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Paul S. Vickery
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Jackson: The Iron-Willed Commander (The Generals Series) Kindle Edition

by Paul Vickery (Author), Stephen Mansfield (Editor, Contributor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 48 ratings
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A gripping account of the man who emerged as a national hero through his military successes—and became the seventh President of the United States.

Orphan. Frontiersman. President. The rise of Andrew Jackson to the highest office in America has become a legend of leadership, perseverance, and ambition. Central to Jackson’s historic climb—long before the White House—was his military service. Scarred permanently as a child by the sword of a British soldier, Jackson grew into an unwavering leader, a general whose charisma and sheer force of personality called to mind those of George Washington a generation earlier.

As commander of the Tennessee militia in the War of 1812, Jackson became “Old Hickory,” the indomitable spearhead in a series of bloody conflicts with the Creek on the southwest frontier. Slight of frame with silver hair that seemed to stand on command, Jackson once stood down a mutinous brigade as an army of one. Then came New Orleans. Author Paul Vickery chronicles Jackson’s defining battle and the decisions a single, impassioned commander made to ensure a growing nation could, once and for all, be free of British might. The hero of New Orleans infused America, for the first time, with a sense of nationalism.

Jackson was decisive and unforgiving, a commander firmly in his element. In his own words, “One man with courage makes a majority.” The lessons of one extraordinary general endure.
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Thomas Nelson
  5. Publication date
    July 16, 2012
  6. File size
    2972 KB
  7. Page Flip
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Vickery is a tenured professor at Oral Roberts University, where he teaches U.S. military history.

Stephen Mansfield is the New York Times bestselling author of Lincoln's Battle with God, The Faith of Barack Obama, Pope Benedict XVI, Searching for God and Guinness, and Never Give In: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Beverly.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0078FA9GK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas Nelson (July 16, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 16, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2972 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1595554548
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

About the author

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Paul S. Vickery

Paul S. Vickery

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Paul S. Vickery is a Professor of History at Oral Roberts University teaching US and Latin American History. After working as a Counter-Intelligence Officer in Germany, he returned to the US and has been involved in education for 40 years. Vickery has presented historical characters--such as Henry Ford, Sen. Joe McCarthy and Bartolome de las Casas--around the country in a Chautauqua format. He and his wife enjoy lecturing on cruise ships and travel. He has presented academic papers in more than eight universities in Europe and Latin America. He has taught in South Korea and England and has also served as an ordained United Methodist Pastor.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
48 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Clay Cuzick
5.0 out of 5 stars Andrew Jackson
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2012
Verified Purchase
Very in depth look into Andrew Jackson's life along with some good information you wont be able to find in a history book. Easy read that transitions well. Would recommend for a quick $10.
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Mary Shaffer
4.0 out of 5 stars Reading Review - Jackson: The Iron-WIlled Commander
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
From the perspective of a student reading this book as a requirement, I must say that the book itself was a smooth read and engaging. Honestly, prior to reading the book, all I knew of Andrew Jackson was that he was a President and a war hero of the Battle of New Orleans. After reading this book I feel as if I have not only grown in my knowledge of Andrew Jackson, but have gained a greater knowledge and respect of his influential leadership qualities, the time and era that he thrived in and the way his leading affected the country as a whole. Jackson: The Iron-Willed Commander gives a great look at Jackson not only as a historical factual figure but as a real man with a personality, vision and heart. I recommend this book for a classroom reading or just for someone who wants to become more knowledgeable about one of America's heros. The reader will surely find an adventure and a deeper connection to the essence of The United States in this time period.
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SteveB
3.0 out of 5 stars Jackson
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2012
Jackson-The Iron-Willed Commander by Paul Vickery was just published this week by Thomas Nelson Publishing. Vickery opens with Jackson's inauguration on March 4, 1829. The scene he portrays is a tumultuous one, with the rough and tumble Jackson and his like-minded followers "invading" Washington's elite society. It is an appropriate opening to this short biographical sketch of a man best know for his bold, everyman approach to life. The rest of the book proceeds as flashback to his childhood and military career.

Paul Vickery, Professor of History at Oral Roberts University, has written what can best be termed a short primer on Andrew Jackson's military career, with the greatest emphasis placed on his defining battle in New Orleans at the close of the War of 1812. The 19 short chapters can be grouped together roughly as follows. 1-4 deal with his childhood as an orphan and his growth into turbulent manhood. He is presented as likable troublemaker who is quick to defend his honor with a duel. In chapters 5-11 we see his development into a leader of men and a competent military man. 12-17 deal with the build up, conflict, and aftermath of The Battle New Orleans, which took place on January 8, 1815. Finally, the last two chapters discuss his elevation to the presidency and his legacy.

In Jackson, Vickery strives to present his subject as a tough as nails, bold and decisive leader. "Scarred permanently as a child by the sword of a British soldier, Jackson grew into an unwavering leader, a general whose charisma and sheer force of personality called to mind those of George Washington a generation earlier." The author wants to extend the aura of greatness that enshrouds the Founding Fathers over this next generation leader.

Vickery is clearly enamored with his subject, repeatedly using a variety of epithets such as "iron willed", Old Hickory", "inspiring" and "indomitable" . His Homerian tendencies make clear his wish that the reader recognize Jackson's toughness and independence. He seems to equate this strength of character to America herself, as if Jackson was a metaphor for the maturing country. The general is not shown not so much as a tactical genius, but as someone whose own force of personality willed his armies to victory. The author regularly eschews details battle plans for anecdotes of Jackson's individual acts of bravery and inspiration.

The current tendency in some quarters of American society to look at elders, the elite, or intellectual class with suspicion, and to celebrate both the young and the rough-and-ready everyman, has apparently influenced this author as well. Jackson seems a cipher for that mythological, self-sufficient American ideal. One can almost read this as the Founding Father's giving birth to a nation and Jackson as the embodiment of it's adolescent character. As such there are times when we wince at Jackson's stubbornness, and rush to action; yet Vickery tends to downplay these occurrences as a parent might overlook the indiscretions of youth.

The author's proclivity to minimize Jackson's flaws may be appropriate when your teenager breaks curfew; it is less so when the subject in question is the head of the entire southern military of the United States. Because of this, the book reads less like an objective history and more like a well meaning propaganda piece. The reader understands that Jackson was a famously successful military leader. But one also knows he was a man, with flaws and faults. If the author chose to make his subject a bit more human, he would have become more sympathetic. Additionally, his writing style lacks subtlety. He continuously hits the reader over the head with his main thesis to the point where this reads more like a young adult history textbook from the early 20th century than a modern biography of an admittedly complex historical figure.

In the end, I found this book to be informative in terms of the history of the early United states, and I actually learned quite a bit about The Battle of New Orleans and the War of 1812. However, I don't feel I know who Andrew Jackson was any more than I did before reading this book.
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Kindle Customer Anne Boyd
5.0 out of 5 stars Jackson (The Generals)
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2014
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Very interesting insight into the character of the man. He definitely was an iron willed character. I highly recommend this book
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Jeslyn Hunter
4.0 out of 5 stars Book review on Dr. Vickery's Book: Jackson; The Iron-Willed Commander
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
Verified Purchase
Dr. Vickery's book about General Jackson was quite compelling and historically accurate. His book shed light on Jackson's beginnings as a baby without a father, mischievous childhood and strong character that made him a famous general. Andrew Jackson was a stubborn to a fault at times, but it was his iron will and determination that kept him going in tough times. He was a friend to his men and would encourage and do all he could to help them out, even giving away his food when asked. He truly is an American hero. He fought for what he believed and is an example to every American of what it means to be patriotic and never give up on the land you love.
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