cdlindwall's review against another edition
1.0
No, I did not read this whole book. No, I did not even read the majority of this book. Why? Because it was so fucking painful to read I don't think I could have survived reading more than a few pages at a time if I had mustered up every bit of gusto in my entire body. Was it assigned? Yes. If you are an extreme Civil War enthusiast (and I do not mean that lightly), then you may, MAY, enjoy this. But even then.....................Dear god.
bryanfox's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
mercedez_binz's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
This book undeniably contains excellent scholarship and is effectively written. McPherson also does a good job of not injecting moral judgement.
jvanwago's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I really enjoyed this book and can’t imagine a better one volume history of the Civil War. I have read several Civil War era biographies (Lincoln, Grant, and Stonewall Jackson) and gleaned most of the history that way. However, I was missing big chunks like economic circumstances and antebellum history.
Battle Cry of Freedom covered these areas (and all others) superbly. I enjoyed the discussions of causes of the war as much as the detailed descriptions of battles.
I appreciated McPherson’s restraint in casting moral judgement and letting the facts speak for themselves. When it comes to racism and slavery, the facts are deafening and readers need little moralizing.
He does a great job of explaining how the causes of the Civil War were more complex than the north trying to free the slaves, but not so muddled that the Lost Cause narrative by the south is meritorious. Slavery was the linchpin, despite attempted obfuscation.
McPherson is a talented writer who understands the history in a profound way. There are no lazy scholarship or shortcuts.
It is no wonder that Battle Cry of Freedom is a classic and definitive history of the Civil War. I plan on returning to it in the future.
Battle Cry of Freedom covered these areas (and all others) superbly. I enjoyed the discussions of causes of the war as much as the detailed descriptions of battles.
I appreciated McPherson’s restraint in casting moral judgement and letting the facts speak for themselves. When it comes to racism and slavery, the facts are deafening and readers need little moralizing.
He does a great job of explaining how the causes of the Civil War were more complex than the north trying to free the slaves, but not so muddled that the Lost Cause narrative by the south is meritorious. Slavery was the linchpin, despite attempted obfuscation.
McPherson is a talented writer who understands the history in a profound way. There are no lazy scholarship or shortcuts.
It is no wonder that Battle Cry of Freedom is a classic and definitive history of the Civil War. I plan on returning to it in the future.
binstonbirchill's review against another edition
5.0
This book focuses on the politics leading up to and during the Civil War. All the major battles and many minor battles are covered but this is first and foremost a political book. I thought McPherson did a great job seamlessly weaving his way through the war so that the reader gets a good picture of what was happening in the Virginia Campaigns in relationship to what was going on in the Western Campaigns, and how they were both influenced by the political realities of Richmond and D.C. There were good and bad politics on both sides and this book comes close to being told from a neutral point of view. Highly recommended for those who are interested in the politics of the war, those looking for a focus on the military aspects should look elsewhere.
tarmstrong112's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best books I've ever read. The easy, narrative based way that McPherson unfolds the story made the pages fly by.
I was not expecting the first full quarter (if not more) to be about the 20 odd years prior to the Civil War and at times when I was reading it I found my self thinking, "Let's get one with it, get to the interesting part!" But when I'd put the book down I'd find myself reflecting on the things I had learned and wanting learn more. It's when I finally realized that I was actually enjoying every aspect of this book that it opened up to me and I couldn't stop reading it. It inspired me to dog deeper into many aspect that could only be touched on inna volume like this.
I learned and I had fun. What more can anyone want from a book.
I was not expecting the first full quarter (if not more) to be about the 20 odd years prior to the Civil War and at times when I was reading it I found my self thinking, "Let's get one with it, get to the interesting part!" But when I'd put the book down I'd find myself reflecting on the things I had learned and wanting learn more. It's when I finally realized that I was actually enjoying every aspect of this book that it opened up to me and I couldn't stop reading it. It inspired me to dog deeper into many aspect that could only be touched on inna volume like this.
I learned and I had fun. What more can anyone want from a book.