics can turn out extremely interesting books. This book is fascinating from cover to cover and anyone who is considering a career in government should read this biography of one of the cleverest politicians of all time. Historians often crucify the Kingfish but Williams doesn't follow that course. He simply presents the story and lets the reader decide whether Long was a hero or a villain. Huey's tactics were ruthless there is no doubt but in order to break the power of the Bourbon ruling class of Louisiana there was little alternative. This elite ruling class was thoroughly entrenched and had been grinding the people of Louisiana under their feet for years. Long may have indeed become a dictator but he broke the power of the Bourbons and brought Louisiana out of the 18th century. Huey's list of accomplishments is far too long for a review of this type but there is one area that must be mentioned. Huey gave to the people of Louisiana the key that would open the door to a brighter future by finally giving people a chance to get an education. For the first time children in Louisiana received free textbooks and LSU was built into a major institution of higher learning. He also created a medical school at LSU so those qualified citizens of the State that couldn't pay the high tuition at Tulane could still become doctors. Not only did this let the children of the middle class attend medical school, but also it also greatly improved the access of the people to medical care. There is of course no doubt that Long had his bad side also and Williams doesn't cover it up. This is a very fair and balanced biography and the author's writing style is marvelous. Do not let the size of this work intimidate you, there are no tedious sections and chapters that will make your eyelids heavy. Williams relies heavily on oral history in this book. He has done dozens if not hundreds of interviews with Long's family, his associates, his supporters, and his enemies. Most of Long's communications were face to face or over the phone so this method was critical to the success of this work, and a success it is. Many biographies are credited with being the definitive work on the subject's life. Sometimes with justification, sometimes without. In this case there is great justification for the definitive label. Nothing before or since has come close to Williams' work. If you want to understand the Kingfish, Louisiana politics, or just study a political genus at work, this is the book to read hands down.
Book Description
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, this work describes the life of one of the most extraordinary figures in American political history.
Inside Flap Copy
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, this work describes the life of one of the most extraordinary figures in American political history.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
THE STORY SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE-but people who should know swear that it is true. Read the first page
Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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high popalorum, decentralize wealth, dummy candidates, free schoolbooks, deduct box, anti leaders, anti members, salesman days, state bank examiner, undated resignations, southern parishes, share our wealth, northern parishes, highway commission, bridge deal, oil tax, severance tax, fifteen senators, compensation lawyer, state policemen, parish seat, campaign chest, adjoining parishes, impeachment proceedings, free bridge
Capitalized Phrases (CAPs):
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New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Huey Long, New York, Old Regulars, Kingdom of the Kingfish, Standard Oil, Public Service Commission, United States, American Progress, Congressional Record, Seymour Weiss, Winn Parish Enterprise, Shreveport Journal, Governor Allen, Long Scrapbooks, Louisiana Progress, Senator Long, Roosevelt Hotel, Louisiana State University, Governorship of Long, Lucille Long Hunt, Mason Spencer, Paul Maloney, Shreveport Times
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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