The War That Made America - (Civil War America) by Caroline E Janney & Peter S Carmichael & Aaron Sheehan-Dean (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This collection of original essays reveals the richness and dynamism of contemporary scholarship on the Civil War era. Inspired by the lines of inquiry that animated the writings of the influential historian Gary W. Gallagher, this volume includes nine essays by leading scholars in the field who explore a broad range of themes and participants in the nation's greatest conflict, from Indigenous communities navigating the dangerous shoals of the secession winter to Confederate guerrillas caught in the legal snares of the Union's hard war to African Americans pursuing landownership in the postwar years. Essayists also explore how people contested and shaped the memory of the conflict, from outright silences and evasions to the use of formal historical writing. Other contributors use comparative and transnational history to rethink key aspects of the conflict. The result is a thorough examination of Gallagher's scholarly legacy and an assessment of the present and future of the Civil War history field. Contributors are William A. Blair, Peter S. Carmichael, Andre M. Fleche, Wayne Wei-siang Hsieh, Caroline E. Janney, Peter C. Luebke, Cynthia Nicoletti, Aaron Sheehan-Dean, and Kathryn J. Shively"--

Book Synopsis

This collection of original essays reveals the richness and dynamism of contemporary scholarship on the Civil War era. Inspired by the lines of inquiry that animated the writings of the influential historian Gary W. Gallagher, this volume includes nine essays by leading scholars in the field who explore a broad range of themes and participants in the nation's greatest conflict, from Indigenous communities navigating the dangerous shoals of the secession winter to Confederate guerrillas caught in the legal snares of the Union's hard war to African Americans pursuing landownership in the postwar years. Essayists also explore how people contested and shaped the memory of the conflict, from outright silences and evasions to the use of formal historical writing. Other contributors use comparative and transnational history to rethink key aspects of the conflict. The result is a thorough examination of Gallagher's scholarly legacy and an assessment of the present and future of the Civil War history field.

Contributors are William A. Blair, Peter S. Carmichael, Andre M. Fleche, Wayne Wei-siang Hsieh, Caroline E. Janney, Peter C. Luebke, Cynthia Nicoletti, Aaron Sheehan-Dean, and Kathryn J. Shively.

Review Quotes

"Nothing but well-written, scholarly, noteworthy and interesting essays. There is something for every Civil War scholar and buff in the volume. It is a fitting tribute to Dr. Gallagher and is very highly recommended."-Civil War News

"The nine essays collected in this volume are a testament to the wide-ranging, interdisciplinary insights now being incorporated into Civil War scholarship. . . . [T]he volume rewards a close reading."--North Carolina Historical Review

About the Author

Caroline E. Janney is John L. Nau III Professor in the History of the Civil War, University of Virginia.
Peter S. Carmichael is Robert C. Fluhrer Professor of Civil War Studies, Gettysburg College.
Aaron Sheehan-Dean is Fred C. Frey Professor of History, Louisiana State University.