Rating: 
Summary: Nothing new
Review: Once again, Virginia Tech's most famous fossil, James Robertson, has taken a topic mined by previous writers, added nothing new, and reaped all the benefits. It's bad enough that his bios of A.P Hill and Stonewall Jackson added nothing new to the story. What is reprehensible is that his derivative writings are championed as landmarks even when the earlier (and better) books are still in print. REad Hassler's Hill; read any one of four previous Jackson bios. If and when Robertson makes a genuine contribution to Civil War scholarship, then praise his work.
Rating:
Summary: Overlong, overpraised, overblown
Review: The only thing more painful than sitting through one of Robertson's lectures is slogging your way through this ponderous, overwrought clunker. His overweening self-importance drips from every leaden page of this derivative, uninspired hackwork. Robertson, who has spent the past several decades writing the same book over and over again with mind-numbing rapidity, here pastes together snippets from his earlier (and equally error-prone) books to pad out a story often (and better) told. Long books do not equate with great books. Never was that more true than here. Robertson merely treads the same ground other writers have mined far more successfully, and then congratulates himself for seemingly re-inventing the wheel. Henderson wrote the definitive work on the general; Chambers gave us the definitive work on the man. Robertson's effort is merely a pale echo of both. The only Jackson scholar performing any original work today is former NPS historian Robert Krick. Thoughtful readers will let Robertson go the way of all other dinosaurs.
Rating:
Summary: Rehash of What's Gone Before
Review: Although impressive (some might say ponderous) in length, Robertson's effort adds little to works written decades earlier and which still remain in print. Chambers's 2 volume bio covered all of this ground before, Vandiver's "Mighty Stonewall" offered a more elegant narrative, and Henderson's "Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War" provided far greater insight into Jackson's military genius. The secret of Robertson's success? Outliving more talented writers.
Rating: 
Summary: Jackson now has his Freeman
Review: It has been an oddity that no book about Jackson
comparable to Dr. Freeman's masterpiece R.E.Lee
has appeared before now, with this encyclopedic
volume. Just as in the case of Lee, Jackson never
had the opportunity to write his battle memoirs,
but this is a pretty good substitute. Any bio of
either of the two men makes it pretty clear that
the Civil War was not fought over the issue of
slavery (which Lincoln, in his 1st Inagural address
had proclaimed was guaranteed "forever" in the states
of the old South). While some have quibbled with
Robertson's tendency to support Jackson in his
troubled dealings with subordinates (A.P.Hill,etc.)
comparisons of his and the subordinates' performances
leaves little doubt that to do otherwise would be
sticking one's head out a rather long way.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Jackson Biography
Review: J.I. Robertson's masterful volume deserves its place alongside Freeman's "Lee" as the authority on its subject. No one has written a more thorough, complete, accurate account of Jackson. The diligent attention to detail and accuracy which Robertson has given to his biography is evidenced by the copious endnotes (over 100 pages worth) and extensive bibliography. Robertson is perhaps the first biographer of Jackson who seems to have had as a primary goal, not writing an interesting book which would sell well, but rather, to present as accurate and detailed an account of Jackson as is currently possible. It is hard to imagine anyone ever being able to trump Robertson's achievement. Yet, without a doubt, the book is without rival in its collective merits of graceful style, interesting narrative, and overall readability. This is no book to fall asleep by; many readers will likely find that chapters rise and fall all too quickly as the hands of the clock wind, unnoticed, round and round. Those who criticize Robertson for too heavily focusing on the religious qualities of Jackson's life simply display their own lack of knowledge of the general. Robertson wonderfully lets Jackson and the record left behind "speak for themselves", and the effect is an honest, unpretentious, fully fleshed-out portrait of one of history's most fascinating individuals. It would be delightful to see an abridgement of this book, aimed at introducing young minds to Jackson in an accurate and unbiased way. If you want one person's opinion about Jackson, there are numerous volumes to satisfy. If, however, you wish to know as you read that what you are reading is the best presentation of Jackson's life that can be had, read J.I. Robertson's book.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive biography on the great Stonewall.
Review: Not a better book has ever been written about the great Stonewall Jackson. In reading Dr. Robertson's book, the soldier, the man, the legend, truly comes to life. This book is to Jackson, as Douglas Southall Freeman's is to Lee. Dr. Robertson describes all the great things about Jackson, he gives us the man, his great military feats, but he also points out his human weaknesses, & his shortcomings with fellow officers. Great research went into this book. Just reading the notes is extremely informative. Once one begins to read this book, it truly is hard to put down. An absolute must for any fan of the great Stonewall, perhaps the greatest soldier in THE war, Lee not withstanding. A GREAT read, that takes you THERE.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Historical Analysis
Review: This is an incredibly well researched and documented work. This should be required reading for any civil war buff or history student. While daunting to pick up in terms of its length, its a quick read for an historical piece. Well done Mr. Robertson!!!
Rating: 
Summary: New Book, Same Rhetoric
Review: While no one can doubt Bud Robertson's writing ability, his interpretation of Jackson's life is somewhat to the right of Douglas Southall Freeman. His book, while quite long, is well organized, and written, but is in essence, nothing more than the same Lost Cause party line. His insistence on sticking with the traditional story of Jackson earning his sobriquet at 1st Manassas, and his near brush with Historical Fiction concerning Jackson's last moments, is convincing enough evidence that Robertson was not looking for new insight into the man, the soldier, or the legend that was Stonewall Jackson. I'll stick with Frank Vandiver and Lenoir Chambers' biographies.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This is an honest report of one of the most interesting people in American History. It tells about the good and the bad, the discriptions are accurate and easy to read and understand. I appreicated the comments about how history became distorted, and how Mr Robertson came to his conclusion about the actual results. By the end of the book and Jackson's death, I felt as if I had lost a hero, and a friend.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptionally Written Biography
Review: This is by far the best book I have read on Stonewall Jackson. I gained more insight into the character and the influences that shaped his personality and thought processes than any other work. I was especially pleased with the insight into his interactions with other up-and-coming military peers in the Mexican War and his personal development that occurred while in Mexico that shaped his future actions. Very good insight also into his faith in God, his personal development as a Christian, his personal actions to live a strong Christian life and his remarkable openness to teach others about his God...no matter what racial background...something I am proud to discover in a Confederate leader. Anyone contemplating a purchase...this is a lay-up decision. You will be very happy with this choice.
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