Fire Within: A Civil War Narrative from Wisconsin [Paperback]

Kerry A. Trask (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 22, 1997

Winner of the Council for Wisconsin Writers Leslie Cross Book-Length Nonfiction Award and the Wisconsin Library Association's Outstanding Achievement Recognition

"This remarkable book blends the experiences of several young Wisconsin men who fought in the Civil War with the course of events back home in Manitowoc. Using the letters and diaries of both soldiers and civilians, the author deftly handles the organizational problems of recounting military campaigns on several fronts as well as the travails of civilians on the home front. Written with verve, the narrative sweeps along the reader, who finds it hard to put down the book until the fate of the protagonists is finally revealed."--James McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom

"[A] compelling narrative of a place and a time and the lives engulfed in the storm of the Civil War. . . . [Trask] has done a seamless job of amalgamating the war itself and the course of life at home into an affecting human texture and history of theregion."--Washington Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 279 pages
• Publisher: Kent State Univ Pr (July 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087338587X
• ISBN-13: 978-0873385879
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,157,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging, original perspective on the Civil War . . ., September 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire Within: A Civil War Narrative from Wisconsin (Paperback)

The author's use of journals and letters from the Civil War period, presented here in a readable, narrative format, paints a realistic view of the average people involved in one of the lowest points in this country's young history. Kerry Trask's stories and insights about the people portrayed in this book are every bit as entertaining as the primary texts themselves; in particular, the background information necessary in a book such as this is provided without overwhelming the reader with dry facts, figures, and dates. I found myself envisioning each season as it came and went, appreciating the contrasts depicted between life on the home front and that in the distant places where men and boys were waiting to confront an enemy no different from themselves. It is especially rewarding to know that Rosa Kellner's desire to become a published author has been fulfilled through the writing of this book. I would recommend it to any person with an interest in the human aspect of war, especially teachers who are looking for a book that students will enjoy reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I can't be entirely objective, January 20, 2008

By 

M. Anderson (REDLANDS, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fire Within: A Civil War Narrative from Wisconsin (Paperback)

I can't be objective because much of the book uses the Civil War diaries and letters of my great-grandfather. Personal responses aside, A FIRE WITHIN gave me a perspective of the war from both the home front and the battlefields. I found having some knowledge of the Civil War helpful, because the battles are not put in perspective with the ongoing campaigns or the general war experiences, and I would have liked to see a little more of that in the book. That's a quibble; Dr. Trask does an excellent job of letting his subjects speak for themselves. I found the experiences of all the subjects of the book very moving and it deepened my understanding of at least the Northen experience of the war. It also helped to understand the impact of and on the western states. Many histories give the perspective of the Eastern states only.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Civil War History At Its Best, August 6, 1998

By 

Wanda Hoes ([e-mail]) (Manitowoc WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire Within: A Civil War Narrative from Wisconsin (Paperback)

I really enjoyed reading this book. It seems the author really has a grasp of the history of Manitowoc during the Civil War. It was interesting to read how the soldiers felt during their Civil War enlistment, and how the people back home felt about their loved ones going to war in the South. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Civil War history.