Book Review: Stonewall

What Parents Should Know
Stonewall Jackson's eccentricities are presented in a humorous light as the story unfolds in an easy-to-understand manner; the few black-and-white sketches are hazy and indistinct.

Common Sense Media Review
STONEWALL is a biography that will appeal most to history buffs, Civil War enthusiasts, and Jackson fans; the bulk of the book is devoted to the general's military exploits. The biography faithfully retraces Jackson's Civil War decisions and actions, and it is an excellent Civil War resource.

But even for those not fascinated by the Civil War, STONEWALL provides an interesting glimpse into the doomed general. The motivations behind many of Jackson's eccentric behaviors are revealed: His habit of standing and sitting erect (hence the nickname), for example, grew out of his belief that keeping his alimentary canal straight would improve his nervous stomach. Plus, there are lots of interesting anecdotes about his life as a popular icon in the public eye: women snatching his coat buttons, citizens throwing gifts at him.

In general, Fritz puts a positive spin on the respected Confederate general's life, and even his death: "Perhaps this was exactly the right moment to leave the scene, for certainly he did not doubt that the South would win the war."

In fact, his death was tragic and bizarre. Jackson, mistaken for a member of the Union Army, was fired on by a Confederate soldier. His arm was amputated, and subsequently he caught pneumonia and died. True to his eccentric reputation, when informed in the morning that he would die later that day, Jackson replied that his wish had come true--he had always wanted to die on a Sunday.

STONEWALL is one in a series of biographical books by Fritz called Unforgettable Americans; another entry is Traitor: The Case of Benedict Arnold. She also wrote Homesick: My Own Story, an autobiographical novel, and many books for younger children, including And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?

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