This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
Knopf - Knopf
Release date: 2008-01-08
Hardcover
Author: Drew Gilpin Faust
Death And Dying (Sociological Aspects), U.S. History - Civil War And Reconstruction (1860-1877), History, History - Military / War, History: American, History / Military / United States, History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877), United States - Civil War, Military - United States, 19th century, Burial, Death, Psychological aspects, Social aspects, United States
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This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
Date undefinedI read this book because Dr. Faust is the new president of Harvard and I wanted to see her scholarly contribution to Civil War history. This is a terrific book because it focuses on one narrow aspect of the Civil Ward: the huge death rate, and examines this topic from all possible angles. She doesn't stray from the effect of massive death and get hung up on one area. I especially liked the religious and philosophical treatment that she presents and how the loss of so much life shaped the attitudes of all who lived in the U.S. during the Civil War. Even though some reviewers disagree, I found her treatment of the suffering of all Americans, Northerners, Southerners, Slaves, freed slaves, very even handed. This showed me the massive toll the Civil War took on everyone and the politics that still is evident today. An extrememly interesting look by an incredible scholar and historian. READ THIS even if you shy away from history or scholarly texts. You won't be disappointed.
This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
Date undefinedI think the book is a must read for all Americans. It points out the numbing war statistics and the emotions attached to the deaths by from participants and the families. The complexity of the gathering of personal data re. each death or missing is well detailed. The chapters "Realizing" and "Naming" bring home, even after all of this time, the pain to the survivors and families of the dead and missing. It also shows Southern and Northern prejudices after the war and the early seeds of Jim Crow, the next chapter in racial conflict our country faced.
One big omission, however, in the chapter "Accounting", was not mentioning the compelling story of the establishment of Arlington National Cemetery on the family grounds of Robert E. Lee. It was led by Brig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, who commanded the garrison at Arlington House, appropriated the grounds June 15, 1864, for use as a military cemetery. A stone and masonry burial vault in the rose garden, 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep, and containing the remains of 1,800 Bull Run casualties, was among the first monuments to Union dead erected under Meigs' orders. Meigs himself was later buried within 100 yards of Arlington House with his wife, father and son; the final statement to his original order. Also, would have liked to read more on the movements (states and independent)that took place to remember the dead that led to the ornate monumemts as seen in Getteysburg, Antietam, etc.
Again, in my opinion, a must read for all as it brings to life the strife and suffering that the country went through during and long after the war that can be related to and understood today.
This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
Date undefinedSurprisingly readable account on how death was perceived and dealt with during the American Civil War. I had expected a dry, scholarly tome, but was pleasantly surprised by Dr. Faust's fine study.
Those who are interested in the social aspects of the Civil War will find this quite illuminating. Those with a military interest will not be disappointed, either.
