Civil War Places - by Gary W Gallagher & J Matthew Gallman (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Much has been written about place and Civil War memory, but how do we personally remember and commemorate this part of our collective past? How do battlefields and other historic places help us understand our own history? What kinds of places are worth remembering and why? In this collection of essays, some of the most esteemed historians of the Civil War select a single meaningful place related to the war and narrate its significance. Included here are meditations on a wide assortment of places -- Devil's Den at Gettysburg, Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, the statue of William T. Sherman in New York's Central Park, Burnside Bridge at Antietam, the McLean House in Appomattox, and more. Paired with a contemporary photograph commissioned specifically for this book, each essay offers an unusual and accessible glimpse into how historians think about their subjects.

In addition to the editors, contributors include Edward L. Ayers, Stephen Berry, William A. Blair, David W. Blight, Peter S. Carmichael, Frances M. Clarke, Catherine Clinton, Stephen Cushman, Stephen D. Engle, Drew Gilpin Faust, Sarah E. Gardner, Judith Giesberg, Lesley J. Gordon, A. Wilson Greene, Caroline E. Janney, Jacqueline Jones, Ari Kelman, James Marten, Carol Reardon, Aaron Sheehan-Dean, Brenda E. Stevenson, Elizabeth R. Varon, and Joan Waugh.

Review Quotes

"Civil War Places encourages us as participants in the historical community--whether academics or members of the general public--to pause and to think more critically about our perceived connections with the sites we visit. This book shows us that it is a wonderful thing to marvel in both the seeming simplicity and the utter complexities of 'place.'"--Army History

"Engaging and enlightening. . . . Fans of military history in general and Civil War buffs in particular will find it an . . . instructive addition to their libraries."--Michigan War Studies Review

"Hopefully, [Civil War Places] will . . . spark increased visitation at the many lesser-known Civil War sites examined in it."--Andrew Wagenhoffer, Civil War Books and Authors

"In a masterful combination of expert photography and thoughtful essays, twenty-five of the Civil War's foremost authorities have explained the haunting and unchangeable impact of hallowed locations on the Civil War's history and legacy. . . . This book belongs on the shelves of all Civil War enthusiasts and is a needed addition to the historiographies of the Civil War and contested memory."--North Carolina Historical Review

"Makes a significant contribution to the preservation of that sense of awe and wonderment produced by close encounters with our national history. . . . Well-informed, well-crafted, and heartfelt."--Southwestern Historical Quarterly

"Talk about finding the Mother Lode! . . . Augmented by evocative black-and-white photographs by Will Gallagher, this collection of deeply moving essays allows the reader to accompany each scholar on a personally guided literary tour probably impossible to replicate in the real world."--America's Civil War

"These are all thought-provoking essays that may well cause many readers to begin (or resume) visiting Civil War sites, as many Americans (such as this reader) did. . . . Civil War Places is heartily recommended to all readers who remain fascinated by that conflict."--"Journal of Americas Military Past"

About the Author

Gary W. Gallagher is the John L. Nau III Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Virginia. J. Matthew Gallman is professor of history at the University of Florida. Will Gallagher is a commercial photographer based in Austin, Texas.