Full disclosure: I assisted with some research for this book and am acknowledged within.

William Seward's long been something of an interest of mine; I got interested in him during my years at Union College, which he also attended as an undergraduate. I have studied at some length Seward's relationship with Eliphalet Nott, the president of Union during Seward's time there; the two kept up a friendship throughout Nott's life, and their correspondence during Seward's career makes for fascinating reading. So I am always keen to read anything new about Seward, and was delighted to learn that Walter Stahr had decided to tackle a full-length biography.

Stahr has carried off the challenge very well. This is a soup-to-nuts treatment of Seward's life and works, and Stahr has expertly mined the primary sources (not just Seward's own papers, but many other collections as well) to collect both Seward's own views and perspectives but also those of the people around him and with whom he interacted (including his many rivals and enemies over the years). He captures very well Seward's political nature and his priorities throughout his career.

Much of the book focuses on the period between the 1860 presidential campaign and the end of the Civil War, when Seward managed to become, as the subtitle indicates, "Lincoln's indispensable man." The fact that these two men were able to forge such a close and immensely effective relationship does great credit to both of them, and Stahr ably portrays this key period in Seward's career. The treatment of Seward's attempts to expand the American empire in the years after the end of the Civil War are also very well handled.

Now, naturally I would have liked a bit more on the relationship between Seward and Nott, since it's a particular interest of mine, and I would have appreciated some more explicit acknowledgement of the many other Union College alumni with whom Seward worked throughout his life (from his son Frederick to the American consul in Paris during the Civil War, John Bigelow, to New York senators Ira Harris and Preston King and quite a few more). Those important connections deserve more recognition than they get, not just in this book but in a great many.

Overall, a truly engaging and interesting account of a great statesman's life. ( )

Excellent book. Had no idea that Seward had such an accomplished career. Quick, informative read. ( )

no good