After the Civil War: The Heroes, Villains, Soldiers, and Civilians Who Changed America
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After the Civil War: The Heroes, Villains, Soldiers, and Civilians Who Changed America

After the Civil War: The Heroes, Villains, Soldiers, and Civilians Who Changed America

by James Robertson

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781426215629
Publisher: National Geographic Society
Publication date: 10/27/2015
Pages: 400
Sales rank: 489,128
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

One of the most distinguished names in Civil War history, James Robertson was executive director of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission and worked with Presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson in marking the war's 100th anniversary.  His Civil War Era course at Virginia Tech was the largest of its kind in the nation. Robertson is the author or editor of more than 20 books that include such award-winning studies as Civil War! America Becomes One Nation, General A.P. Hill, and Soldiers Blue and Gray. His biography of Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson won eight national awards and was used as the basis for the Ted Turner/Warner Bros. mega-movie Gods and Generals. Robertson was chief historical consultant for the film.

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After the Civil War: The Heroes, Villains, Soldiers, and Civilians Who Changed America 4 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 1 reviews.
UMUC_Student 14 days ago
This is an informative book that covers areas different from most Civil War histories. Ignoring copyrights and possible plagiarism, there are some alternative titles that might describe the book: - “Who’s Who of the Post-Civil War Period” - “Where Are They Now?” - “Whatever Happened to . . . .?” Chapters are organized into separate topics, and the 70 mini-biographies are placed in accordance with the author’s organization scheme, which works well. Each “mini-bio” is about 3-5 pages, covering aspects of what the individual did before, during, and after the Civil War. Some of the biographies aren’t flattering (for example, the entries for Presidents Buchanan and Grant). Two are apparently included only because they’re the presidential assassins of McKinley and Garfield. There are often very good illustrations which would be even better if National Geographic had been able to make them bigger. Keep your magnifying glass handy, at least if you have the hardback edition. Most of the biographies end with a concluding paragraph that summarizes how Prof. Robertson believes we should see the individual. For example, the biography on George Armstrong Custer includes the statement, “. . . George Custer was destined to give his name to a military disaster. . .” Some descriptions might push readers into further research into topics mentioned only briefly in the book. A good example is the contested and controversial election of Rutherford B. Hayes. Prof. Robertson offers us a tantalizing glimpse into this sordid affair, and some will want to learn more. The book jacket’s front cover includes 3 cameo pictures of Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and George Armstrong Custer. Presumably, these three were chosen because they are well-known and recognizable figures from the period. But Custer played much less of a role in the war than the other two. So, using this yardstick suggests that a better third photograph might have been William Tecumseh Sherman, whose concept of total war would produce such horrific effects in World Wars I and II.