Ironclads of the Civil War

American Heritage Junior Library

by Frank R. Donovan

153 page hard cover book in the American Heritage Junior Library series.

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, War

153 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely enjoyable read for me. The pacing was brisk and the author got all of the pertinent information across without getting mired in minutiae.

Honestly, the accounts of naval combat here were almost bracing. It's one of the faster paced non-fiction books I've yet come across, and it was such a page turner I found myself getting lost in it as if I were reading an adventure novel.

This was a fascinating account of American Civil War Ironclads (not just the famous Battle of Hampton Roads), and the author's reporting made for a quick and rewarding read. Very accessible and highly recommended.

[Michael Compton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book as a kid. I checked it out from the library multiple times and still remember many of the details.

[Bill Freil]

Interesting read

This bokk is about the development and use of ironclad ships durimg the Civil War. Its abkht more than the Monitor and the C.S.s Virginia

[Robert M. Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating history that goes into depth about the design and use of Ironclads during the Civil War. I knew about the Monitor and the Merrimac and that there were Ironclads on the Mississippi working with Grant, but I did not know of their design and tactics. Truly a must read for anyone interested in Civil War History and Navel History.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Ironclads" by Frank R. Donovan is a short, interesting primer on Ironclad warships built and operated by both sides during the U.S. Civil War.

[Ed-Eleanor Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good background on the ironclads

Was a good fairly brief account of both the Monitor Virginia encounter but also how the iron clads took over much of the naval engagements in the later stages of the war.

[Byron Followell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember my parent's small collection of books including a copy of The Monitor and the Merrimac by Fletcher Pratt, published by Landmark Books in 1951. It was a grade school level book and heavily illustrated. I fell in love with this book, and ironclads. Later, I found Frank R. Donovan's Ironclads of the Civil War in my grade school library and quickly fell in love with this book as well. It was also heavily illustrated with diagrams and photographs. It was more of a late-grade school to junior high level book, maybe even early high school, but I remember checking it out every couple of months for at least a couple of years. The Monitor and the Merrimac (C.S.S. Virginia) were mentioned recently on an episode of Drain the Oceans, a show I've gotten hooked on, and that has renewed my interest in ironclads for the first time in 35-40 years. So much so, that I've searched down and ordered old copies of Fletcher Pratt's The Monitor and the Merrimac and Frank R. Donovan's Ironclads of the Civil War, as well as Mr. Donovan's later, adult-geared work, The Ironclads. This book is an excellent read, but keep in mind that it was originally written with the young-adult in mind and like someone else mentioned, it may be a bit dated.

[William Razavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think one of the things I enjoyed about reading this book was how the author never calls the Merrimac anything other than the Merrimac. Donovan keeps a good narrative going and frames much of the story around the idea of maritime developments instead and the Civil War itself is something of a secondary consideration. The book is slightly dated as the maritime technology that was the culmination of what started with the ironclads of the 19th century is finally no longer predominant in naval warfare. Although naval air and missiles were certainly already key by the time this book was being written, the author's point that you could see the line of descent from the Monitor to modern warships is still somewhat valid and certainly was still plain to see until the final mothballing of the US battleships in the 1990s.

[A M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was quite good History told in the narrative style very rarely fails to capture the imaginations of those who read it. Not quite detailed enough for my personal taste, and naturally a bit outdated, but still an excellent resource for those interested in the first major trial by fire of ironclad warships.

[William Kulhanek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable well-written book

Very well written book about a great civil war subject.
A good overview about early warships that changed history, at times you feel like you are on one of the ironclads and you can almost smell the scent the sea.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine piece of Civil War history for young people. Sadly out of print. I tracked down a used copy to read to my history-inclined five-year-old. I think the child caught at least half of what was happening, and in a few years will be able to read it for themselves.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

another great book to give to a young reader as an inspiring keepsake.