Customer Reviews

1863: The Rebirth of a Nation

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It was 1863 - some might say the best of times, or the worst of times. In his progression from January to December of that year, Joseph E. Stevens has gone above and beyond the call of duty in this gripping, fascinating historical book. While most authors concentrate on the wide view of events that may span a whole conflict, touching briefly on each point along the way, Stevens has chosen to discuss only one year - 1863. In doing so, he is able to give the in-depth examinationg of not only the events, but more interestingly, the people of the war. There was Grant and his "drinking problem", the insubordinate Longstreet, "retreat is my middle name" Pemberton, and so on. Through this display of not only the events, but the people that went through them, Stevens has managed to create a book that actually holds your interest for hundreds of pages on one year! Go ahead and set some time aside, because once you buy this book, you'll never put it down....

Whether you're a Civil War buff or don't know anything about it, you will love this book. Not all military and battlefield stuff; we also get a good look at businessmen, poets, nurses, etc. Fascinating and well written. Everything a good history book ought to be. Hope the author continues to write.

It is unfair to review a "Kirkus Review" of a book one hasn't even read. This book deserves a wide and lasting readership. It makes the history come to life and illuminates the lives of many famous people (Whitman, Rockefeller, Louisa Mae Alcott, etc.) who are not necessarily known for their connection to the Civil War. More for just Civil War buffs, this is an excellent and elegant introduction to the Civil War.

I read about the Civil War a lot, but in this book I've found more rich detail about people than I've found in other histories. Makes it come alive; seem more immediate. You can feel the way history changed in that year with every page. It's illuminating and riveting. I'll be sorry to finish it!

Stevens writes from the all sides of the story. Everyone should read this book it tells more of the story of the civil war. History teachers should make this required reading. Couldn't put it down. Makes learning more interesting.

I have read many Civil War histories including McPherson's, much of Foote's trilogy (I am working my way through it), Bruce Catton's two trilogies, etc. So much happened on different fronts that it takes a lot of reading and study to become familiar with it in great detail. This marvelous book is a great contribution to putting order to the understanding of the war.

Having read numerous biographies and histories of the period, it is hard for me to judge how this book would be rceived by a novice to the Civil War but, my guess is that since it is so well written, it would be a good read for someone encountering the subject matter for the first time. The year 1863 started with the Emancipation proclamation shortly after the Confederate soundly defeated the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg. The Confederate prospects looked good as the Union forces became bogged down in the mud march fiasco.

After a change in command to Gen. Hooker, Union hopes were further dashed as his poor generalship led to a terrible and inexcusable defeat at Chancellorsville as Lee and Stonewall Jackson took advantage of Hooker's paralysis. Furthermore, a naval effort at Charleton was repulsed by P.G.T. Beauregard. Then the tide turned with Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg. In the West, Gen. Bragg for the Confederates and and Gen. Rosecrans for the Union were both indecisive and timid. However, after Bragg's victory at Chickamauga, Rosecrans was replaced and Grant, Sherman and Thommas successfully defended Chatanooga by capturing Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Basically, the defeatist Bragg gave up those strongholds without much of a fight.

Thus, the year which started out brightly for the Confederates ended just as brightly for the Union forces. Stevens captures this in a clear, understandable manner which puts these multitude of events into context. Lest we forget, there were also many important political events, such as the New York Draft Riots. Stevens covers these events well also. By breaking down this complex war into a study of just one pivotal year, Stevens makes the war more understandable. This book is a great effort by the author and I recommend it to veteran Civil War buffs and neophytes alike.

An all together wonderful work. The best chronological compendium I have read. This book does an excellent job of derailing the myth of The Lost Cause. Both militarily and economically the South was consistently and methodically crushed, not just in each and every theater of the Civil War, but also in terms of each country's respective resolve. This is an unusually good, original work by a very talented, and very readable author. Very interesting and absorbing on many, many fronts. Some of the very best maps I have seen anywhere.

This is the best book I have read on the Civil War. It moves very fast and reads like a novel. I loved following the details of the battle by referencing the many battle maps. It gave me a real sense of the strategy and flow of each conflict. I highly recommend this book to any Civil War enthusiasts, war history buffs, or anyone just looking for a good history book. My 15 year old son is now reading the book and he can't put it down either!

As others have noted, this is a rarity among Civil War treatments: it's a real page turner. Mr. Stevens writes in a engaging, novelistic style with a focus on the players, large and small. This is not a long book, but the author makes excellent use of innumerable colorful anecdotes and includes an encyclopedic amount of detail (a lot of which I was not familiar) that somehow never manages to become tedious. The only complaint I have is: where are the other 3 years? A four volume history of this caliber would have been super.

This book is excellent. It shows the tension and excitment that is history. The book is basic history but the author links events to grand strategy. It reads like a novel but it is true. He covers 1863 like it was, a critical point in US history. The author doesn't limit his description of the year to just military events. He also covers other events that gives good depth to the story. He talks about the effects of the blockade in the south, the political angle for both sides, and the impact of other events like the NY draft riots. This book is a must for anyone of any level who has an interest in the civil war.