The Book
At once an informed
overview for general-interest readers and a superb resource for serious
buffs, this extraordinary, gloriously illustrated volume is sure to
become one of the fundamental books in any Civil War library. Its
features include a dramatic narrative packed with eyewitness accounts
and hundreds of rare photographs, artifacts, and period illustrations.
Evocative sidebars, detailed maps, and timelines add to the
reference-ready quality of the text.
From John Brown's raid to Reconstruction, Eyewitness to the Civil War
presents a clear, comprehensive discussion that addresses every
military, political, and social aspect of this crucial period. In-depth
descriptions of campaigns and battles in all theaters of war are
accompanied by a thorough evaluation of the nonmilitary elements of the
struggle between North and South. In their own words, commanders and
common soldiers in both armies tell of life on the battlefield and
behind the lines, while letters from wives, mothers, and sisters provide
a portrait of the home front. More than 375 historical photographs,
portraits, and artifacts—many never before published—evoke the era's
flavor; and detailed maps of terrain and troop movements make it easy to
follow the strategies and tactics of Union and Confederate generals as
they fought through four harsh years of war. Photoessays on topics
ranging from the everyday lives of soldiers to the dramatic escapades of
the cavalry lend a breathtaking you-are-there feeling, and an inclusive
appendix adds even more detail to what is already a magnificently
meticulous history.
My Thoughts
Beautifully done and
carefully written. It's not written like a standard textbook or
historical tomb and therefore easier to absorb the information. Though
not a scholar on the Civil War by any means, I do enjoy reading about it
and this book does a wonderful job of telling the stories and the
history. The photographs are beautiful, heart wrenching and captivating.
I would recommend it for anyone's library and definitely for reading.
Edition: Hardcover
Source: Readers' personal library
