The Civil War

Rating:
Summary: A fine basic summary
Review: This is a great book to read if you are just beginning to learn about the Civil War. Catton, best known for his biography on Abraham Lincoln, gives an understandable basic summary of why the war started, how it progressed, and how it ended. I wish it would have gone into more detail about the strategy used, but otherwise well done.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book
Review: This is a very excellent and easy-to-read book. My only possible comment is that the maps are somewhat unhelpful.

Rating:
Summary: The single best book on the Civil War
Review: This is the best book about the Civil War I have seen yet. It stands completly alone from the PBS series. The many first hand accounts and the numerous rare photographs bring the war to life. If I had only 1 book in my library about the Civil War this would be it.

Rating:
Summary: Monumental work
Review: This volume is absolutely fantastic. And I mean everything: pictures, diagrams, maps, selected excerpts, citations, documentary, and of course description of war times, politics, people and battles. I have improved dramatically my knowledge about the Civil War; it's immeasurable size, cruelty and influence on American future. Reading left me simply shocked, full of thoughts about tragedies of soldiers and civilians being simply unlucky by living during these times. I truly recommend this masterpiece to everyone interested in this history.

Rating:
Summary: The Civil War
Review: When I purchased the paperback I did not realize that it would not have the photos which the hardcover contained so I was disappointed with my purchase.

Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction - Visual and Literary - to Civil War
Review: When I was a boy, my father had a two vol. set put out by American Heritage called "The Civil War." Its words, pictures, sidebars, and maps helped instill in me a fascination with the war and history.

Burns and Ward have done the same service for a new generation. This is a fine one volume treatment of the Civil War done in a most accessible fashion. The words provide a good overview and summary of the subject. What brings it alive are the many pictures, maps, focus subjects and commentaries in this coffee table book. The media and elements come together to fascinate and captivate the reader. This book is a companion to Burn's monumental ten part PBS television series by the same title. The book captures it's style well, and even uses some of the most memorable documents -- like the romantic and haunting Sullivan Ballou (sp?) letter written prior to the first Bull Run that foretold the passing of its author and a simpler America.

Althought the material is strictly introductory, even the serious Civil War student will find fascination at haveing a story they know so well, so well illustrated and illuminated.

Introduce your children to this book and watch them become interested in our country's greatest story.

Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction - Visual and Literary - to Civil War
Review: When I was a boy, my father had a two vol. set put out by American Heritage called "The Civil War." Its words, pictures, sidebars, and maps helped instill in me a fascination with the war and history.

Burns and Ward have done the same service for a new generation. This is a fine one volume treatment of the Civil War done in a most accessible fashion. The words provide a good overview and summary of the subject. What brings it alive are the many pictures, maps, focus subjects and commentaries in this coffee table book. The media and elements come together to fascinate and captivate the reader. This book is a companion to Burn's monumental ten part PBS television series by the same title. The book captures it's style well, and even uses some of the most memorable documents -- like the romantic and haunting Sullivan Ballou (sp?) letter written prior to the first Bull Run that foretold the passing of its author and a simpler America.

Althought the material is strictly introductory, even the serious Civil War student will find fascination at haveing a story they know so well, so well illustrated and illuminated.

Introduce your children to this book and watch them become interested in our country's greatest story.