The Blue and the Gray

by Thomas B. Allen, Sam Abell, Shelby Foote (Foreword)

Included in packaging is paperback: National Geographic Guide to the Civil War National Battlefield Parks, by: Wilson Greene and Gary W. Gallagher.

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

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Thomas B. Allen's writings range from articles for National Geographic Magazine to books on espionage and military history.
He is the father of Roger MacBride Allen.

Reviews

[Daniel A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blue & the Gray by National Geographic writer Thomas B. Allen is a wonderful addition to the library of any history buff, particularly buffs of the American Civil War (1861-65). Comprehensive yet more accessible than, say, Shelby Foote or James M. McPherson's more academic works, The Blue & the Gray contains details galore about the War Between the States, accompanied by myriad photographs, profiles, and maps, both contemporary to the book's publication and to the War, to illustrate one of the bloodiest internecine conflicts in history.

With extensive discussions of the roles of women, African-Americans, Indians, medical professionals, and important figures during the War, The Blue & the Gray conveys vividly the nature of the War, with National Geographic's typical attention to detail and everyday life. It's not hard to visualize the one million casualties—dead, maimed, wounded, missing, and unidentified—on both sides of the War, particularly given photographer Sam Abell's sobering images of solemn battlefield memorials and now-peaceful landscapes. The vintage photographs provide further illustration of the humanity of the War. (Perhaps most unnerving, yet most evocative, is a black-and-white image of a downed horse, its artillery wagon felled beside it.)

In short, a valuable asset, presentable on the shelf or on the coffee table.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains details galore about the Civil War accompanied by myriad photographs, profiles, and maps, to illustrate the American Civil War with extensive discussions of the roles of women, African-Americans, Indians, medical professionals, and important figures during the War