The Untold Civil War: Exploring the Human Side of War

(Hardback)

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Fresh, surprising, and provocative stories shed new light on the Civil War. After 150 years of studying this watershed event in America's history, we learn there is yet more to the tale. National Geographic presents provocative stories shedding new light on the Civil War, American history's watershed, from Union and Confederate soldiers to Abraham Lincoln and Gettysburg. Was Gettysburg a tactical success, or was the outcome determined by a far more mundane factor- access to fresh water How did the need to spread information about the dead and wounded give rise to the U.S. Postal Service Did President Lincoln really age so dramatically during the course of the war, or was a rare disease to blame for the shocking difference in images of him from before and during the war From overlooked elements, such as the role of weather, health, and high emotions, to the world-changing effect of the rise of female workers, to the many "firsts" including the introduction of standard time, pre-sized clothing, canned goods, toilets, and Santa Claus, The Untold Civil War reveals new facets of a seemingly well-known slice of American history, just in time to commemorate its 150th anniversary. Dramatically illustrated with archival images and objects and compelling contemporary photography, this book delivers a surprise on every page- from precious personal mementos to forgotten battle sites; from newly recovered glass-plate negatives that reveal long-obscured photographic details to long-lost documents; this book adds a new dimension to our understanding of the Civil War and is a must-have for anyone with an interest in American history. Six thematic chapters-such as "Characters," "Connections," and "A War of Firsts"-present a short introductory essay followed by approximately 30 self-contained stories that detail surprising, little-known, and fresh aspects of the war. Themes both large and small will be explored and contextualized, painting a fascinating portrait of our national character and showcasing the enduring impact of the Civil War.

Reviews

"The book is a beauty and should make any recipient very happy. Although large, it isnt one of those cumbersome coffee-table books but rather the right size to properly display a great selection of photographs." --The Washington Post

Beautifully illustrated and engagingly written, this thematically arranged book reveals the human side of Americas bloodiest war. Library Journal

Author Bio

James Robertson, one of the most distinguished names in Civil War history, worked with Presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson in marking the war's 100th anniversary. Among numerous books, his massive biography of Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson won eight national awards and was the basis for the mega-movie, "Gods and Generals," for which he served as chief historical consultant. Robertson is the recipient of every major award given in the Civil War field, and a lecturer of nationalacclaim. Neil Kagan heads Kagan & Associates, a firm specializing in innovative illustrated books. During his career at Time-Life Books as Publisher-Managing Editor and Director of New Product Development, he spearheaded multiple historic series. For National Geographic he has produced Eyewitness to the Civil War and Atlas of the Civil War.