Over the past few years, biographies have become one of my favorite genres to read, especially historical biographical sketches. And, my favorite period is the history of the United States, from the earliest days up through the twentieth century.

And, right in the middle of that spread is the US Civil War.

Most of my reading of this particular portion of the US era has been focused on the westward expansion and the events surrounding that effort. I’ve read little more than an overview of the war period itself. However, that has just changed.

During the 1850s and 60s, Great Britain established a consul in the American South, in Charleston, South Carolina, with the main purpose of alleviating several laws that restricted British trade with the cotton producing southern states, especially in regards to blacks, slave or free, and the slave trade itself.

In Our Man In Charleston, Christopher Dickey goes into great detail in examining the life and times of the British consul, Robert Bunch, and the rapidly changing atmosphere in pre-war Charleston. Bunch is one of a handful of British diplomats in the US, but very quickly becomes perhaps the most critical, as he forwards crucial information across the Atlantic, and updates his government on the state of the US and, eventually, the short-lived Confederacy.

In order to survive in such a hotbed of slavery, Bunch had to present himself as pro-Southern, and by implication, as pro-slavery. In reality, he despised the institution of slavery, as did most of the British people. His correspondence to his government helped establish an understanding of the sentiments of the South, and in large measure, prevented the Confederacy from being recognized as an independent nation.

Dickey has written a well-researched and entertaining biography of an unlikely spy, and has uncovered a forgotten character that held incredible influence before and during the Civil War. In many ways, Bunch was the man of the hour, both for the British and for the preservation of the Union.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Our Man In Charleston, and highly recommend that you pick up a copy as well.

Question: When considering Civil War era history, who are some of your favorite individuals? Why do you hold them in such esteem? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

I received this book free from Crown Publishers as part of their Blogging For Books blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.