A Short History of the Civil War: Ordeal by Fire [Paperback]

Fletcher Pratt (Author)

Book Description

Series: Civil War | Publication Date: July 7, 1997

Best one-volume history brings the events, figures, and battles of monumental conflict vividly to life. Absorbing details of military campaigns, battlefield strategies, and personalities revealed in an audacious style that carries readers breathlessly along from the day of Lincoln's inauguration to Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (July 7, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486297020
• ISBN-13: 978-0486297026
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #839,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece of Concision, December 16, 1999

By 

Stephen M. St Onge "Stephen M. St. Onge" (Mpls, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Short History of the Civil War: Ordeal by Fire (Paperback)

There have been several contenders for the title "Best Short History of the Civil War." For it's length, this one wins hands down. Fletcher Pratt was determined to remind you that the Civil War was a WAR, long and bloody and dramatic, with the issue in doubt from the begining till very near the end. And he emphasized that the Civil War was about slavery and seccession, two political questions that it answered forever. He wrote this history with the skills of a novelist and the passion of a participant (Pratt's on the Union side, and no bones about it). I first read this book in the sixties, and after reading a variety of other works, including James McPherson's one volume and Shelby Foote's three volume masterpieces, I've never seen anyone that captures the essence of what happened and why like Pratt. I know of no better introduction to Civil War History, and very few books in its league. My highest recomendation.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deserves a Galaxy of Stars!, July 28, 2004

By 

Theo Logos (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Short History of the Civil War: Ordeal by Fire (Paperback)

What can I say about this book? Well, how about in a lifetime of reading many books on the Civil War, both good and great, this one stands head and shoulders above them all. While more ink than the blood that was spilled has been used by many others to explain this terrible war, Pratt managed to capture the essence of the conflict in a short, brilliant book.
Pratt was a military historian of the first rank, but was also known for clever and exciting high fantasy stories. Perhaps it was this versatility that honed his storytelling ability to the sharp edge that we see here. While not missing a single important detail of politics, causes, battles, and personalities, he weaves an engrossing tale from start to finish, and creates a solidly researched history that is also a page-turner. This book is a joy to the student of the Civil War, but also appeals to those with no particular interest in that conflict, solely on the merit of Pratt's tight storytelling.
This book was written in 1935, and much new material on the Civil War has surfaced since then. Others, such as Shelby Foote, Bruce Catton and James McPherson have written much longer and more comprehensive works on the war that are excellent in their own right. Yet this little book still shines out as a gem among them. With its solid scholarship, sharp storytelling, and precise choice of details, it is the first rate Cliff Notes to the Civil War.

Theo Logos

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one to read!, December 17, 2001

By 

Clayton Nimtz - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Short History of the Civil War: Ordeal by Fire (Paperback)

I have the new edition of this book, I bought it soon as I saw it sitting on a store shelf, despite already having 5 or 6 copies of the old pocketbook sized editions. I love this book. If you are going to read only one history of the civil war, make it this one. If you are going to spend the rest of your life reading histories of the civil war, start with this one.

It would take thousands of words to express the reasons I love this book. But somehow that wouldn't be appropriate. What I will say is this:

Bruce Canton could spend two pages discribing a muddy campaign, and you will come away knowing it was muddy and what a loggistical problem that was. Shelby Foote could spend a chapter on a muddy campaingn and you will come away knowing it was muddy and how much the troops complaigned about it and maybe a funny incident or two. Fletcher Pratt could spend a paragraph or two on that campaign, and when done you'll notice your leg's hurt. Why? Because you didn't want to get mud on your couch.