Any recommended reading list therefore has to be highly selective and at least somewhat arbitrary. Many of our biblio booksellers offer antique and rare civil war books that would add great value to your book collection. Popular history american civil war books goodreads. Apr 14, 2017 the civil war is not just for americans. The popular history of the civil war, illustrated, publisher f m lupton, 1884. In 2014, the new york times published a brief interview with noted civil war historian james mcpherson, the george henry davis 1886 professor of american history at princeton university. A new book examines why gone with the wind dominates popular memory of the civil warand which forgotten stories of that time are worth remembering. Civil war reading list is to provide the beginning civil war reader with a short guide to good introductory books on the war. Matthew gallman is a professor of history at the university of florida. Awarded the pulitzer prize for history in 1989 for this book, james m. Save over 20% credits will not expire, so you can use them at any time. The best civil war books of all time analysis civil.
Thus the perennial popularity of books about the civil war. His most recent book, defining duty in the civil war. Although the subject of the film is not the international brigades, it portrays international volunteers in the spanish civil war. Zinn states that, despite popular belief, the 1920s were not a time of.
From james mcphersons definitive history to tony horwitzs adventures among obsessives, here are the 11 best books on the civil war in time. The best historians and books according to james mcpherson. Mar 24, 2020 a new book examines why gone with the wind dominates popular memory of the civil warand which forgotten stories of that time are worth remembering. Charles bruce catton october 9, 1899 august 28, 1978 was an american historian and journalist, known best for his books concerning the american civil war. Browse new and enduring titles on ancient history, european history, the civil war, u. For whom the bell tolls 1943 film by ernest hemingway about a young american who fights in the international brigades.
By no means is this a comprehensive list of titles, rather it is a list of some of the best books on the topic. Civil war faq and will be posted on or about the 20th of each month. Popular history of the civil war 1884 captain george b. Personal choice, popular culture, and the union home front 2105, won the bobbie and john nau book prize in american civil war era history.
Known as a narrative historian, catton specialized in popular history, featuring interesting characters and historical vignettes, in addition to the basic facts, dates, and analyses. The killer angels by michael shaara, gone with the wind by margaret mitchell, battle cry of freedom by james m. A peoples history of the united states is a 1980 nonfiction book by american historian and. A fastpaced chronicle of the fighting on the battlefield and the infighting in the political capitals of washington and richmond.
Abcs of the civil war and reconstruction adobe spark. The american civil war was the largest and most destructive conflict in the western world between the end of the napoleonic wars in 1815 and the onset of world war i in 1914. Browse our selection of books on civil war history, and learn about the heroes who fought and died to preserve the american union. A superbly readable military history by a novelist who did a massive amount of historical research. In the present civil war it is quite possible that gods purpose is something different from the purpose of either party and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaption to effect his purpose. The civil war in the united states began in 1861, after decades of simmering tensions between northern and southern states over slavery, states rights and westward expansion. If you saw the ken burns pbs series on the civil war you saw the man with a twinkle in his eye as he told you a story about one of the many events that constituted the war. A collection of short stories, books, essays, speeches, letters, and poems that concern themselves with the american civil war 1861 1865. Head on over to the history enthusiast for an excellent followup to this post. But before the american civil war yankee was used by the british to refer to the american colonists.
The centennial history of the civil war, 186165, 3 vols. Mcclellan, in what would turn out to be the single bloodiest day of the civil war and in all of american history. Best books about the civil war civil war saga a history. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Mar 09, 2019 the types of food that were popular during the civil war was very different from the food we eat today due to war time food shortages and a lack of both refrigeration and largescale food processing, most meals were simple, easy to prepare dishes made from basic ingredients that could be grown in a garden or purchased and stored easily. Eleven southern slave states declared their secession from the united states and formed the confederate states of america, also known as the confederacy. During the civil war, and even after the war came to an end, yankee was a term used by southerners to describe their rivals from the union, or northern, side of the conflict. Jun 22, 2017 2 thoughts on best books about the civil war judson hair june 23, 2019 at 11. Ive read all here except the republic of suffering i enjoyed the differing perspectives between foote, cotton, and mcphereson as they covered the same ground. The best civil war books of all time analysis civil war monitor. Six books on the civil war these six histories of the civil war that are mustreads if you want to better understand the conflict a group of officers in culpeper, virginia reading. The question on which the war was fought in the first place was the issue of slavery and whether it should be abolished or not. The civil war era, one of the ugliest periods in american history, has produced some of the most fascinating and heartbreaking books, both. The best civil war books of all time analysis civil war.
This 1970s high school history book taught the most insane. Some of these books go into great detail about the american civil war, and some these selections include maps and posters from the civil war era. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. From james mcphersons definitive history to tony horwitzs adventures among obsessives, here are the 11 best books on the civil war in time for the.
For a one volume history of the war you cant top mcpherson but for a more comprhensive history of events leading up to the war and during the war itself id recommend the 8 volume ordeal of the union by allan nevins. The types of food that were popular during the civil war was very different from the food we eat today due to wartime food shortages and a lack of both refrigeration and largescale food processing, most meals were simple, easy to prepare dishes made from basic ingredients that could be grown in a garden or purchased and stored easily. Chapter 10, the other civil war, covers the antirent movement, the dorr. But these achievements came at the cost of 625,000 livesnearly as many american soldiers as died in all the other wars in which this country has fought combined. Eric wittenbergs latest post includes a list of the 50 greatest civil war. Theres a huge market now in swordandsandal historical fiction drawing on the chaos of roman politics. Learn about civil war battles, generals, political leaders and more. There are several broad categories of civil war book, and the varied types warrant examination. The american civil war 18611865 was a civil war in the united states of america. Start reading about the civil war american battlefield trust. Page 71 when congress shall arm one part of the people against another, for any purpose beyond that of merely protecting the general government in the exercise of its proper constitutional functions. Kristen suggests that the list reflects the state of the field today and how students of the civil war are still in many ways an old boys club. This event marked an important period in american history and shaped its constitution.
Mcpherson, now a professor emeritus at princeton university, set out to tell the story of the civil war in a single though. A brief overview of the american civil war american. The american civil war was a historic battle between the north and the south. Some of these books go into great detail about the american civil war, and some these selections include. In the interview, mcpherson stated who he believes are americas top historians, the best book on the civil war, military history, african american history, the book most responsible for shaping his career, and even the most overrated history book ever. Congress possesses many means of preserving it by conciliation. Mcpherson is considered to be the dean of civil war historians.
Five greatest books about the civil war nonfiction. The american civil war was fought between 1861 and 1865 over the issues of slavery and states rights. Civil war stories to read instead of gone with the wind. According to his theory, human beings were selfish and if left alone, in what he called a state of nature, human life would be nasty, brutish, and short.
Best books about the civil war a history blog about the. This is a broad library containing novels like the red badge of courage and uncle toms cabin, civil war stories by ambrose pierce, ppems from julia ward howe and emily dickison, and historical documents including the emancipation proclamation, and. He is best known for his pulitzer prize winning book battle cry of freedom which is the best overview of the civil war. Civil war stories to read instead of gone with the wind time. One of the most popular categories of these books tells much of the tale of the larger war by focusing on the life and experiences of a single person. This event shaped the history of the states in the coming years. Sometimes it is a negative description, sometimes it is playful. The kidnapping of president lincoln and other war detective stories. The most popular theme for alternative histories by far is world war ii it would have been possible to populate the entire list with books where the. Reconstructiorefers to the period in united states history immediately following the civil war in which the federal government set the conditions that would allow the rebellious southern states back into the union.
Jul 30, 2019 thomas hobbes wrote the leviathan in 1651, during the english civil war, and in it, he laid out the first basis of popular sovereignty. Theres a huge market now in swordandsandal historical. Yesterday, flagpoleclimbing hero bree newsome posted a series of frustrated tweets about education in the united states, and specifically how people can have such. There are an extraordinary number of books covering all aspects of the war from large overviews like james mcphersons battle cry freedom, gary gallaghers books on the union war and the confederate war, allan nevins 8 volume set on the conflict, and shelby footes three volume set of books on the war. Short stories, american, united states history civil war, 18611865 fiction. Yesterday, flagpoleclimbing hero bree newsome posted a series of frustrated tweets about education in the united states, and specifically how people can have such extremely varying opinions on the u. Thomas hobbes wrote the leviathan in 1651, during the english civil war, and in it, he laid out the first basis of popular sovereignty. What if the confederates won the american civil war. Far more books have been written about the civil war than about any other event in american history, and lincolns stack of books towers over that of any other american figure. Popular books on battles of the american civil war best. Before the civil war, congress was a hotbed of violence. Pictorial history of the civil war in the united states of.