Trying to name the top dozen civil war books of all time is, admittedly, a brazen act on my part. If we rely on the words of the major players in that war, its clear it was about whether slavery should be restricted or extended. The northern elite wanted economic expansion that would change the southern slaveholding way of life. The question on which the war was fought in the first place was the issue of slavery and whether it should be abolished or not. The battle of chancellorsville, fought from april 30 to may 6, 1863 in virginia, is widely considered to be confederate gen. Six books on the civil war these six histories of the civil war that are mustreads if you want to better understand the conflict a group of officers in culpeper, virginia reading. David donald, the civil war and reconstruction boston. A haunting debut looks ahead to a second american civil war. Dec 27, 2010 trying to name the top dozen civil war books of all time is, admittedly, a brazen act on my part.
American civil war in 10 minutes manny man does history duration. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Five months after his death, the body of sarahs estranged husband, a union soldier, finally comes home for burial in philadelphia. The american civil war was one of the longest and bloodiest of modern wars. Best civil war books of 2016 nonfiction history of the. Cry series, i was anxious to read this book set in the american civil war and to see not just the hardships of civilian women who had to survive in desperate circumstances, but to experience this life through the mind of an adolescent girl. It emphasizes cultural studies, memory, diaries, southern literary writings, and famous novelists. Drew gilpin faust, the creation of confederate nationalism.
The best civil war books of 2018 articles civil war. Carnton plantation and the widow of the south the true story, pt. The civil war is an immensely impactful chapter of american history. At first glance it seemed that the 23 states that remained in the union. Popular literature during the civil war encyclopedia virginia. It was a decisive victory for the continental army and a crucial turning point in the war. The largest and most destructive military conflict between the napoleonic wars and the first world war, the american civil war has inspired some of the best and most intriguing scholarship in the field of united states history. These developments, potter explains, plunged the nation into years of sectional debate that erupted at various times and places, and ultimately in 1861, in secession.
I have to admit that it was a bit intimidating at first as the books are larger than i. Before and during the civil war, the north and south differed greatly on economic issues. Personal choice, popular culture, and the union home front 2105, won the bobbie and john nau book prize in american civil war era history. The american civil war in pictures part 1, 18611865. American civil war, fouryear war 186165 fought between the. I happened to read the alligators of abraham by robert kloss, which is an incredible novel set during the american civil war era, and that led me to grab the killer angels by michael shaara. Five greatest books about the civil war american civil war. The best novels set during the american civil war score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. From there, i began grabbing everything i could find, both fiction and nonfiction, and i now have a library. The american civil war, waged from 1861 to 1865, is remembered on this date.
The civil war and the remaking of the american middle border by christopher phillips looks at the pre war notion that the west of the u. Dec 26, 20 for a one volume history of the war you cant top mcpherson but for a more comprhensive history of events leading up to the war and during the war itself id recommend the 8 volume ordeal of the union by allan nevins. Nov 23, 2016 andrew waggenhoffer of civil war books and authors names the rivers ran backward. Its origin, cause and probable results, considered specially with regard to slavery dunedin, nz. The american civil war was a historic battle between the north and the south. As usual, we enlisted the help of a handful of civil war historians and enthusiasts, avid readers all, and asked them to pick their two favorite books published in 2018. A brief glossary provides definitions for the researcher unfamiliar with such.
From james mcphersons definitive history to tony horwitzs adventures among obsessives, here are the 11 best books on the civil war in time for the. The complete text of the bestselling narrative history of the civil warbased on the celebrated pbs television series vintage civil war library by geoffrey c. It is set in a nearfuture united states of america, ravaged by climate change and disease, in which a second civil war has broken out over the use of fossil fuels. American civil war ebooks for all free ebooks download. It is generally known in the south as the war between the states and is also called the war of the rebellion the official union designation, the war of secession, and the war for southern independence. The civil war resulted in more soldiers dying than were killed in almost all subsequent wars in american history.
Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. The south wanted to keep it, so they started the war by seceding. Eleven southern slave states declared their secession from the u. In fact, according to the library of congress civil war desk reference, over 70,000 books have been published on various aspects of the civil war and more are being published every day. Whats the best book on the causes of the american civil war. Feb 19, 2017 do you mean historical fiction or actual history. Navy, and famously fought the confederate ironclad css virginia built from the remnants of the uss merrimack in the battle of hampton roads the first meeting in combat of ironclad warships on march 89, 1862.
It was written by john william draper and is a comprehensive look at the events surrounding the entire period of the american civil war. New listing history of kearnys first new jersey brigade camille baquet 2nd lt. The best civil war books of all time analysis civil. Im going to talk in somewhat general terms about the overarching idea of american literature in the civil war, but i think we need to acknowledge up front. The united states said cyprus is a good friend, just not good enough for an arms embargo to be lifted on the government while a turkish army on the occupied northern side can resupply as it wants and has access to american made weaponry. History of the american civil war three volume set on cd price. Matthew gallman is a professor of history at the university of florida. Irresistibly written and incisive in its analysis, this is an indispensable account of americas greatest conflict. Kaiserreich the 2nd american civil war in a nutshell. A narrative by shelby foote as exhaustive a rendering of the military history of the civil war as any ever attempted, footes 2,968page, 1. Fuller gave this lecture during our american writing on the civil war teacher workshop on february 3, 2012.
Almost 630,000 died, with over half a million wounded. Browse our selection of books on civil war history, and learn about the heroes who fought and died to preserve the american union. Monitor on the james river, virginia, on july 9, 1862. Awardwinning picturebook author tony johnston presents the poignant story of a loving mexicanamerican family in east l. Ok lys i just finished a grad school history course on the civil war. United states history civil war, 18611865 the american war. Far more books have been written about the civil war than about any other event in american history, and lincolns stack of books towers over that of any other american figure. The north wanted it restricted to where it was, and the south wanted it extended coasttocoast into the new territ. The top 10 civil war novels from roman legions to medieval mayhem, cavaliers and roundheads to the crushing of ideals in the 20th century, there. The american civil war 18611865, also known as the war between the states and several other names, was a civil war in the united states of america. The killer angels by michael shaara, gone with the wind by margaret mitchell, cold mountain by charles frazier, gods. The history books can tell us much about the trauma of war, but for those who prefer the emotional truths that can be conveyed by a good novel, here are. Rejoice in the fact youre no longer in school and choose to learn american history by reading these fascinating novels about the civil war.
The army in the civil war is a volume set published in 1855 that covers every aspect of the operations of the armies in the american civil war more than 3000 pages of information in total. Far more books have been written about the civil war than about any other event in. Theres definitely no shortage of books about the american civil war. His most recent book, defining duty in the civil war. With the formation of the confederacy at the beginning of the american civil war 18611865, the southern literary establishment foresaw the dawning of a new literature. Civil war confederate, lees lieutenants 3 vol illustrated maps book set. Jeff shahara wrote the killer angels, the definitive historical fiction book about chamberlain and the battle of gettysburg, and he and his son have written numerous other good books about the ci. Pages in category american civil war novels the following 81 pages are in this category, out of 81 total. The war between the states has raged for nearly two years. Potters famous civil war prehistory begins with the end of the mexican american war and the wilmot proviso.
At antietam on a single day nearly 4,800 were killed, whereas less than 4,000 americans died during the revolutionary war. This event marked an important period in american history and shaped its constitution. Sectional tensions enshrined in the constitution erupted into a brutal war that cost over 600,000 lives and cleaved a nation in two it was a war that would come to define americathat would answer the slavery question once and for all. This beautifully written trilogy of books on the american civil war is not only a piece of firstrate. Jan 14, 2020 the battle of saratoga occurred in 1777 during the revolutionary war. Fullers lecture is available in our digital repository. It has captured the imagination of writers, artists and filmmakers for decades but the reality of it confuses and divides historians even today. The civil war is the most written about event in united states history. Kaiserreich the 2nd american civil war in a nutshell duration. Pathfinder military history nonfiction guide to the. The underlying issue was how adding new states and territories would alter the balance between free and slave states was critical. Douglas southall freeman perfect condition no reserve.
The political genius of abraham doris kearns goodwin. Nevertheless, the books on this list are, indeed, my alltime favorites cherished works that. Above all, the american civil war gives an intriguing account of how the scope of the conflict combined with american geography to present a uniquely complex and challenging battle space. A collection of short stories, books, essays, speeches, letters, and poems that concern themselves with the american civil war 1861 1865. We know the names of its important players and continuously grapple with the various issues that surrounded it, issues that remain prevalent in our social and political dialogues today. Mackay, 1863, by thomas halliwell pdf in australia. Best american civil war books fiction and nonfiction books about or set during the american civil war.
Civil war theres plenty of drama to be found in the 19thcentury conflict that erupted after seven southern states seceded from the united states of america. This week marks 150th anniversary of the attack on fort sumter, s. For our latest newsstandonly special issue, the civil war almanac, we asked a panel of civil war historiansj. Southern audiences would no longer, in the words of the editor of the richmondbased southern illustrated news. However, details of individual battles are relatively shortbrief and readers who. Apologists for the south will say it was fought over states rights. To commemorate the occasion, weve compiled a list of some of the most noteworthy. The north refused to let the southern states break up the union. Lees greatest victory during the american civil war.
On the surface, the war s outcome seemed like a bonanza for the united states. This event shaped the history of the states in the coming years. Jul 06, 2012 even as writers experienced the raw reality of the civil war, the days and ways of chivalry held imaginative sway in the verses they drafted. The work was written in late 1861 by francis orray ticknor, a physician who would later run the war hospitals in the area of columbus, ga. What are the best historically accurate books about the. Sectional tensions enshrined in the constitution erupted into a brutal war that cost over 600,000 lives and cleaved a nation in two. In this magesterial history and national bestseller, john keegan shares his original and perceptive insights into the psychology, ideology, demographics, and economics of the american civil war. The civil war american heritage books by bruce catton dec 14, 2004. An alphabetical listing of the officers and batteries of the confederacy 18611865, f. From james mcphersons definitive history to tony horwitzs adventures among obsessives, here are the 11 best books on the civil war in time. This is a broad library containing novels like the red badge of courage and uncle toms cabin, civil war stories by ambrose pierce, ppems from julia ward howe and emily dickison, and historical documents including the emancipation proclamation, and. A drums story a veteran and his grandchildren lincoln and tad the defenses of washington story of the second bull run campaigning with grant a drummer boy in gray war story told in churchyard an adventure on the eastn sho heroines of 61 and barbara frietchie down the fairfax pike major mallory of malloryville the strange case of geo. Five years ago, i learned something surprising about myself.
Brief comments by professor mcpherson on books in his list have been included. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Oct 16, 2009 the readiness during the war of the two sides to fraternise at times of truce, formal and informal, and the willingness of both to be taken prisoner dispose of the idea that north and south were. From 1861 to 1865, the union army of the north fought the confederate army of. The encyclopedia of the american civil war is the most comprehensive reference set ever. Any recommended reading list therefore has to be highly selective and at least somewhat arbitrary. Slavery was a root cause of the conflict, and while the. A very specialised book, giving an alphabetical listing of all known artillery units to serve in the confederate army during the american civil war, with a list of their commanding officers, and brief notes about most of them, mainly in the footnotes. A list of notable books about the american civil war. The american civil war, by john keegan the new york times. But the acquisition of so much territory with the issue of slavery unresolved lit the fuse that eventually set off the civil war in 1861. The civil war a narrative by shelby foote, excellent condition, complete 9 volu.
The war was about slavery, but primarily about its economic consequences. Jan 19, 2008 ok lys i just finished a grad school history course on the civil war. The american civil war was the most deadly and arguably the most important event in the nations history. Dec 07, 2010 the greatest military historian of our time gives a peerless account of americas most bloody, wrenching, and eternally fascinating war. My favorite part of kaiserreich, the second american civil war. The history of the american civil is a three volume set published in 1868. Hulbert, james marten, and amy murrell taylorfor their opinions on a variety of popular topics, including the wars most overrated and underratred commanders, top turning points, most influential women, and best depictions on film. There are an extraordinary number of books covering all aspects of the war from large overviews like james mcphersons battle cry freedom, gary gallaghers books on the union war and the confederate war, allan nevins 8 volume set on the conflict, and shelby footes three volume set of books on the war.
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