Reading Really Detailed Stuff

There is something about immersing oneself in an intricately detailed book. I am currently reading James Madison: A Biography by Ralph Ketcham. I will use this as an example. This biography is 671 pages long, not including endnotes. These 671 pages are not conventional pages. They are large and dense. I would estimate that had this book been formatted like most books, it would run well over one thousand pages. The work goes into minute examinations and analyses of all sorts of topics concerning both Madison and his period and place.

For instance, Madison’s time studying at the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University, is covered in great depth. Examining these years in Madison’s life is indeed important, as several of America’s Founders attended this institution during this time. The philosophy and theology espoused and taught there by its president, John Witherspoon at that time, had a significant impact on these men as well as upon the Revolution itself. Though the College of New Jersey figured somewhat importantly in other works that I have read concerning this era, none has delved as deeply as Ketcham’s book. Other authors, including the biographers of other attendees, have appropriately emphasized the college’s influence, but have provided only a fraction of information that this work does. This book explores and analyzes the philosophy, politics and theology, in serious detail, to which Madison and others were exposed. It devotes many pages to the actual works of the philosophers and historians that were taught and that Madison read. Finally, Ketcham even describes living arraignments, dietary habits, student hijinks, etc., that characterized attendance at the school. This is just one chapter in a twenty-two-chapter book.

I must point out that The American Revolutionary period is my “thing.” Approximately twenty percent of all of my reading is dedicated to the subject. I intentionally chose Ketcham’s book over shorter and less detailed biographies because I hungered for the detail.

In my younger days this is the kind of book that I would begin, make it through a hundred or so pages, become bored and never finish. I can say with confidence that, being about two hundred pages in at the time of this writing, I will not only finish, but I will enjoy every page. As I have gotten older, I have changed. When it comes to reading, at least, I have developed much patience. I have learned that reading and learning is a journey and not a means to a destination. Furthermore, a certain type of curiosity has grown in me. Not just the curiosity derived from wanting to know about a person like Madison and his times, but a curiosity to understand and ponder the details, the real nitty-gritty stuff, concerning various subjects. I now take great joy in drilling deep down like this.

I believe that for a serious reader, detailed and intricate reading of this sort is essential. Of course, I would not look to read such a book on just any topic. For instance, lately I have been delving just a wee bit into literary criticism and theory. I wanted to get a basic introduction on that subject and maybe read some seminal works. I would never look for this much depth on that or on many other topics. However, as I mentioned, the American Revolutionary era is a kind of life concentration for me. Furthermore, Madison is a vital figure out of this time and place, one who, to some extent, I have neglected until now.

Compared to most history books, this one obviously embodies great depth. Though this is the sort of book that one might only read occasionally, I think that this sort of book really should be read occasionally.

There are, of course, other areas where I yearn to dig as deep. Certain forms of literature and philosophy come to mind. Part of the challenge is picking and choosing. Sadly, there is insufficient time in life to delve into everything that I want to at this level. Thus, I have made conscious decisions to stay closer to the surface in some areas. As it is, I feel that I am not devoting enough reading time to the areas that I want to. I must limit my interests!

The joys of such meticulous works are understandably not something that everyone will appreciate. For a good chunk of my life, I found it impossible. I can attribute my ability to tackle such books partially as the result of getting a little older. However, I observe lots of younger people who, unlike the way that I was, are prepared for such intellectual challenges without needing to wait. I for one am glad that I have evolved to this point. As the old saying goes, better late then never!

Shakespeare's Sonnet 4

From time to time I will post a few lines of commentary on the Shakespearean sonnets. Though, of late, I have been proceeding in numerical order, I reserve the right to deviate from that pattern.

Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend

Upon thyself thy beauty’s legacy?

Nature’s bequest gives nothing, but doth lend,

And, being frank, she lends to those are free.

Then, beauteous niggard, why dost thou abuse

The bounteous largess given thee to give?

Profitless usurer, why dost thou use

So great a sum of sums yet canst not live?

For having traffic with thyself alone,

Thou of thyself thy sweet self dost deceive.

Then how when nature calls thee to be gone,

What acceptable audit canst thou leave?

Thy unused beauty must be tombed with thee,

Which usèd lives th' executor to be.

With this sonnet, Shakespeare continues his somewhat unusual and roundabout praise of the Fair Youth. Here, the subject of the poem continues to be lectured, presumably for his reluctance to engage in a romantic partnership.

For me, one interesting point here, as is true of many of these Fair Youth sonnets, is just how odd this praise is. I cannot think of any other literary source that chastises an individual for failing to share his or her beauty with the world. Once again, the great poet almost seems to be taking on the role of an interfering relative. That is, of course, assuming that the voice of the poem is not extorting the subject of the poem to establish a relationship with the writer himself.

What really stands out in these lines is the financial metaphor. The unwillingness of the Fair Youth to form a romantic attachment is compared to a profligate spender and bad investor. Words like “Unthrifty,”  “legacy,” “executor,” etc. emphasize the point. This theme just adds to the quirkiness of it all. Once again, it is not often that romantic solitude is compared to such pecuniary matters.  With lines like “What acceptable audit canst thou leave?”  I get the impression that Shakespeare may be attempting to be playful with us.

On a side note, I also think that it is a bit extraordinary that Shakespeare’s references to the world of money should be so applicable and understandable some four hundred years later. The terminology and concepts used here have remained remarkably consistent over time. Some things have hardly changed!

I have used the word “sublime” to describe other Shakespeare sonnets. I do not feel that these lines reach that same level of aesthetic beauty. In fact, they likely were not meant to. The sonnets are diverse little works, and sometimes the poet was not reaching for such sweeping grandeur. Instead, I would use the words “very clever” to describe this verse.

My commentary on additional Sonnets:

Sonnet 1

Sonnet 2

Sonnet 3

Sonnet 66

Tories: Fighting For the King in America's First Civil War by Thomas B. Allen

Thomas B. Allen’s Tories: Fighting for the King in America's First Civil War is an extensive examination of the portion of the American population who chose to remain loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolutionary period. Though flawed, this is an engaging and a uniquely important work.

The American Revolutionary War era is a subject on which I have done a fairly extensive amount of reading. In accounts of this period, there is, often in the background, the ubiquitous presence of those Americans who sided with Great Britain. These people were known as Tories or Loyalists. Existence and effects of these Loyalists often appear in various histories, biographies and analyses. Anyone one who has read or engaged in studies of the American Revolutionary period would have encountered information about this group. Their influence was pervasive in America during that time. However, this is one of the few works available that is solely dedicated to their impact and experiences.

As Allen and others have pointed out, it is difficult to ascertain just what percentage of the American population were Tories. First, there were many shades to political belief on both sides, ranging from the neutral to the generally sympathetic to those who were actually willing to take up arms. Second, there was no census or poll taken at that time. The best we have to go on are statistical estimates and educated guesses. The evidence does suggest that the percentage of Americans who opposed rebellion was both fluid and significant.

Allen examines the political, social and military experiences of individuals and families, as well as of geographical and ethnic groupings of Loyalists in great detail. Certain patterns emerged.

In the more populous areas, Loyalists, except in territory occupied by the British, were generally outnumbered and less organized than Rebel groups. Thus, they were persecuted, sometimes economically and socially, and often violently. In areas controlled by the British, the opposite occurred, with Tories being the persecutors and the Rebels becoming the persecuted. Loyalists inevitably fled their homes for British controlled areas or to locations outside of the American colonies altogether. Many males joined Loyalist military units that fought independently or alongside regular British forces. Tories also opposed the Rebel cause in ways as diverse as spying, supplying the British and even counterfeiting continental currency in an effort to damage the American economy.

In the backcountry, ranging from northern New York state down through the Western areas of all the colonies, as well as in “neutral territory” areas between the opposing armies, a nasty, brutal civil war raged between Rebels, Loyalists and Native Americans. These native people often, but not always, sided with the Loyalists.  This side of the conflict usually took the form of raiding small settlements and farms belonging to both colonists and Native Americans. Executions, torture, rape and pillaging were characteristic. All sides commonly committed atrocities. Numerous horrific incidents are chronicled in this book. This work will surprise anyone who believes that horrendous crimes against civilians in wartime only began in the twentieth century.

Allen writes,

Intestine warfare was more than battles. There was cruelty, there were murders in the night, and there were hangings without trial. 

One example, not atypical, involving Native Americans is described,

“in March 1782, Pennsylvania militiamen swooped down on the missionary village of Gnadenhutten. The Delaware Indians there, converted to Christianity, were suspected of being Loyalists. The militiamen rounded up the unarmed Indians and killed sixty-two adults and thirty-four children by smashing their skulls with mallets. Two boys escaped and spread word of the massacre. In an act of vengeance three months later, Delaware braves tortured a captive militia officer who had nothing to do with the raid and then burned him at the stake.”

Geographically, ethnic experiences varied.  The British occupied New York City for most of the war. Thus, it became a Loyalist haven. The British promised African American slaves freedom if they defected to the Loyalist side. Many did so and served in African American Loyalist military units.

As the title of the book indicates, one of Allen’s main points was that the conflict between these different groups of Americans was a civil war. He writes,

Our histories prefer to call the conflict the Revolutionary War, but many people who lived through it called it civil war. Americans who called themselves Patriots taunted, then tarred and feathered, and, finally, when war came, killed American Tories.

Allen not only makes a convincing case for his contention, but it is consistent with my knowledge of the era. Tories and Rebels fought each other throughout the colonies. Communities and families were divided. Allen details the nearly constant and numerous battles and skirmishes, some large, some small, some famous and some not so famous, where the two sides violently clashed.

One somewhat glaring omission in this work is the puzzling lack of information regarding the motivations as to why some choose the Tory side over the Rebel side. While the motivations of certain specific groups, such as the African American slaves, are examined, few words are spent on the reasons why many of the wealthier families, whose experiences are otherwise covered in detail, chose the Loyalist side. In addition, I find that while Allen’s writing style is occasionally eloquent, it is sometimes sloppy and workman like. These are unfortunate shortcomings in an otherwise recommended work.

I must add that this book is really for folks with a basic to moderate understanding of the history, society and major issues surrounding the American Revolutionary War era. It is a vital piece of the puzzle that comprises the history of that time. As just one part of the story, however, readers who have little knowledge of the event will likely be somewhat of a loss to follow the intricacies involved.

Despite its flaws this is a must read for those interested in the American Revolutionary Era. It covers what is an essential, but under-appreciated, aspect of this historical event. It is comprehensive and enlightening. History buffs will find it engaging and entertaining, but also disturbing in parts. This is a worthy tome that tells a very important story.