The Battle of Gettyburg remains one of the most controversial military actions in America's history; and one of the most studied.Professor Coddington's is an analysis not only of the battle proper; but of the actions of both Union and Confederate armies for the six months prior to the battle and the factors affecting General Meade’s decision not to pursue the retreating Confederate forces. This book contends that Gettyburg was a crucial Union victory; primarily because of the effective leadership of Union forces—not; as has often been said; only because the North was the beneficiary of Lee's mistakes.
#351573 in Books 1997-11-26Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 10.00 x 6.50 x 2.00l; #File Name: 0684810638928 pages
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding and DefinitiveBy CanailleIt's taken a long time to get through it; but it is worth the journey.An epic; detailed examination of the African Slave Trade from its inception by the Portuguese in the 15th century to its demise in Brazil in the late 19th. There is so much missing from our popular understanding of the slave trade; the biggest - in my opinion - being the participation of coastal African peoples as kidnappers and traders themselves. You will learn in fine; granular detail about every aspect of the trade; from the financing of voyages to the relative merits (as slaves) of the various groups that populated Africa. One thing I really like about Thomas' treatment of this subject is his avoidance of overtly shrill moralizing; instead letting the appalling facts reveal themselves in the details he provides. His chapter on the slaves' experience of crossing the Atlantic is horrifying. Overcrowded ships was merely one aspect of the crossing.All in all - a fantastic book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A heavy read; but worth the timeBy CustomerThis is a very deep; comprehensive read -- rich with history and information; very educational and enlightening on an enormously important subject. But some sections are extremely thick with details and it can be a slow read through some parts; especially the first few chapters. But it's worth the time to get through. Not a light read. In fact; I took my time with this book; setting it aside for lighter reading from time to time.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent work by the historian Hugh ThomasBy tmazzilloIt is a bit too long; but it is a very deep analysis of the slave trade ! if you are interested in finding out about humanity; this is the right book. It discloses; fearlessly; the reality of the character of the human being. It is a deep voyage into the character; soul and cruelty of the human being. Worth reading. Excellent work by the historian Hugh Thomas.
