Customer Reviews

Excellent brief history - By: history phd grad, 31 Aug 2006
If you are new to the subject & looking for a great introduction, or if you're a student with a paper pending & you need the low-down right now, this is the book for you. The pace of the narrative is rapid, but the author presents a very balanced view, provides insight into all the major events, & uses primary sources to add a real flavour to the points she makes. You won't come out of this book feeling that you know the inner Robert E Lee, but you will know why others consider him (and others) so important. The guide to reading at the end will also help you find more in-depth works on the topics you found interesting. A great overview of the Civil War - & a highly useful tool for the student looking for a quick understanding of a complex subject.