Robert Remini, a noted and prolific scholar on Andrew Jackson, has narrowed his focus to write a colorful and informative account of the Battle of New Orleans, the final battle in Britain's unsuccessful war of invasion of the United States, the "War of 1812". Most Americans' grasp of the battle boils down to a few factoids: Andy Jackson won, pirate Jean Lafitte helped, and the battle was fought after the treaty marking its end (the Treaty of Ghent) was signed, but before news of the treaty reached the new world. Remini's success is in providing a wonderful and interesting background for the events of the battle: the polyglot and stratified society of New Orleans; continued British designs in North America even after the American colonies won their independence; and most starkly, the stalwart, near fanatical patriotism of Andrew Jackson.

The British campaigning is well recounted, from attacks at Mobile Bay to the laborious transfer of troops through the Louisiana bayous, to the final disastrous assaults on entrenched American lines. This book is informative without being overly-dense to a newcomer to the material. A must-read for Americans who've let the battle and its significance slip from the national consciousness. Remini does pay a bit of lip service to the British by doing some research on their commanders and setting them in the context of their career paths. He also wraps up by noting that the Battle of New Orleans was, for decades, seen as a defining coming-of-age moment for the young American republic, it launched Jackson to the White House and was the final and true declaration of independence for newly-empowered Americans.

However, Remini's unabashed flag-waving and affection for his hero create some awkward passages. Time and again he gnashes teeth at British arrogance and nearly weeps at the ragtag nature of the American army, held together by the immense will of great Jackson. At times the book borders on hero worship and veers away from analytical political/military history. So that in the end, this is a readable and interesting history, but a flawed one. An informative ride to the gates of New Orleans, but one taken from the American side.

I bought and read this book while visiting New Orleans which made the book a very enjoyable read. Remini starts with Jackson's early War in the South. A forgotten American war hero, Jackson manages to win decisive victories in the Creek war, repulse the British at Mobile, and capture Pensacola from the Spaniards before scurrying over to New Orleans to save the city from an ignominious fate at the hands of the Duke of Wellington's army.
The story itself is fantastic - Jackson's few regulars and Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky militiamen, allied with New Orleans society men, free blacks, and Lafitte's pirates wind up outfighting the finest and most disciplined army in the world (who defeated Napoleon, by the way). The book includes helpful campaign maps and is well written even if some of the author's claims are a bit overblown (?America's first military victory?).

Robert V. Remini is the great modern authority on Andrew Jackson, having written a majestic, award winning, three volume biography. Now he has taken a lifetime of research and consideration and distilled it down into one slender volume examining the pivotal moment in Jackson's career and, he argues, one of the vital events in our nation's history.

If you're like me you know exactly three things about the War of 1812. First, that Dolly Madison saved the White House portrait of George Washington from being burned by invading British troops. Second, every kid who ever went to summer camp knows the great Johnny Horton song Battle of New Orleans. Third, that the battle itself took place after the peace treaty had been signed ending the War, but before the combatants had been informed. That was seriously all I knew until I read David Nevin's novel 1812 a couple of years ago (see review). You may know more. If so, more power to you. Should we know more? Remini makes a compelling case that we should.

In addition to doing an excellent job of narrating the events of the battle, he argues that the victory was the moment that really made America a nation. The elements he cites include not merely the fact that it produced a future President, but also the confidence building importance of a citizen army winning a battle against the professional troops of the great British Empire, as well as the fact that this overwhelming defeat made the nations of Europe begin to take the United States seriously as a player on the world stage. In fact, he goes beyond this to argue that New Orleans was actually the nation's first military victory, discounting actions like Saratoga and Yorktown as mere surrenders. It is, of course, possible that he overstates this case a little, having such a vested interest in Jackson's career.

On the other hand, he raises an excellent and little understood point about the War. It was one of only three wars in our history where our existence as a nation was truly threatened (obviously the Revolution and the Civil War were the others). We've fought all kinds of skirmishes, minor brush wars and mopping up operations--Mexican, Spanish-American, WWI, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, etc. And we like to kid ourselves about the threat that the Nazis posed in WWII, though by the time we got in, they were already toast. But really there were only the three conflicts where the United States as we understand it could have perished. If we understood that fact better, perhaps we would pay more heed to the events of 1812-1815. As is, Remini has done his part to capture our attention with this excellent little book.

GRADE: B+

This book was a great read! As always, Andrews is very descriptive when it comes to details which kept me very intrigued, I hated to take a break. He takes you from the beginning of Baby Sweets, working in the fields, to living in their old town with all the twists and turns of her life and why it came to be that way. He gives you all the emotions the sadness, happiness, hardships, fear, etc., whatever you can feel, you will feel it here. The best part of Andrews books is that they all intertwine some way, after reading other novels by him I see how he refers to characters in other story he's written. With these overlapping stories you get to know a little more about his characters. Another great book to add to my collection!

Humans started hearing a signal from Pluto, around World War 2, andÊ
built a sophisticated spaceship, Ambassador, to detect the origin of the
signal.ÊAmbassador was built as a kind of tiny planet, able to travel
forÊmany years.

It was February 29, 2012, when at last Ambassador, in which there were
fourteen crew members, left Mother Earth. It took them seventeen years
to reach Pluto, where, unfortunately, something went wrong. They had to
crash-land on the planet, preventing Ambassador from taking off again.
Actually, they did succeed in landing (they succeeded because most of
the crew survived), but not in the manner they had intended to. With so
much difficulty, they decided to stay on Pluto, waiting for a rescue
ship from Earth. Even if they had managed to take off from Pluto, it
wouldn't have reached Earth.

With the author's poetic story telling, the plot is so thrilling that I
couldn't put the book down.
Then half-way through the book, we encounter the community deep down
under Pluto's surface, which looks systematically organized but very
inhumane. All of a sudden, the story becomes more exciting and
compelling. At the same time, it brings about a bizarre atmosphere.
Andrews' writing style also changed accordingly.
I'm amazed at the author's imagination and powerful descriptive ability.

Furthermore, I'm interested in his analogy of the earth and heaven. Is
he loathing the real situation of the earth, where we have never
stopped fighting? Is he trying to suggest that we are like the
citizens, who are living in the maze under Pluto's surface?

Perhaps he is suggesting, that we should be happy on this beautiful
planet, Earth, where we have a solar blessing, unlike Pluto. What does
the author have to say in Book 2? I can't wait.

I read this book which I obtained from a friend of mine. I believe this book is a perfect example of how determination, staying focused, and persistence will allow one to achieve their goals. However, this book also shows the scary reality of how violence is not only in our communities but also throughout our country. This novel is has a very real feel to it. This book also shows how a person who comes from the "ghetto" can "make it". I believe all young people should read this book. Especially those who believe that they are trapped. I recommend this book highly.