Add to List

Added to

Unable to add item to List. Please try again.

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Follow the Author

William C. Davis

A Taste For War: The Culinary History of the Blue and the Gray Hardcover – August 1, 2003

by William C. Davis (Author)

42 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$17.67

$21.62

$4.47

Paperback, Illustrated

"Please retry"

$16.29

$14.62

$4.97

"[Hardtack was] positively unsuitable fodder for anything that claims to be human...and I think it no exaggeration to say that any intelligent pig possessing the least spark of pride would have considered it a pure insult to have them put into his swill." (Wilbur Fisk, Civil War soldier). We know the uniforms they wore, the weapons they carried, and the battles they fought, but what did they eat and, of even greater curiosity, was it any good? Now, for the very first time, the food that fueled the armies of the North and the South and the soldiers' opinions of it--ranging from the sublime to just slime--is front and center in a biting, fascinating look at the Civil War as written by one of its most respected historians. There's even a comprehensive "cookbook" of actual recipes included for those intrepid enough to try a taste of the Civil War.

Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Stackpole Books
Publication date

August 1, 2003
Dimensions

6 x 1 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

0811700186
ISBN-13

978-0811700184
See all details

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Lily May Spaulding
46
Hardcover
$19.95
+ $35.48 shipping
Only 15 left in stock (more on the way).
William C. Davis
41
Hardcover
45 offers from $1.41
John D. Billings
462
Paperback
$6.99
+ $35.48 shipping
In Stock.
Lizzie Collingham
120
Hardcover
$42.45
Get it as soon as Thursday, Aug 19
FREE Shipping by Amazon
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Dorothy Volo
2
Hardcover
$75.00
+ $15.48 shipping
Available to ship in 1-2 days.
Steven W. Siler
2
Paperback
$18.65
+ $35.48 shipping
In Stock.

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

William C. Davis
41
Hardcover
45 offers from $1.41

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Lily May Spaulding
46
Hardcover
$19.95
+ $35.48 shipping
Only 15 left in stock (more on the way).
William C. Davis
41
Hardcover
45 offers from $1.41
John D. Billings
462
Paperback
$6.99
+ $35.48 shipping
In Stock.
Lizzie Collingham
120
Hardcover
$42.45
Get it as soon as Thursday, Aug 19
FREE Shipping by Amazon
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

Special offers and product promotions

Amazon Business: Make the most of your Amazon Business account with exclusive tools and savings. Login now

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William C. Davis is director of programs for the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies and professor of history at Virginia Tech. He is the author of more than 40 books on Civil War and Southern history, including Battle of Bull Run (0811702022), Orphan Brigade (081171182X), Duel between First Ironclads (0811705366), and Look Away!: A History of the Confederate States of America.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stackpole Books; 1st edition (August 1, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0811700186
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0811700184
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,551,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #123 in U.S. Civil War Naval Operations History
- #560 in Napoleonic War History (Books)
- #3,975 in Naval Military History

Customer Reviews:
42 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload video

Customer reviews

5 star		77%
4 star		20%
3 star		3%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Dennis Pierce

Easy to read, but a little monotonous

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2015

Verified Purchase

The book has some interesting tidbits and is easy to read, but the structure gets to be a little monotonous. Basically the book is a collection of quotes from soldiers regarding the food they received in the field, prisons and hospitals during the Civil War. There's also some recipes collected from the writings. It's great the author is using the original sources to tell the story, but I'd like to have a little more editorialization or structure from the author to provide context or variety. It gets to be a little numbing to read quote after quote. But overall an interesting book and topic and easy to read in an afternoon.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tim in Cleveland

Good book, good read.

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2019

Verified Purchase

Nice history. We live in an age with information at our fingertips. This covers the most basic of skills, cooking. How did they do it 150 years ago? Well worth it for armchair historians that like to cook.

Helpful

Debbie S.

the hard tack was enjoyed by all

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2015

Verified Purchase

I recently hosted the opening of a Civil War Exhibit on the Texas Gulf Coast. Edible items served at the opening were researched and derived from recipes featured in A Taste for War. Items were served in cast iron skillets and vintage travel trunks including the Confederate Chicken Rice Soup, Hard Tack, Johnny Cakes and Corn Bread.....the presentation was a huge success...believe it or not, the hard tack was enjoyed by all.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

W. M. Nielson

good read!

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2013

Verified Purchase

Really fun book. Lots of tasty tidbits of information. Covers North and South very well and fringes into civlian food availability. Gives a good feel for what really happened and why. I would not say it makes me hungry to read it with some of the food choices!! woohoooo. Yummy. It will make your modern food choices seem simply amazing.

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

A Fascinating Read!

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

A fascinating read for historians, both professional and casual, of the Civil War era. The recipes and anecdotes are particularly interesting. Reenactors will find a great deal they can use in their background here.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Betsy Finn

Great Civil War recipe book.

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2014

Verified Purchase

This book was recommended to me by a Civil War reenactor. I am very pleased with the book (glanced through it) so far. Would be great for any enthusiast of the Civil War or someone who loves cookin.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful