Audio Books on History  Reviewed by One Suddenly Blind Author - Jack C. Ramsay, Jr.,

1. Founding Brothers
The Revolutionary Generation
by Joseph J. Ellis

2. The Last Flag Down
The Epic Journey of The Last Confederate Warship
by John Baldwin and Ron Powers

Founding Brothers  The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis  Author of American Sphinx 2001 Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History Narrated by Nelson Runger   Recorded Books, LLC., Prince Frederick MD Unabridged Edition 13.5 hours, 12 compact disks     August 6, 2007 I have just finished reading for a second time the audio book  FOUNDING BROTHERS The Revolutionary Generation This book is the most profound historical work I have ever encountered. In spite of this remark, it is at the same time one that is thoroughly and highly readable. This combination, profound and highly readale, is something of a rarity in the vast mass of books currently available to both the reader and the listener. Since I became suddenly blind, I "read" by hearing. I can recommend this excellent work as one of the well-produced audio books I was able to secure from my local bookstore. The book begins with a carefully thought through statement of historical philosophy and moves into a thoroughly researched account of the Burr-Hamilton duel. Author Ellis supplied details that I had not known even though I had read countless rendering of this tragic event. The text goes on to supply information, which made all other rendering of the shooting match between two well-known persons at least somewhat intelligent. It emphasizes the author's point that the men who were generally known as founding fathers were in reality a band of brothers and that is how they thought of themselves. Ellis points out that the entire group knew each other intimately and in spite of many differences worked together toward the final goal much as blood brothers rather than persons who were merely unrelated icons. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson renewed a working relationship late in their careers. The two "brothers" who survived the longest, Adams and Jefferson, were determined to explain themselves to each other before death. This they did, managing to die on that same day. I highly recommend this magnificient work as one that must be read in order to have a basic understanding of what our nation was intended to be. - Jack C. Ramsay, Jr., August 6, 2007

The Last Flag Down The Epic Journey of the Last Confederate Warship by John Baldwin and Ron Powers   coauthor of Flags of Our Fathers Read by Ron McLarty   A Random House Audio Book 6 hours, 5 compact disks     I have just finished reading for a second time the audio book LAST FLAG DOWN This book is a must for all who love a saga of the sea. The work is based on the logs of the Confederate ship that sailed under the name Shenandoah, though she left England under the name Sea Queen.  Once at sea, the Sea Queen put in at a neutral port   where Confederate agents met and renamed her Shenandoah.  This was done properly, using papers signed by President of the Confederate States Thomas Jefferson.  The Shenandoah was a unique craft known as a combine. It was rigged as a sailing vessel but also could be powered by a steam engine.  Because of this highly efficient propulsion system, the ship could overtake any vessel afloat.  This was proven in late 1864 when the powerful craft, becoming known as a secret weapon of the Confederacy, had no difficulty in overtaking and subduing any northern ship encountered.   For a time the Shenandoah was in dry dock in Australia.  Once back at sea she captured countless northern crafts and took their crew captive. As the final months of the Confederacy began she ruled the seas, rumors abounding that she had possibly become a pirate ship.   The vessel was in mid-ocean when Lee surrendered to Grant.  Rumors of Lincoln’s assassination did reach the Shenandoah captain but neither he nor his associate could believe that President Davis was a prisoner held at Fortress Monroe in Virginia.   Finally the Shenandoah fired the last shot of the Confederacy and the Civil War. Enough reports of the downfall of the rebellion had reached the captain and his associate to convince them that the war was over. Davis had been forgiven and was no longer a prisoner. The ship returned to Liverpool. There they surrendered to the British, fearing they might all hang as pirates for continuing to raid the sea-lanes when there was no war.   When time had elapsed to grant a more reasonable interpretation of the raiders existence, those who had survived were granted an official pardon.  The executive officer returned to his native Virginia.  He became the captain of a “Chesapeake Bay steamer”.   I remember those ships. As a child, I rode those steamers.  With childhood fascination, I remember how after we left Norfolk, we put in at Fortress Monroe.   I remember how the water in Fortress Monroe seemed beautiful in its deep green hue.  Healing had come to the land where there had been a civil war.  This book, a tale based on the Shenandoah’s exploits and events, makes great reading. It is a magnificent story of what did happen in America’s most bitter war.   Perhaps water at Fortress Monroe is beautiful and deep green today, at least as far as that bitter conflict is concerned. I truly enjoyed this book. It is a keeper for my audio book library. - Jack C. Ramsay, Jr., July 4, 2007     Note from a caregiver: Dr. Ramsay’s experiences as a child are covered in considerable detail in Angel Kisses And My Beating Heart. His account of his early days of sudden blindness are found in his new book, I Can Feel the Sunshine by One Suddenly Blind Patient, One Caregiver and One Little Dog. The fact that he wrote the above review of the audio book he "read" and reviewed here on July 4, 2007, is further proof that he is enjoying “feeling the sunshine” as he makes progress from his sudden blindness on Dec. 7, 2006. -          Karin Ramsay, Caregiver for One Suddenly Blind Patient I Can Feel the Sunshine by One Suddenly Blind Patient, One Caregiver and One Little Dog   Audio Books on History  Reviewed by One Suddenly Blind Author

©2005 American Author, a division of Cevado Technologies. All rights reserved.