The Soldier's View: The Civil War Art of Keith Rocco [Hardcover]

Robert I. Girardi (Author), Matt Delamater (Editor), Dana Lombardy (Editor), David Mitchell (Editor), Janice Sellers (Editor), Peter Cozzens (Introduction), Paul B. Jenison (Contributor), Bob Rogers (Contributor), Tom Schwartz (Contributor), D. Scott Hartwig (Contributor), Brian C. Pohanka (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2004

Here is a collection of more than 100 paintings and sketches from one of the leading artists working in the Civil War field. The text features carefully selected eye-witness accounts that accompany the paintings, and the result is a moving ensemble of images and words that pays homage to the common soldier.

Rocco's oils are reproduced here on acid-free, heavy art paper and placed in a finely sewn binding.

Editorial Reviews

Review

the text accompanying... is exciting and accurate....beautifully assembled...like its contents, the book is a work of art. -- North South Trader's Civil War magazine, Vol. 30, No. 6 2004

About the Author

Keith Rocco's murals cover more than 4,000 square feet at The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier at Pamplin Historical Park near Petersburg, Virginia. His work is also featured at more than a dozen National Park Service sites as well as the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, the U.S. House of Representatives, the Andrew Mellon Foundation, the Atlanta Historical Society, and the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois.

Keith lives in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

Original research and writing of the text by Robert I. Girardi, he is the co-author of "Military Memoirs of General John Pope" and "The New Annals of the Civil War."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Military History Pr Llc (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974877425
• ISBN-13: 978-0974877426
• Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 9.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,769,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert I. Girardi has had a life long fascination with the Civil War. He has studied the war from all sides, and has tramped over many of the battlefields and related sites. He has collected artifacts and memorabilia and has read through thousands of documents and letters written by participants. In this manner, he has developed a sense of what the soldiers experienced. He has become an author and historian in his own right and has become a popular speaker and consultant on the American Civil War to audiences of all ages. Robert created a Civil War exhibit for the Bureau County Historical Society in Princeton, Illinois, using local artifacts. He has spoken to historical societies and Civil War groups all over the United States and is a well known authority on the subject in the Chicago area where he has been interviewed on both radio and television on aspects of the Civil War.

Robert earned his M.A. in Public History at Loyola University of Chicago in 1991. He is a past president of the Civil War Round Table of Chicago and he belongs to three other Civil War round tables in the Chicago area. He is a fellow of the Company of Military Historians and is an associate member of the Sons of Union Veterans. He is on the editorial review board of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society and has consulted for the Chicago Historical Society on its Civil War exhibits.

Robert I. Girardi has authored or edited eight books:

Gettysburg in Art and Artifacts (2010)

The Civil War Art of Keith Rocco (2009)

Campaigning with Uncle Billy: The Civil War Memoirs of Sgt. Lyman S. Widney, 34th Illinois Volunteer Infantry (2008)

The Soldier's View: The Civil War Art of Keith Rocco (2004)

The New Annals of the Civil War (2004)

The Memoirs of Brigadier General William Passmore Carlin, U.S.A. (1999)

The Military Memoirs of General John Pope (1998)

Captain H.W. Chester: Recollections of the War of the Rebellion. (1996)

Robert I. Girardi lives and works in Chicago where he is employed as a homicide detective by the Chicago Police Department.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding collection of Civil War Art, January 3, 2005

By 

Darrell Smith (Denver, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Soldier's View: The Civil War Art of Keith Rocco (Hardcover)

A must-have for any Civil War Buff! As one of the premier Civil War Artists of this generation, a mere compilation of Keith Rocco's work would be satisfying enough, but the accompanying text highlights the outstanding clarity and depth of his work. The concise but detailed explanations help the amateur historian more fully understand the context and background of each painting, while the introduction and interview with Mr. Rocco gives the reader insight into the artist's perspective and intent. As beautiful on display as it is to read, I highly recommend it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A real keeper, November 15, 2004

By 

Jape Trostle - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soldier's View: The Civil War Art of Keith Rocco (Hardcover)

I've got to say, as a graphic artist and a history buff, this Rocco book sets really high marks. I'm impressed with almost everything about it. It has the feel of a book that is a real keeper, maybe even a kind of cult classic. I appreciate the "montage" effect of image and text -- it's a real tribute to Rocco as an artist that he can evoke so much emotional impact in his work.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Beautiful - a must have for civil war collectors!, December 11, 2004

By 

Thomas Perkins "Tom Perkins, Esq." (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soldier's View: The Civil War Art of Keith Rocco (Hardcover)

This is the best American Civil War art book I have ever seen - incredible color and design, captivating and well written vignettes accompany each beautiful page of art - kudos to the publishers. This book is an ABSOLUTE MUST for any Civil War enthusiast. A perfect christmas gift that will earn you many happy returns, to be sure!