The Field of Blood

Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War

By: Joanne B. Freeman

Narrated by: Joanne B. Freeman

This program is read by the author.

The previously untold story of the violence in Congress that helped spark the Civil War

In The Field of Blood, Joanne B. Freeman recovers the long-lost story of physical violence on the floor of the US Congress. Drawing on an extraordinary range of sources, she shows that the Capitol was rife with conflict in the decades before the Civil War. Legislative sessions were often punctuated by mortal threats, canings, flipped desks, and all-out slugfests. When debate broke down, congressmen drew pistols and waved Bowie knives. One representative even killed another in a duel. Many were beaten and bullied in an attempt to intimidate them into compliance, particularly on the issue of slavery.

These fights didn’t happen in a vacuum. Freeman’s dramatic accounts of brawls and thrashings tell a larger story of how fisticuffs and journalism, and the powerful emotions they elicited, raised tensions between North and South and led toward war. In the process, she brings the antebellum Congress to life, revealing its rough realities - the feel, sense, and sound of it - as well as its nation-shaping import.

Funny, tragic, and rivetingly told, The Field of Blood offers a front-row view of congressional mayhem and sheds new light on the careers of John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and other luminaries, as well as introducing a host of lesser-known but no less fascinating men. The result is a fresh understanding of the workings of American democracy and the bonds of Union on the eve of their greatest peril.

©2018 Joanne B. Freeman (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Enlightening

Especially interesting to listen to while driving through Kansas. Our country is both resilient and blessed. We are so lucky

The more things change...

A must-read for those into political history and government. The conflicts and sectionalisms of today pale with the going on in the mid 1800s.

Absorbing history; delightful narration

An absorbing examination of physical violence on the halls of Congress in the years leading up to the Civil War—a hidden history revealed through the diaries of one man. The author’s narration makes for thoroughly enjoyable listening. She has a pleasant voice and story-telling cadence that adds emphasis where needed without ever becoming overly dramatic. I kept thinking how much I would enjoy attending a class she taught. And what a pleasure to listen to an audiobook where every word and name is pronounced correctly!

Detail not usually told

I liked k learning more about the times and temper and little known details presented here.

Fantastic book

Freeman is a well known expert in American history. She did a lot of fantastic research as usual. She shows how our country has a history of volatility and how we have hidden that history.

The uncivil Congress before the War

The historical violence in the people's house is not often discussed. Dr Freeman presents it here.

Joanne please read all my favorite books to me

I love all of Joanne’s work and would have rated this book 10/10 either way, but as a huge audiobook fan I have to say that she does a better job reading than most professional audiobook readers. She just injects so much life into quotes, and it makes the antiquated language so much easier to understand with the subtext of how she’s talking. Thank you Joanne you rock!

Having the author narrate adds something

Excellent book. Writing style, research, narration, all great. I really enjoyed the author reading it herself. Many times throughout the book one gets the feeling that she is holding back a chuckle at a particularly absurd incident. This closeness to the text is really refreshing and adds to the experience of listening. I am definitely going to look into her other works after listening to this one.

Inspiring book

Without getting involved in today’s politics, Freeman’s work helped me think about violence and today’s public and Congress. I really enjoyed the author’s performance of her work.

Field of a Blood

Loved the telling of our Congress’ past. If you love the discovery of our ‘dark’ side, you’ll love this! Today’s political turmoil can’t compare.
On a personal note. Several years ago I listened to a Yale University class on the ‘American Revolution’ (my very first audiobook)!taught by Ms. Freeman. Her enthusiasm in teaching and excitement about the subject was life changing for me. It started my path on a love of history. I wish I had a teacher like her in my early school years. She is the reader for this book, as well as being the author. Ms Freeman can become a ‘reader’ if she ever gives up on her current gig!