Briefly Noted

“Memphis has always been a theatrical town—a crossroads in the center of America for entertainment as well as commerce. Movies are among the many things that travel through the city, both for distribution and exhibition. Thousands of people who have lived here or just passed through, especially during and after World War II, found their way to the movie theaters.”

“Venable studies the world about him. Yes, he writes about nuttiness, but he is an appreciator, indeed a lover, of people and place. . . . Spontaneous joy leaps from the page. I would rather be in Hell with my back broken than spend a day fishing, but Venable almost seduces me into wanting to spend time in a bass boat—listening to him.”

“By emphasizing Jackson’s southern identity—characterized by violence, honor, kinship, slavery, and Manifest Destiny—Cheathem’s narrative offers a bold new perspective on one of the nineteenth century’s most renowned and controversial presidents.”

“The end result is something quite astonishing, an engaging and enthralling window into humanity’s collective soul.”