I read this book a few years ago and realized I did not do a review. I decided to re-read it, and I remembered how I felt after I read it the first time just confused. First, when I was younger way younger I always had an idea about Andrew Jackson and how he fought for the people and for what he did during the War of 1812. Some of those have been sorted out and are still there his defeating the British, and what he did to the native Americans in the South in order to say or justify States Rights was just able to hide his hatred for the Native Americans. So as there were some parts that I liked equally there were some I did not, a very difficult read for, I am sure for others will have a different opinion.

A well done book on a president I personally have a hard time liking.

This has been a very hard review for me to write as I find myself liking some parts of the overall material presented but filled with disgust with the end conclusion. I expected to have more information about President Jackson but was left with nothing at the end. The author did forewarn the reader early on that this was a revision work for which I was grateful. Approximately 34% of the book was a source listing for the author's references. If the author had written this book during the President's life I have no doubt he would have been challenged to a duel for insulting his honor.

I have rated this book 2 stars and would not recommend it to anyone else.

I obtained an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

I received a free Kindle copy of Avenging the People: Andrew Jackson, The Rule of Law and the American Nation by J. M. Opal courtesy of Net Galley and Oxford University Press, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review to Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my history book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google Plus pages.

I requested this book as I have read a great deal about american history and a number of books about Andrew Jackson. It is the first book by J. M. Opal that I have read.

This book is very well researched and presents its subject in great detail. The author's writing style is more than just a dry recitation of the facts, but not as engaging as others. It is not a book for the casual history reader. I found chapter five about General Jackson and his role in the War of 1812 the most interesting.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a serious student of american history and Andrew Jackson in particular. You will find it enlightening with more of a focus as to why he acted as he did during his life.