New York Journal of Books
The genius of Bruce Chadwick’s oral history of the road to Ft. Sumter is that it reveals the emotions, the uncertainties, the fears, the rumors, the excitement, the hopes, the pride, the courage, and the animosities of the men and women involved in the Civil War.
Booklist - Jay Freeman
"Washington has not been praised as a military genius; troops under his direct command won only two major battles against the British, and his greatest tactical skill seems to have been in organizing retreats. Yet he is given—and deserves—the lion's share of credit for winning the military struggle. Chadwick effectively utilizing primary sources [and] provides highly readable accounts of key battles. He is at his best, however, in tracking Washington's development as a military and political leader. This is a fine addition to our understanding of the 'indispensable man.'"
From the Publisher
Praise for The Cannons Roar
Library Journal
Readers interested in Civil War and American history should find something new in this title to enjoy.
USA Today
"Chadwick puts a more human face on Washington by creating a very detailed portrait of how he and the outgoing Martha lived."
The Wall Street Journal
Mr. Chadwick has achieved the effect of a living—and momentous—dialogye with history by carefully selecting quotes from dozens of participants in that fraught time and skillfully binding them together. His swift, absorbing, wholly coherent narrative gives a sense of immediacy to the travails of those who thirsted for a fight, and those who groped after peace, as the nation moved toward a terrible test of arms.
Frank Cucurullo
"Chadwick's excellent history shows how the issue of slavery came crashing into the professional, public, and private lives of many Americans...Chadwick offers a fascinating premise: that James Buchanan, far from being a passive spectator, played a major role in the drama of his time. 1858 is a welcome addition to scholarship of the most volatile period of American history."
G. Kurt Piehler
"Highly recommended—a gripping narrative of the critical year of 1858 and the nation's slide toward disunion and war...Readers seeking to understand how individuals are agents of historical change will find Chadwick's account of the failed leadership of President James Buchanan especially compelling."
