Customer Reviews

The War for the Union Volume I.....The Improvised War 1861-1862

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

 

 

This history of the Civil War is far better than any other I have read in that Nevins looks behind the actions to seek reasons and explanations for them. Before I have wondered why so many of the decisions were made the way they were. This book looks at the men and the situations to analyse the whys and wherefores of the apparent inability of the Union to get organized, and the stupid decisions made. It presents Lincoln in a fair and reasonable light.

Book came promptly, in about the condition I expected. The back of the book did have some damage, though and for a $49 book it could have been in better shape. But nothing that will affect it's reading enjoyment. I'd order from this seller again.

I am a fan of the Civil War and enjoy reading Civil War history and visiting Civil War sites. I was given the soft cover, 6x9, 4 volume set (including the text referenced) by Allan Nevins and found them hard, no, almost impossible to read. It seems Mr. Nevins used a theaurus when he wrote these volumes and attempted to use as many "big" and unnecessary words as he could find. He has overcomlicated the subject by injecting wording that does not add clarity, but only volume to text. In a word, this book "sucks."

I would recommend that readers interested in Civil War history find a different author's works and avoid these unless they like to read this kind of "stuff" while keeping a dictionary in their lap to assist with the interperation of Mr. Nevins works.