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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/product_reviews/pr_id/113838-Surgeon-in-Blue-Jonathan-Letterman-the-Civil-War-Doctor-Who-Pioneered-Battlefield-Care
ASIN: B00L0M4K1W
ID #113838
Amazon's Price: $ 11.99
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To be fair, this book is a generally encompassing biography of Jonathan Letterman, who did lead a interesting and somewhat tragic life. So it should surprise no one that it did not focus solely on his battlefield practice and revolutionary front-line medicine insights.

As a biography, it is thoroughly researched, with excellent back-up references. The author freely admits when something is speculation because there is weak or no actual evidence to back up a statement, and instead relies on context and past/future facts to fill in the blanks. There is very little speculation, and what is there is probable and not far-reaching, so there is little reason to doubt any of the content of the book.

That being said, the book is frustratingly dry and repetitive. It is as though the author became consumed by fact and forgot about entertaining the reader at the same time. It is also excessively detailed in some parts that are of less consequence to the overall biography, and it is far too repetitive in the information it presents. Much could have been tightened up outside of the "battlefield care", "battlefield care" could have been more focused, and the repetition, for the most part, could have been stuck from the book entirely.

This doctor most definitely deserves to have a biography on the shelves. His logic, perseverance, and administrative abilities were outstanding. His contribution to field medicine was shocking, insofar as how much he accomplished, how it was unbelievable that there was so much resistance to it, and that no one had done it before. We take much of modern medicine for granted, that's for sure.

Despite it's dryness, I think civil war buffs, or perhaps those interested in war in general, would find this to be something to add to their collection, if for no other reason than to give the man credit for his contributions and accomplishments on the field.

Expect to gain some knowledge and appreciation for Letterman, but go in knowing it's focused on research and not entertainment
Created Dec 06, 2018 at 9:31pm • Submit your own review...
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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/product_reviews/pr_id/113838-Surgeon-in-Blue-Jonathan-Letterman-the-Civil-War-Doctor-Who-Pioneered-Battlefield-Care