Customer Reviews

Reliving the Civil War

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reliving the Civil War: A Reenactor's Handbook is more than its title conveys. Although it was designed for newcomers to living history and Civil War reenactment, it is also a great reference for the experienced reenactor and for those interested in Civil War history.

It is obvious from R. Hadden's writing that he is in love with reenacting. An experienced reenactor himself, he shares his knowledge with the reader in this entertaining, educational, and well-crafted book.

"Reenacting is as old as human society, religion, and drama," he begins somewhat philosophically. From their beginning, reenactments gave history "life, taste, and smell, something significantly missing from dry academic tomes."

The book provides information on several different aspects of reenacting, including a brief history of the trials and tribulations faced in the formation of the hobby. He gives knowledgeable advice for dealing with spectators: the old, the young, the informed, and the ignorant. He even includes a section containing strange and "silly" questions asked by spectators.

And Hadden knows how to answer all the questions. He discusses everything from wearing (and not wearing) undergarments, to the new trend of virtual reenacting on the World Wide Web. He gives advice on speaking, manners and etiquette, and purchasing equipment and clothing. In his section on infantry reenactment, he provides a useful list of the high and low prices one should expect when purchasing essential equipment and clothing. He also provides sketches of Confederate and Union rank insignias and 16 pages of informative photographs.

Throughout the book, Hadden emphasizes the reenactor's role as a teacher. He says that audience participation and visual aids are the best ways for people to learn about the time period. He also stresses the importance of authenticity in reenacting. In an effort not to mislead spectators, a reenactor should thoroughly research the person he is portraying and/or the regiment in which he is participating.

In addition to information on military reenactment, he also provides advice on civilian reenactment for men, women, and children, including information on clothing and roles. The book also contains several appendices with additional information on rules and regulations, taxes, organizations, and periodicals, a glossary of reenactment terminology, and a detailed bibliography for further research.

Reliving the Civil War is a well-written, informative, and reader-friendly book that is a must-have for reenactors!

This is a great book for those of you who want to start reenacting. It is a perfect resource for those of you who are new to the hobby and have no idea what exactly to do and you want to do it right! This book will get you off to an incredible start and I suggest you buy it before you set foot on the field. I personally received this book for Christmas four years after I started reenacting. It had a lot of good info, but I thought a large part of it was kind of duh to those of us who have been reenacting for a while. So if you're already well entrenched as a reenactor and aren't planning on starting a new impression anytime soon but want to expand and improve your current one this doesn't really help you.

This book is a definite for anyone starting out in Civil War reenactment. If your first experience is anything like mine, you'll be given a thousand pieces of information and advice, from twenty different people, all on your first day in. After arriving home from that first event, you'll be asking "But why do they do this, and that, and this other thing?" "What does it mean when they say that?" and etc. Simply put, this book has the answers.

I first encountered this book as I was beginning my four years as a private in the re-activated 34th Georgia, Co B from Canton, GA. At the time it was the best thing (or so I thought) that was available for the newbie. Not to say it isn't a good starting point, but it's getting a bit dated now.

The price list is WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY off. Muskets can still be had for around $450 new (Used muskets vary in price, but also in quality), but expect to spend a bit more than is suggested for your first uniform and accoutrements. If I recall the estimate correctly in this manual, the price for an entire kit (uniform, period correct hat, musket, accoutrements, brogans, etc) was around $900. You can still outfit for that, if you are frugal, able to make your own clothing (I used to save a bundle by having women sew for me. Jean-cloth was fairly inexpensive a few years ago!), and have contacts that are willing to cut you big deals.

The rest of the book is a bit basic. On one hand the author talks of being aware of one's outfit and not looking FARBY (that is, goofy). On the other hand he embraces being farby and allowing modern conveniences in the camp, so long as the general public is not aware. This can be confusing to the newbie (it was to me).

The sections on proper drilling and manual of arms are well done and presented in a manner much easier to comprehend than HARDY'S.

I only wish the sections on cost and suttlers would be updated to include some newer vendors.

So, fresh-fish, you can do a lot worse than this book.

I have reenacted for the best part of 2 decades and presented or participated in countless living history events prior to buying this book, so I was very surprised & pleased when I discovered a reference of such value for both the new recruits AND seasoned veterans. I now consider this a "Must Have" for all new members of our unit. Simple to read & understand, Valid facts, and a very good source of information. You will make it part of 'always carry' gear if you do reenact or part of your library if you don't...

Definately a must have handbook for anyone who wants to recreate the sense of the 1860s. Excellent basic information on most aspects of the reenacting hobby. With costs exceeding $1200 to take the field in correct uniform, this is money well spent!

Hadden has made "Reliving the Civil War" even better with the 2nd Edition of his book, expanding, improving, and correcting some of the perceived deficiencies of the 1st Edition (although there are those of us who would have said it was pretty flawless). This book is unquestionably the definitive guide to the genre of Civil War reenacting, and is as requisite as a Hardee Manual for anyone interested in this aspect of living history, whether a novice or a veteran. It proved an invaluable guide to me when writing my own book, "Everyday Life During the Civil War" (Writer's Digest, October 1999). I recommended it to anyone interested in watching, reading about, or participating in reenactments.

Mr. Hadden gives an excellent overview of reenacting and where to begin, what to buy, where to get it - it's all here. Also interesting for students of the period.

This is a great Book for any one interested in the American civil war and who wants to be a Reenactor.

Other than the prices being rather off, they are really too cheap, this is a good book for anyone to read who wishes to do Civil War reenacting.

One thing it does not mention is that to DO reenacting you must join a group that does such things or you will not know when they happen or where they happen. You had better have a spare thousand to outfit yourself with too, if you and your spouse wish to do it together. Once that is done though, it is a heck of a lot of fun to do.

I highly recommend both the book and the hobby.