Product Description

A revised and expanded account of the Civil War complete with CD-ROM features a narrative history supported by sidebars that quote those people that lived through it, three-dimensional maps, and eight hundred period photographs. 100,000 first printing. $150,000 ad/promo.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1049237 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 640 pages

Amazon.com Review
Ask Civil War diehards when they first fell in love with the War Between the States and there's a good chance you'll hear about one of the early editions of this book, which was originally published on the war's centennial. Thoroughly updated by the remarkable James M. McPherson to take advantage of the latest scholarship, this classic retains all of the wonderful features Bruce Catton originally included. And then there are the pictures--they are some of the most striking battlefield visuals available. The American Heritage New History of the Civil War makes a great gift for young people interested (or potentially interested) in history, or good reading for folks who want an overview of how the North and South fought across five Aprils.

From Library Journal
With these two books, American Heritage continues its tradition of captivating historical storytelling through readable narratives and hundreds of illustrations of contemporary paintings, photographs, and maps many in color. The New History of the Civil War is a reissue of the second edition, published by Viking in 1996, which updated the highly acclaimed classic The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War (1960). Edited by McPherson (George Henry Davis Professor of American History, Princeton), it retains the style of the late Catton, known for award-winning histories that engage readers in understanding why Northerners and Southerners became passionately embroiled in America's deadliest war. What Catton did for the war generally, Symonds (history, U.S. Naval Academy) does for the Battle of Gettysburg, a monumental clash that marked the turning point of the war. Symonds focuses his narrative on the drama of battle, which lasted for three long days. Civil War aficionados and the curious will enjoy both books. Recommended for public and high school libraries, though libraries facing tight book budgets should stick with the New History of the Civil War for its panoramic coverage of the Civil War. Charles L. Lumpkins, Pennsylvania State Univ., State Coll.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Revised from the previous edition published in 1960 as The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War, this vivid time capsule back to the battlefields of the Civil War is an excellent place for general readers to familiarize themselves with the major events in that dreadful conflict, in which more than 620,000 troops died, more than in all other U.S. wars combined. Introduced by notable Civil War scholar James McPherson, who offers a brilliant analysis of the place occupied by that war in our national consciousness, this large-size overview combines limpid text by another famous Civil War historian, Bruce Catton, with a treasure trove of well-chosen and arrestingly presented illustrations, ranging from camera shots to sketches by combat artists. From the obviousness by 1860 of serious sectional dispute to the collapse and surrender of the Confederacy a few--but long years later, the whole course of the War between the States is objectively followed in engrossing fashion. Brad Hooper

Customer Reviews

Buy It for the Text - Buy It for the Photos
I don't know what I like better - the concise written history of the Civil War or the truly outstanding and amazing photographs with the fine captions about each. Either way, this is quite the lively book - not overbearing, which is great for the novice. And there are enough treats in this book to keep an expert happy.
I think my favorite part of this volume are the colorful birds eye view drawings of the major battlefields, complete with the blue and gray lined up for battle. It puts Gettysburg or Antietam, for example, into perspective.
I also enjoy the text, which I guess is considered ancient now as it was written nearly 50 years ago, because it gives a more historical feel rather than the modern day politically correct impression that has shown up in numerous other books I have purchased.
The text alone is worth the money.
The photographs alone are worth the money.
Two great reasons for the price of one to purchase The American Heritage New History of the Civil War.

Could have been better
I stand to inherit the original, two-volume, slipcase edition of this historical overview, so I can console myself that there won't be a daunting search on Ebay or elsewhere for this must-have in years to come. As it is, the summary by Bruce Catton is concise and engaging - a perfect entré to his full-length books on the Civil War.

My gripe with this revised edition is the overall quality of the press: the pages aren't as glossy and weighty as the original, and worse, the photos look poor by comparison. Trust me, the choice of paper matters! Otherwise, it's still a good recommendation for anyone looking for an absorbing yet accessible history of the traumatic period when America tested its democracy in blood and fire.

a superb one volume history!
Written by the most renowned author on the Civil War namely Bruce Catton and edited by pulitzer prize winning author Prof. McPherson, there was no doubting that the written portion of this historical treatment of the ACW would be excellent. However the graphical component is just as stunning with superb photographs, paintings and sketchings. If you're interested in a one all encompassing volume on the ACW then this is it. Unfortunately I did not receive the promised CD with the order but of course one cannot fault the book for that. Of course it is nowhere as detailed as Shelby Foote's three volume (3000 page) treatment of the subject but then again Foote's work is a narrative and doesn't include pictures. The best bet is to get them both.....you won't regret it!