Mr. and Mrs. Madison's War: America's First Couple and the Second War of Independence
"An engrossing narrative history of a conflict that few today know much about."—BookPage.com“Interesting, informative”—Booklist “Howard’s book makes no effort to be a comprehensive account of the war. Instead, he tends to select particular moments for detailed and intimate – you-are-there sorts – of descriptions of scenes or events.”—Gordon Wood,The New York Review of Books “Hugh Howard has turned the least known and understood war in American history into a Technicolor, wide-screen epic of thrilling naval battles, brutal backwoods skirmishes, villainous intrigues, and stirring heroism. Mr. and Mrs. Madison’s War moves smoothly between the White House, New Orleans, and the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake, and the waters off New England. Thanks to Howard’s prodigious research, fine eye for the telling detail, and vivid prose, the War of 1812 seems as contemporary and compelling as yesterday’s battlefield dispatches from the Middle East.”—Thurston Clarke, New York Times bestselling author ofThe Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days that Inspired America "Hugh Howard provides us with vividly written accounts of some of the more dramatic highlights of the War of 1812.  Readers with particular interests in the Chesapeake Bay campaigns of 1814 will find much to enjoy here."—Professor J.C.A. Stagg, editor ofThe Papers of James Madison"Hugh Howard tackles the history of a war that is incomprehensible in the modern sense of warfare and renders it understandable, giving a fascinating and engaging account of the people and events involved in America’s first war.  Mr. and Mrs. Madison’s Warwill add enormously to public understanding of the War of 1812."—Michael Quinn, President, James Madison’s Montpelier“An entertaining look at the forgotten war, the burning of Washington, and the fourth president's none-too-effective efforts to command the military.”—Military History Quarterly“Mr. and Mrs. Madison's Warhas a wonderful visual quality that allowed me to feel I was standing on the deck the HMS Confiance as Captain Downie was struck by a canon barrel and mingling with members of congress at one of Dolley Madison's Wednesday gatherings.”—Patricia O’Sullivan, Historical Novel Society“Hugh Howard's engaging and energeticMr. and Mrs. Madison's War… is a worthy look at a rite of passage making the nascent United States into a nation that, although far from a world power, would be here to stay.”—Casey Common,Minneapolis Star-Tribune