There are lot of books available about the American Civil War, and it's little wonder. Gwynne emphasizes that his strategy—unrelenting attacks on all fronts—was a war winner, but initial results were discouraging. It delves into all the personalities and factors in the drive to the wars end which climaxed in a series of monumental and emotionally devastating events. Lincoln’s impending contest against George McClellan looms in the background of Gwynne’s retelling of Grant’s and Sherman’s spring and summer campaigns. Kind of typical Gwynne book. October 29th 2019 There were also interesting biographies and character studies of many characters, including Clara Barton, Lee, Sherman and Grant. Systematically going over the last year of the war with highlights and anecdotes. $32.00. S.C. Gwynne is the author of Hymns of the Republic and the New York Times bestsellers Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.He spent most of his career as a journalist, including stints with Time as bureau chief, national correspondent, and senior editor, and with Texas Monthly as executive editor.
As the author writes, by “the summer of 1864 the North was bitterly divided, heartily sick of the war, and headed into an election that would give full voice to all of that smoldering dissent.” Then, as fall approached, matters improved. Elie Wiesel, by
It also filled in a gap for me of my Great-Great Grandfathers service. I would have to call this book "an achievement". | I've read more books than I can count/remember about the Civil War but I found this one passing along aspects I had never considered or heard of, and doing so frequently. Author S.C. Gwynne brings an immediacy to his retelling of familiar events that makes the story seem new. Categories: Dean's Book Club, non-fiction. by
S.C. Gwynne. Hymns of the Republic quantity. Now I have property and a cabin just a few miles from Appommatox Court House and have visited the graves of soldiers on both sides of the terrible conflict, walked up the hill that Lee rode up to meet Grant as the surrender was unfolding. Your email address will not be published. And Grant at Spotsylvania said he would “fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.” Shortly afterwards he pulls the army out of the line and heads south. | Gwynne is quickly working his way onto a very select list of must-read-everything-he-writes kind of historian. However, the author goes to great lengths to explain the “why” for many of the critical decisions made in that crucial year. Welcome back. While I have at best a layman's interest in the Civil War, I was impressed with Gwynne's presentation, so much so that I put in a request with my neighborhood library to check out a copy of the book.
He made me imagine the unimaginable--how horrifying, brutal, and cruel the Civil War was. It details of the medical facilities and primitive ways surgeons performed operations on wounded soldiers, amputations with saws and with no anesthesia.