Customer Reviews

Encyclopedia of the Mexican-American War

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This handsome encyclopedia is an excellent and useful reference book, its publication nicely timed for the sesquicentennial of the end of the war and a renewed interest in that conflict. Introduced by a short summary of the war and a resume of its causes, the alphabetically arranged entries range from Abolitionists to Zozaya, María Josefa. The almost 500 topics covered include: battles and skirmishes, military leaders, Indian participants, the role of women, medical practices, casualties, desertion, navies, Manifest Destiny, political figures, pro and con sentiments about the war, armistices, and peace treaty negotiations. All of the entries, many of them illustrated, are followed by suggestions for further reading. Some of the entries contain colorful, direct quotes from eyewitness accounts. In addition to maps, a chronology of the war, and a comprehensive index, this book has an extensive bibliography with references in Spanish as well as English. Besides books and articles, the bibliography lists a number of pertinent dissertations. Buy a copy for yourself and recommed it to your local library.

IT IS ABOUT TIME! someone took the time and effort to write an encyclopedia on the Mexican War. As a student of the Mexican War over the last eight years, I have often wondered when a qualified scholar and writer would "fill the niche" so sorely needed in this community. Mark Crawford deserves the credit and praise of all students and "buffs" of the topic. I wish he would have produced this marvelous volume years ago which would have saved me weeks of work in graduate school. I found it to be a perfect blend, a middle ground between Col Mark Boatner's in-depth classic, Civil War Dictionary and Patrcia Fausts' artist Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War. It is balanced, thorough and well-written with just the right amount of detail but not getting bogged down in the details. The only major criticism I have of this outstanding research tool, it is very lacking in maps! There are only three maps that does not come close to illustrate the scope and breath of a very broad and comprehensive conflict. The period photos and artwork perfectly captivate and enhance the very readable narrative. I highly recommend this great work to all students of the profession of arms, especially Mexican War types like me.