Drawn to the Civil War - Softcover

Lang, J. Stephen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0895871866 ISBN 13: 9780895871862

Publisher: John F Blair Pub, 1999

Synopsis

Brief biographies of major Civil War figures can be dull as dishwater, but the important generals, politicians, and other key players were definitely not boring_they were often quirky and fascinating. This collection offers 60 sketches of the best-known participants from both sides in the war. It looks at the curious, odd, personal tidbits that make these people interesting. Instead of "official" portraits, each sketch is accompanied by a clever caricature.

About this title

About the Author:

J. Stephen Lang is the author of several books, including The Complete Book of Confederate Trivia. He lives in Seminole, Florida. Michael Caplanis has spent a long career in advertising as a creative director. He lives in Stephens City, Virginia.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Stonewall Jackson's image is carved in granite on Georgia's Stone Mountain. This is appropriate because the great general was, in fact, a stoneface and a stiff...The poor man actually lacked the ability to laugh out loud. Witnesses say that on the rare occasions that he found something funny, he could only throw back his head and quiver_the motions of laughing without the sound of it. Perhaps his sour demeanor was due to his habit of sucking on lemons whenever they were available. He claimed that he was a teetotaler because he liked liquor too much and feared becoming an addict.

Jackson was notoriously devout...After a dazzling victory in battle, he dashed off a quick letter home, never mentioning the battle at all. Instead, he enclosed his regular contribution to his church's Sunday school and apologized for being late with it.

About this edition

• Publisher: John F Blair Pub
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0895871866
• ISBN 13: 9780895871862
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 292
• Illustrator: Caplanis Michael