AN AMERICAN ILIAD: THE STORY OF THE CIVIL WAR - Hardcover

Roland, Charles P.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0813117372 ISBN 13: 9780813117379

Publisher: Univ. Press of Kentucky, 1991

Synopsis

This concise yet comprehensive narrative history of the War places the main emphasis on military action, weaving into its narrative accounts of the major political, economic, social and cultural developments of the epoch. The work offers biographical and character sketches of the leading figures of the war, stressing contrasts between Lincoln and Davis, Grant and Lee, Sherman and Jackson; coverage of the civilian side - showing how the social and cultural resources of the North and South were mobilised to support the war; and coverage of the suffering and struggles of the former slaves in the vicissitudes of early emancipation, including full discussion of emancipation measure by Lincoln administration. A contrast of social, economic and cultural developments and effects of the war on both Northern and Southern women and blacks is provided, and the diplomatic contest for the support or neutrality of the major European powers, including the failure of the Confederacy's "King Cotton Diplomacy", is also covered.

About this title

Reviews

Like many other Civil War historians, Roland here summarizes the results of years of research and writing in a narrative aimed at the general reading public. He tackles most of the important topics: military mobilization, governmental administration, political developments, and, primarily, the military events that have traditionally seized Americans' imaginations; he also briefly discusses the experiences of blacks, women, and dissenters. Roland's prose, while not always graceful, is clear and, especially in battle segments, quite readable. He effectively contrasts the leading figures on both sides and argues that the North won the war because of superior leadership and a more effective development of national policy and military strategy. Roland's work is less comprehensive than James McPherson's recent Battle Cry of Freedom (LJ 3/1/88; an LJ "Best Book") and less analytical than the work of Phillip Shaw Paludan and Emory Thomas, respectively, on the wartime North ( A People's Contest, Harper, 1988) and South ( The Confederate Nation 1861-1865, LJ 4/1/79), but it will be useful for general readers or for upper division history courses on the Civil War era.
- James Marten, Marquette Univ., Milwaukee
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Univ. Press of Kentucky
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0813117372
• ISBN 13: 9780813117379
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 289