Customer Reviews

The Civil War: An Illustrated History

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Civil War is probably the best book I have ever read and read and read. I originally bought this book over 10 years ago. I have recently re-read it again for the fourth or fifth time and the writing is still fresh, the story still gripping, and the photographs found and used, still riveting. It is simply one of the best if not best American History book produced. Why is it so good? I wish I knew, because then I would be writting books, instead of these reviews.

I can tell you what I liked. First, the story telling was beautiful. By "story telling", I could say editing. Anytime a writer writes, fiction or fact, he or she must choice what they put in, and what they do not. To often, especially with history stories, authors try to overwhelm us with details. Here the authors have choosen the best details, and deleted the rest.

Second, how the authors write, is superb. They have a great sense of irony. Describing Gettysberg, they describe the worst battle in American History as a battle begun over shoes. Better still, they go on to show it. Now must historians probably wouldn't know or care that this battle may have started over shoes, but these authors know that (1) it is interesting and (2) it also shows that the southern soliders, who needed the shoes, were short on supplies. The authors could have just said that at the time of Gettysberg that the South were short on supplies, but the way they wrote about it here, it was much more interesting.

Finally, this book has a great caste, if you will. In this book the authors have five historians who contribute to the story telling. Each historian brings in their perspective and each perspective is different. The combination, however, is stronger then the individual parts. I don't know why the authors chose these historians over others, but it was a good choice.

In short, a great book. The only history book I know, which compares in readability, is "The Guns of August." Since that book is better known, many people may skip over this one. Don't. This book should be bought, read, enjoyed, saved, and the re-read again, and re-enjoyed again at future dates. Bravo.

In 1989, one of the finest, documentary films ever shown on TV appeared on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). That film was the groundbreaking, multi-part documentary "The Civil War," by Ken Burns, Ric Burns, and Geoffrey C. Ward. A few months after "The Civil War" was broadcast, I found "The Civil War: An Illustrated History," the companion book to the film, in our local bookstore. It is authored by the same trio responsible for the film. (Geoffrey Ward is the principal author, ably assisted by the Burns brothers.)

"The Civil War: An Illustrated History"is an outstanding book - like its film counterpart, an excellent work of history, powerfully written by gifted writers with a genuine passion for their subject. Ward and Burns have written a graceful and eloquent basic survey of the Civil War that even the most battle-hardened Civil War buffs will find a wonderful reading experience.

The authors provide a straightforward narrative of events without much historical interpretation of events. That doesn't mean there isn't any analysis of historical events, however. In what I consider an act of literary genius, Ward and Burns enlisted the help of some of America's greatest Civil War historians - writers like James McPherson , Shelby Foote, Barbara J. Fields, and the late C. Vann Woodward. These outstanding historians, and others, wrote a series of essays that provided outstanding analyses of the causes, effects, and events of the Civil War.

"The Civil War: An Illustrated History"is far more than a few hundred pages of stuffy historical text. It's as visually appealing as it is wonderful to read. Nearly every page is crammed with Civil War era paintings, photographs and maps. The paintings add tremendous color to each page, but the photographs that pack the REAL emotional wallop! Many of them were taken by famed Civil War photographer Matthew Brady. In this book you'll see famous photographs, like Brady's renowned portraits of Lincoln, Grand and Lee; and other, starker, but less famous pictures, like the Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Petersburg battlefields as they appeared in the days following their respective battles.

"The Civil War: An Illustrated History"is one of those rare "companion" books that not only complements the PBS film series from which it originates; it towers alongside it. Readers should have no hesitation in reading this book without having first seen the film series.

Gepffrey Ward's narrative is a complete departure from the textbook Civil War stories that we tend to read today. His is a fascinating account that deals with the ordinary people and the history that they lived through. I found this book an especially rewarding buy because of it's very interesting and absorbing language and illustrations. Overall, this book has made a particularly deep impact and led me to look at the civil war as a time, when hell was truly incarnate on earth.

In view of Ward's excellence in writing I would give him five stars, and also because he tells the full stories of Gettysburg, Bull Run (both of them), Antietam, Shiloh, and Appamattox Court House. He brings the Civil War to life like nobody else can. I am especially touched by his quotation from the letter of Col. Sullivan Ballou of Rhode Island, it was a tear-jerking moment for me when I saw the series and when I read this book over and over again. This book is an amazing readable account of a gone-by era and I appreciate the effort that Ken Burns and Geoffrey Ward to bringing this bloody, romantic, and adventurous era to life just as they have in The West with Dayton Duncan, Baseball, and Lewis & Clark.

Read this book for the story and the pictures!

This book is a wonderful 1-volume history of the Civil War. It succeeds in many ways, it gives a strong historical base and perspective regarding the reasons for the war. It follows the war's strategies with great skill, and it looks at the aftermath as well.

The book is a visual delight, with pictures and maps everywhere. As someone who has complained vigorously of the lack of maps in other war books (see my complaints about Keegan's World War I history), I was quite happy with the care shown in this area. There is great first-hand information on the life of the grunt. You really get a feel for what the war felt like, from a wide variety of perspectives.

I also appreciated how the political/military relationship in the Union is covered. Lincoln did many things militarily due to political reasons. Those reasons are explained wonderfully.

Two major flaws in the book. The Shelby Foote interview is a waste of paper, he comes across sounding like a senile old man in a wheelchair, rambling on and on. The other issue I have is the way Gettysburg is covered. In the book, Gettysburg comes from nowhere. Why did both the Union and the Rebels see this as a big battle BEFORE it was fought. What did each side hope to gain from the battle outside killing the other army? There had to be some overall strategy, but the book gives none.

Overall, a great 1-volume starting point to learn about this time in American History.

This is the best book about the Civil War I have seen yet. It stands completly alone from the PBS series. The many first hand accounts and the numerous rare photographs bring the war to life. If I had only 1 book in my library about the Civil War this would be it.

When I purchased the paperback I did not realize that it would not have the photos which the hardcover contained so I was disappointed with my purchase.

This volume is absolutely fantastic. And I mean everything: pictures, diagrams, maps, selected excerpts, citations, documentary, and of course description of war times, politics, people and battles. I have improved dramatically my knowledge about the Civil War; it's immeasurable size, cruelty and influence on American future. Reading left me simply shocked, full of thoughts about tragedies of soldiers and civilians being simply unlucky by living during these times. I truly recommend this masterpiece to everyone interested in this history.

If you don't have any books on the U.S. Civil War or just wanting to add to your collection then I highly recommend this text.

It would rate as one of the best books I have seen on the subject and provides a great deal of information leading up to the war and some of the causes and reasons why people went to war, the war period itself and then the results of the war.

This is all told from the different perspectives of civilians and soldiers from both the North and the South. The photographs shown in the book are extensive and thought provoking in themselves.

One of the reasons why this is such an enjoyable read is that it discusses many of the relationships between some of the key players in the war such as those which Robert E Lee shared with U.S. Grant (who he had reprimanded for his slovenly appearance during the Mexican War), Abraham Lincoln (who had offered the command of the Union States to Lee), John Brown (the abolitionist who Lee arrested prior to the war) and George Washington (Lee married the grandaughter of Washingtons wife). Many other fascinating facts are contained in the book.

The book may also dispel some myths which some people may have as to the war. For example, Abraham Lincoln was not loved by all Americans, not all Confederate soldiers supported slavery, not all Union soldiers opposed slavery. This makes for a compelling read as all points of view seem to be considered.

The book is also very thought provoking as you to try and think what you would you have done in the same situation during the war if you had relatives fighting on one side and some on the other. This happened to many families as people found themselves opposed to the beliefs and thoughts of their family, freinds and neighbours.

The text is also layed out in a format so that you can pick the book up and read a whole chapter in the one sitting or just a paragraph or two if you wish. So the fact that you can take your time and read it over several weeks without losing the plot may appeal to some readers. All the best and enjoy.

If you've never read any books on the Civil War, this is a good book to start with. Avoid the Vintage quality paperback edition which is simply the text of the book without the wonderful illustrations.

I think the illustrations and the text are made for each other and Knopf did a wonderful job pairing them together. Ward and the Burns brothers (remember, Ric Burns had a hand in this project too so Ken shouldn't get all the credit) chose judiciously and well. The book admittedly doesn't match the overall power of the series but it certainly does well on it's own. The end result is a big, beautiful book you'd be proud to have on your coffee table.

If there is a downside to this volume, it's probably in the tone in which it was written. It's definitely got a Yankee bias to it. The idea that either McClellan or Meade could have "destroyed" Lee at any time seems a bit absurd given Lee's military gifts and leadership. No doubt they could have possibly inflicted grievous losses on Lee (McClellan prior to and during Sharpsburg, and Meade following Gettysburg), but that was highly unlikely and only on the condition that the Army of Northern Virginia would have been placed in a do or die fight (except possibly Chancellorsville).

Other flaws I'd have to say is the typical slavery argument and Barbara J. Fields. Slavery was a major cause, but that isn't all. Frankly, I'd like to think that the War started simply because there was too much antagonistic feelings between North and South. They simply didn't like each other anymore. Fields' essay is utterly dismissable. Her comments on the series were annoying and her "knowledge" of the war shallow. There was much more to the war than that.

Despite these flaws, the book has far more strengths. James McPherson contributes a good essay as does C. Van Woodward. Ken Burns' two day interview with Shelby Foote (which gave the series the majority of its warmth) is included in here albeit in edited form and to me, is nearly worth the price alone.

If you're just starting out reading about the Civil War, buy this or borrow it. It's worth the time. Certainly worth the money if you can afford it.

This book is very good.

But it is not the best Civil War book out there. That's James Mcpherson's Battle Cry of Freedom.

If you want a full, detailed account of the events leading up to the Civil War then Battle Cry is for you. It also does amasterful job on the economic and political circumstances of the era

Alternatively if you want a hefty account of the battles that took place then Shelby Foote's 3 volumes should be your choice. The 2nd volume with the section dealing with the Battle of Gettysburg is masterful. Foote's and McPherson's books complement each other very well.

This book is more about the people involved in the Civil War all the way from privates to statesmen.