Good read on a little know side of Jefferson Davis. Of his persistence and knowledge in the building of one of Washington's most beautiful building. Quite readable ( )

If you've got any interest in American political culture during the 1850s, don't miss this book. Gugliotta has written a surprisingly fascinating account of the renovations of the U.S. Capitol, which took more than a decade and was (as one might expect) a bureaucratic nightmare. Gugliotta manages to outline the extremely complex process, juxtaposing it against the fraught national political debates occurring at the same time, and using Jefferson Davis as an unexpected main character. ( )

I cannot recommend this book enough. It was beautifully written and thoroughly researched. I learned so much, and it was a joy to read. The title is pretty specific, as far as plot: this is the story of how the US Capitol building came to be, and the politics of that during the runup to and drawdown from the Civil War. It is just so good. History and politics buffs will absolutely love it, but I think most people would really enjoy it. ( )