Such is the continuing volume of work on the Civil War that we are regularly in need of an authoritative and accessible brief synthesis to keep us up to date with this endlessly fascinating subject. Brooks Simpson meets that need for the 1990s in America's Civil War; a wonderful feat of compression in which he addresses all the great issues of the war in 200 pages of clear and readable prose. Rightly; he puts the military history of the conflict at the center of the picture; but he excels in relating the drama of the war itself to the politics of both Union and Confederacy; to the stresses and strains-and opportunities-of the home front; and to the great issues of emancipation and reconstruction. This book is a fine achievement; and it will be invaluable not only to students but to many other readers-and even Civil War specialists will benefit from its fresh insights.–Peter J. Parish; Cambridge University
#2897382 in Books Mercer University Press 2006-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.30 x .94 x 6.32l; 1.18 #File Name: 0881460389243 pages
Review
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A Biographical MasterpieceBy Fred D. Seth; Jr.Dr. Glenn Robins captures the multiple nature of Leonidas Polk's life. He was a man of God; educator and lieutenant general and Corps commander in the Army of Tennessee. This book develops the theological aspect of Polk better than its predecessors by Joseph Parks and Polk's son; William Mecklenberg Polk. Drawing from a rich bibliography; Dr. Robins explains Polk's theology and his impact on the mid-nineteenth century Episcopal Church; clearly and precisely. Unfortunately; for the Civil War reader; Polk was at best a mediocre general;who performed poorly in command of a very important corps in the Army of Tennessee. I have been conducting research on General Polk for an article I hope to get published during the next year. Robins' book has been invaluable in helping to understand this very complex; remarkable man. The Episcopal Church has even had difficulty with the Episcopal school; The University of the South; celebrating the life of a man who owned so many slaves. For those interested in learning more about Polk; I recommend looking at the Leonidas Polk website at [...] This biography is a great read. I highly recommend it.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Reveals little about complex figureBy Robert K. WarskiRobins' biography of Leonidas Polk; Episcopal bishop and Confederate general; reveals little about the inner life and personality of its subject. The reader is left wondering about his motives and about Polk's interaction with the most important people in his life: his wife; family and close friends. The book is a general overview of the life of this conflicted figure who has been portrayed both as a traitor to his role as a Christian leader and as some kind of latter-day Christian knight. Still; I was left wondering which he really was.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. greatBy Frances BoydI would truly recommend this book to everyone who are interested in history. the book came in good conditon. Great
