James K. Polk, Continentalist, 1843-1846

This second volume of Sellers’ projected three-volume biography of Polk will be of principal interest to Latin Americanists for its account of the last stages of the Texan question and events leading up to the Mexican War, since Sellers has left the actual fighting for his final volume. The account of American politics is thorough and revealing, that of diplomacy somewhat less authoritative, for Sellers has relied largely on American sources, as would be natural in a biographical study such as this. Readers interested in Polk’s character and especially in his skill as a presidential leader will find this a study of major importance. For the Mexican side of the story they must look elsewhere.