Imperfect Union: How Jessie and John Frémont Mapped the West, Invented Celebrity, and Helped Cause the Civil War is a fascinating, well-researched, and brilliantly written exploration of mid-nineteenth century America: its triumphs and failings, challenges and inventions, through the lens of John C. Frémont and his wife Jessie Benton Frémont. They lived during a time of great change and innovation and Jessie was quick to capitalize on all of it to, quite arguably, invent celebrity and public relations in ways that we would all recognize today.

By marrying Jessie, a powerful senator's daughter, John went from being a new and inexperienced Army officer to part of a powerful family with visions of manifest destiny and American Empire. Jessie's connections landed John the role of leader of an exploration party into the West. Her genius spun that exploration into John's becoming a national hero and celebrity; a bestselling author whose travel accounts often almost resembled reality; and the go-to explorer for several other westward mapmaking expeditions. Author Steve Inskeep unwinds Jessie's spin and uses the journals and letters of other members of Frémont's teams to get closer to the truth: that John was often inept, entirely self-focused, and frequently took unnecessary, potentially fatal, risks seemingly for the sake of it. He seems to have considered orders from commanding officers to be mere suggestions, and the amount of time dumb luck seems to have saved his life (and his team) is mind-boggling.

Through John's explorations, his forays into politics, his court martial for refusing to follow orders, and more, it was Jessie who stood between John and the world. Jessie who rallied support and gave advise, Jessie who deflected criticism and attacked critics. She was more than the power behind the throne: she was the brains behind the throne. She became as recognizable a celebrity as her husband at a time when women were starting movements towards fighting for the right to vote and have a voice in politics.

Inskeep explores the changing politics and mindset of the time, the political and moral dilemmas America was facing regarding slavery and the "Indian question", arguments against immigrants and Catholics, with sharp clarity. He doesn't shy away from acknowledging when people like John were willing to compromise where today we would condemn; or where John was willing to perform or accept actions we would today find unacceptable. Inskeep fully shows the negative to Frémont as well as the progressive. But Imperfect Union is more than a biography of John and Jessie: it is an exploration of how America and American lives were changing. Through railroads and telegraphs people were being brought closer together, stories and ideas were traveling faster. This is the story of the politics of slavery in the North and the South decades before the first shot was fired to begin the Civil War. Thanks to Jessie's political connections and John's celebrity status the two knew an incredible number of people who would become key players during the Civil War.

For history lovers looking for a well-researched, well-written, highly accessible, and completely absorbing account of behind the scenes movements that would shape America and the American people to this very day, look no further than Imperfect Union.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Mr. Inskeep has gifted us with a magnificent dual biography of Jessie and John Fremont whose highly colorful lives, deeds and misdeeds have left an undeniable mark on the history of the American West. History on a grand scale as we follow the trails of this flamboyant couple through their adventures and shenanigans inside a young and fragile Union poised to go barreling down the road towards a bloody civil conflict. An engrossing and very detailed portrait of a nation on the brink of a nervous breakdown through the lives of two glamorous mischief-makers, this book is a treasure trove of relevant informations about the United States, its politics and its social life and customs at a pivotal moment in its history. As good and entertaining as the best historical fiction available out there today, this compelling read kept me entranced for many hours. Hopefully it will be translated into French very soon because I have a feeling that there is a serious readership overhere ready to discover the Fremont (and because I can't stop talking about it) A captivating story to be enjoyed without moderation!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Press for the opportunity to read this wonderful book