Rating: 
Summary: Selected praise for Eye of the Storm
Review: "What makes Sneden's history remarkable is his attention to detail... So compelling was his drive to document the war accurately that Sneden kept notes even while in Andersonville, writing in shorthand on scraps of pages of books that he later sewed into the linings of his cloths to keep hidden.... It is astonishing that such valuable experience could have remained hidden for so long." --Michael Larkin, The Boston Globe"This is quite simply a wonderful book.... One can virtually hear the soldiers snoring and the mules braying.... Especially moving is [Sneden's] account of the horrible months he spent in Andersonville.... Sneden's all-observing eye was truly 'in the storm,' and his belatedly published memoir should soon become a standard in the field." --Ben L. Bassham, Civil War Book Review
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating viewpoint on the civil war
Review:
Sneden's account of the civil war is fascinating in that it doesn't try to provide an "understanding" of events, it simply provides a day-to-day description of what he saw in camp, on the battle field, and as a prisoner of war; - things like drunken soldiers, a man whose head had swelled to three times its normal size after being shot, so-called "surgeons" whose only training was in how to cut off limbs, and prisoners of war succumbing to hunger, disease and various other inhumane conditions.
For me, the virtue and value in this book is in its depiction of the hardship, suffering, and cruelty that characterized the civil war. I gained an appreciation for those who fought to keep our nation together, and at the same time I was shocked and saddened to read events, which made clear that in civil war America, there was very little value put on an individual's life. Today, soldiers will go to great lengths to not leave a comrade behind, but then thousands of wounded were simply abandoned in makeshift "hospitals" when it was time to retreat. Those who could not keep up were simply left behind to die. Today, rules govern the treatment of prisoners-of-war, but then Americans subjected their fellow Americans to conditions as bad as any that we see in the world today, - all the time mocking their suffering. I am still coming to grips in my own mind, with how our ancestors of only 150 years ago could have both endured such hardship and also practiced such inhumanity to their fellow man.
What I didn't like about the book was the detached and emtionless manner in which Sneden wrote. Considering the horrific and tragic events being described, I would think that Sneden would emphasize the emotional and personal nature of the tragedies unfolding daily. After all, those soldiers dying their grisly deaths all had hopes, dreams and friendships that died with them, - and families waiting for them to come home. But Sneden, for the most part, recounts each death in a matter-of-fact tone. He also does not convey any particular sense of honor, pride or purpose which compelled the men to fight, in fact we're given almost no insight into their feelings as human beings. Friendships are described only in superficial terms and despite the editors' many notes indicating that Sneden "hated" the rebels, I barely detected it in his words. Considering the subject matter, this is a completely detached and emotionless Civil War account, - written as if its' author was lacking a soul. And perhaps he was, after surviving such atrocies.
So, while I appreciated the visceral depiction of what the Civil War was like for the man on the ground, I wish that Sneden had described his feelings and emotions, and the feelings and emotions of those around him. Without that we are left with only half of the human drama of the Civil War.
Rating:
Summary: What a find!
Review: After discovering this book under my Christmas tree imagine my interest in the discovery of the story of Private Sneden in this volume. This first hand account of the war was far and away better than anything I've read so far including Sam Watkins 'Co. Aytch'. The added bonus of Sneden's watercolors make this book an invaluable source for anyone interested in the war and a fascinating revelation of it. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: you are there
Review: Do you ever read book and have trouble putting it down? For Civil War buffs this is it. While RK Snedon rambles on a bit at times, there can be no better insight into the maelstrom that was the Civil War. The drawings are fascinating as is the courage and positive attitude of an individual faced with obscene circumstances.
Rating:
Summary: Eye of the Storm
Review: Eye of the Storm is a rare opportunity to see a new yet original view of camp and prison life. You will find yourself drawn to Sneden's original illustrations time and time again. The more you study them the more you see. It makes you want to see more and larger versions of his drawings. Brayn and Lankford have done a good job in not tainting Sneden's work while at the same time pointing out some important historical questions. I marked over twenty parts to use in reference and speeches.
Rating:
Summary: New glasses
Review: Eye of the Storm is a rare opportunity to see a new yet original view of camp and prison life. You will find yourself drawn to Sneden's original illustrations time and time again. The more you study them the more you see. It makes you want to see more and larger versions of his drawings. Brayn and Lankford have done a good job in not tainting Sneden's work while at the same time pointing out some important historical questions. I marked over twenty parts to use in reference and speeches.
Rating:
Summary: Eye of the Storm
Review: I always look for first hand information in journals. These are the journals by Priv. Sneden. The pictures that he drew are wonderful and his first person accounts of his journey throughout the Civil War are sad & touching. It is worth it all to read a first person account of his stay at Andersonville Prison in Georgia. Both his books, "Eye of the Storm" (his journal) and "Images of the Storm" (drawings of his journey) are prized books to treasure and will be passed on through generations. What a wonderful gift Priv. Sneden left behind.
My heart aches for this wonderful young man who realized nothing
from his legacy.
Rating:
Summary: Great read for any Civil War Buff.
Review: I assume anyone looking at this review is or knows a Civil War buff. The possibility of finding an intact diary of someone who saw so much and who both sketched and wrote so well is simply irresistable. The editor has "buffed" it just enough to keep it flowing, but not too much to change the author's intended view of things. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and even if its detractors are correct and it proves to be a work of historical fiction, it still will have been a wonderful book and a worthwhile read.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Gift
Review: I bought three copies of this - one for my dad (he hasn't been given his yet), one for my father-in-law and one for my husband. My father-in-law and husband can't put the book down, and can't get together without the subject turning to this book. They both can't stop raving about this book. I guess I'll send the book to my dad for an EARLY Father's Day. These were winner gifts!
Rating:
Summary: Treasure of American History
Review: I read Sneden's account while at the same time studying a history from the Confederacy viewpoint - an excellent way to absorb his story. Overall, I appreciated the detail to which this survivalist wrote and am inspired by his illustrations to tour the Virginia countryside and read every historical marker available. Sneden maintains a predominantly factual tone with little mention of personal thoughts. He vividly describes the hardships that his fellow inmates endured but he does not extend mention to the toll that those hardships must have taken on him. Sneden seemed unfeeling, intelligent and quite arrogant, which undoubtedly enabled him to witness first-hand so many crucial historical moments and to ultimately survive. From an historical perspective, Sneden's insights on Union decisions that resulted in battle losses were right on target. He apparently had a strong 'war-sense' making this read informative from a tactical view as well.
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