ANDREW JACKSON

Old Hickory, our seventh president, was lauded as the father of "by the people, for the people" democracy. Nevertheless, this is a warts-and-all bio, showing Jackson as a slaveholder who was also fiercely anti-Native American; he was involved in a controversial marriage and, often, controversial politics. Jackson's pre-presidency years are covered more thoroughly and with more zest than his later years, but Brands's one-volume biography is thorough. Unfortunately, Chuck Montgomery's narration lacks color and dramatic impact as it is delivered in the pedantic voice of a history lecturer. However, his presentation is certainly serviceable, and Brands's dynamic saga is an experience in American politics not to be missed. M.T.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]