Customer Reviews

An Introduction to Civil War Civilians

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great overview of this neglected area of study. If you are thinking of getting into CW civilian reenacting, this is the FIRST book you should buy, as it will familiarize you with the overall cultural and social framework of the era, thereby helping you get your individual interpretation / impression right. The second book you should buy is Juanita's "Who Wore What?" which is the most comprehensive guide to women's clothing by age group and socio-economic class currently available.

I purchased this book at my first real Civil War reenactment at the Civil War Muster in Jackson, Michigan. Since my wife and I are portraying civilians and our eldest son is a Union soldier this book came quite handy. What I like most is how it delves into the psyche of the people of the times - how they thought and why they thought the way they did - as this has certainly helped in the accuracy of our portrayal of 1860's civilians, especially for my wife who has never really been very much into history (although she is now!). Where most books give information of the times, this one by Juanita Leisch helps one to live and act as a person of the past.
If I had one complaint it would be the length - I wish it were a bit longer. But that is a minor thing; the author packs a wallup in these 81 pages that encyclopedias barely touch!

This is an excellent overview of civilian customs, fashions, etiquette, and the mindset of the times. Highly recommend.

This book is a great start to know what civilians life was like during the war. It is also a good place to start if you're going to do re-enactment.

This is an excellent book for those just getting into reenacting. It's also good for the experienced reenactor! Don't waste money buying Civil War clothing until you have read this book. Just a great source of civilian Civil War history for all.

This is an excellent book on Civil War civilians. I would have bought it for the pictures alone. The text is simple to understand so it is a good resource book for children as well as adults. It is a slim volume, but it is filled with useful information. I highly recommend it.

This book is excellent for the new civil war enthusiast or civilian reenactor. This book helped me alot as I prepared for my first reenactment. I highly recommend this book. It has fun intresting facts and great photos. One photo imparticular really helped me the day before the reenactment as I remade my dress to look mare authentic. I think it is great!

Interesting book with factual information. As a civil war reenactor, this book provided much of what I was looking for.

I am writing a novel and needed some information on the people during the civil war. This book gives me insight on, not only what they wore, but how they thought and how that impacted their daily lives. The pictures and captions also give you an idea of what they looked like. This info is invaluable to a historical novelist like myself. I got this from the library to check it out, but it is such a valuable reference I am going to purchase it. If you are looking for a brief but effective look at civil war civilians, this is the book you need. If you would like to read my latest book, "Black Triangle", you can find it on Amazon in both print and kindle editions. It is a great read (of course I may be slightly prejudiced).

Good information, but really just scratches the surface of most topics. Not enough in-depth material for anything more than a basic understanding.