The American Heritage New History of the Civil War

by Bruce Catton

Reflecting the state of the art in scholarship, The American Heritage New History of the Civil War provides a rich and dramatic recreation of the four years of this bloody war. Fascinating sidebars and contemporary documents tells the story of the war in the voices of those who experienced it. The interactive CD-ROM features a multimedia Civil War strategy game. 800+ photos, many in color. 3-D maps. Printed endpapers. Full-cloth case.

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction, American History, Reference, War, American Civil War

Hardcover

Published October 1, 1996

About the author

Bruce Catton was a distinguished American historian and journalist, best known for his influential writings on the American Civil War. Renowned for his narrative style, Catton brought history to life through richly drawn characters, vivid battlefield descriptions, and a deep understanding of the political and emotional forces that shaped the era. His accessible yet meticulously researched books made him one of the most popular historians of the twentieth century.
Born in Petoskey, Michigan, and raised in the small town of Benzonia, Catton grew up surrounded by Civil War veterans whose personal stories sparked a lifelong fascination with the conflict. Though he briefly attended Oberlin College, Catton left during World War I and served in the U.S. Navy. He later began a career in journalism, working as a reporter, editor, and Washington correspondent. His experience in government service during World War II inspired his first book, The War Lords of Washington (1948).
Catton achieved national acclaim with his Army of the Potomac trilogy—Mr. Lincoln’s Army (1951), Glory Road (1952), and A Stillness at Appomattox (1953)—the last of which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for History and the National Book Award. He went on to publish a second trilogy, The Centennial History of the Civil War, and contributed two volumes to a biography of Ulysses S. Grant, begun by Lloyd Lewis. His other notable works include This Hallowed Ground, The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War, and Waiting for the Morning Train, a memoir of his Michigan boyhood.
In 1954, Catton became the founding editor of American Heritage magazine, further shaping the public’s understanding of U.S. history. In 1977, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Catton’s legacy endures through his vivid portrayals of America’s most defining conflict and his enduring influence on historical writing.

Reviews

[John Lomnicki, · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear definitive prose that is interesting and even though I have read extensively, snippets of information new to me are discovered throughout. The pictures and drawing are true to the prose and with detailed descriptions. Well done and a must read to explain the conflict with a minimum of BS, but with a true feeling of what really went on.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there are more detailed & comprehensive overviews of the Civil War, this wonderful book does a great job of flying over the battlefields and divided landscape at 25,000 feet. Diving down into key battlefields and decisions, the authors do a good job of weaving together a cohesive narrative with amazing photos and paintings that do the heavy lifting. They pair to create a moving (if incomplete) picture of a conflict that changed the course of our nation. I think the authors address slavery as a cause of the civil war but still try to hammer it into a much less offensive position than the reality it occupied. Despite that, I highly recommend the book. Even if you just browse the photographs and paintings it’s worth it!

[Chris Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy did it take me a while to get through this, and the urge to skip ahead to the battles we all know, or just look at the pictures and sidebars, was always present.

The overall experience is spectacular. Engaging narrative, TONS of photograph, newspaper reproductions and cartoons, paintings, drawings done by soldiers and maps.

But the "crown jewel" is detailed, full page, birds eye view of the battles, drawn in such a way as to guide you through each battle step by step.

A great experience even if a little prolonged.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise, one-volume history of the American Civil War that covers everything: major campaigns and battles, military and civilian leadership, military tactics, politics, economics, slavery, the Western and naval theaters, even a bit of reconstruction. The text itself is great as a standalone book (as it was originally released), but this coffee table style book with a ton of maps and photographs is the icing on the cake.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good all around history of the Civil War. The best part of this book are the incredible pictures and drawings. They are amazing.

[Jerry]

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[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful writing, and packed with photos and drawings. The maps of each battle were hard to read and follow, however, and the sheer amount and placement of photos and captions made it difficult to easily follow the text.