Struggle for a Vast Future: The American Civil War

by Aaron Sheehan-Dean (Editor), James McPherson (Foreword by)

Overview

Tearing apart a nation founded on ideals of liberty and union, the American Civil War saw some of the most bitter and bloody fighting that humankind has ever witnessed. The war changed America forever, shaping its future and determining its place in history. In this book 13 eminent historians discuss the origins of and legacy of a landmark conflict. Each chapter offers a fresh perspective on the key themes of the Civil War. Innovation in military and naval warfare, espionage, emancipation, personalities of the leaders both on and off the battlefield, and the home front are explored, painting a fascinating and comprehensive picture of America at war with itself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472822840
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	10/20/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Dr Aaron Sheehan-Dean is Assistant Professor of History at the University of North Florida. He completed his PhD at the University of Virginia. He has devoted most of his academic career to the study of the American Civil War and has published essays on various themes surrounding the conflict. He is completing a book project titled Creating Confederates: Family and Nation in Civil War Virginia (forthcoming). He lives and works in Florida.

William Blair · Victoria E. Bynum · Richard J. Carwardine · Hugh Dubrulle · William B. Feis · Mark Grimsley · Robert Krick · Gerald J. Prokopowicz · Jeffrey Prushankin · Aaron Sheehan-Dean · Craig L. Symonds · Michael Vorenberg

Editorial Reviews

Twelve historians contributed essays to this superb, concise, and readable volume. Editor Sheehan-Dean (history, Univ. of North Florida) presents, in effect, a guide through the maze of differences between the North and South that culminated in the Civil War and reverberated thereafter. The essays address such topics as leadership and personalities, the European perspective, women in warfare, POW camps, desertion, and the legacy of war. An especially well-covered topic is the war's impact on ordinary people, and an interesting final section examines how movies like Birth of a Nation and Gone with the Wind have shaped our "memories" of the war. The text is heavily illustrated, with numerous photos, maps, and other pertinent material throughout, the chronology provides a useful, broader overview of events from 1820 to1977, and the sections containing endnotes and further readings provide many possibilities for further study. An enormous amount of history has here been condensed into a useful tool that will likely stimulate further debate and research. Students, Civil War enthusiasts, and others should find this excellent introductory text to be worth their while. David Alperstein, Queens Borough P.L., Jamaica, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Twelve historians contributed essays to this superb, concise, and readable volume. Editor Sheehan-Dean (history, Univ. of North Florida) presents, in effect, a guide through the maze of differences between the North and South that culminated in the Civil War and reverberated thereafter...An enormous amount of history has here been condensed into a useful tool that will likely stimulate further debate and research. Students, Civil War enthusiasts, and others should find this excellent introductory text to be worth their while.” —starred review, Library Journal

From the Publisher