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The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War
A comprehensive examination of the military and political aspects of America's Civil War
630 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1960
6 people are currently reading
564 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Catton
373 books320 followersBruce 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 5, 2016
I have never in my life -- to my knowledge -- actually read a coffee table book in its entirety. There's just something about them: the ... bigness ... the bulkiness ... the way the type looks engraved on the glossy white pages like something on a marble cemetery monument; I don't know but there's just something too imposing and off-putting about them. I don't feel the intimacy of reading that I feel with a "proper" book. Yes, they always have ample pretty pictures and illustrations and maps and that's why we buy them and pick them up occasionally and peruse.
This particular entry in the "genre," though, is special. I think it's safe to say that an entire generation of Civil War buffs was born because of this book. With the preeminent Civil War historian Bruce Catton supplying the text, it's hard to go wrong with this behemoth.
The main reason I have this one around is to supplement my reading of other Civil War books. Let's say I'm reading about, for instance, the battles of Gettysburg or Chickamauga and would like to have visual references: maps, illustrations and the like. This book nicely supplements that. The book is justly famous for its 3-D style battlefield maps, which, I have to say are a bit cartoonish but still very cool. I actually prefer the way the Praeger/Osprey military series of books handles 3D maps. Those are less cartoonish and less cluttered and provide just enough information for the reader to imagine the terrain and action of the battles. The rest of the photos and illustrations in this book are mesmerizing. Some are very famous images that have been reprinted and seen ad infinitum; others less so.
Catton's text seems largely the same as that printed in his one-volume reduction history that was titled simply The Civil War, which I have read. But the text in this coffee table version offers more substantial and specific information on each of the battles. So far, I have managed to read large chunks of this book, enough to be able to assign a fair and proper rating.
Luckily, this book and its reissues have been printed in such vast quantity that its easy to find used copies in near mint condition at very cheap prices. I found an almost like new copy at Half Price Books for $4.99, minus my "friends of the store" discount, of course.
Published in 1960, this remains the Civil War coffee table reference against which all the others are measured. It holds up nicely.
(KevinR@Ky 2016)
This particular entry in the "genre," though, is special. I think it's safe to say that an entire generation of Civil War buffs was born because of this book. With the preeminent Civil War historian Bruce Catton supplying the text, it's hard to go wrong with this behemoth.
The main reason I have this one around is to supplement my reading of other Civil War books. Let's say I'm reading about, for instance, the battles of Gettysburg or Chickamauga and would like to have visual references: maps, illustrations and the like. This book nicely supplements that. The book is justly famous for its 3-D style battlefield maps, which, I have to say are a bit cartoonish but still very cool. I actually prefer the way the Praeger/Osprey military series of books handles 3D maps. Those are less cartoonish and less cluttered and provide just enough information for the reader to imagine the terrain and action of the battles. The rest of the photos and illustrations in this book are mesmerizing. Some are very famous images that have been reprinted and seen ad infinitum; others less so.
Catton's text seems largely the same as that printed in his one-volume reduction history that was titled simply The Civil War, which I have read. But the text in this coffee table version offers more substantial and specific information on each of the battles. So far, I have managed to read large chunks of this book, enough to be able to assign a fair and proper rating.
Luckily, this book and its reissues have been printed in such vast quantity that its easy to find used copies in near mint condition at very cheap prices. I found an almost like new copy at Half Price Books for $4.99, minus my "friends of the store" discount, of course.
Published in 1960, this remains the Civil War coffee table reference against which all the others are measured. It holds up nicely.
(KevinR@Ky 2016)
November 18, 2025
In my eyes, there are three names that are invariably linked, for better or for worse, to the American Civil War in my mind. Shelby Foote, whose elegiac narrative is among the best written of the popular histories but is also among the most dubious in terms of its veracity. Second would be Ken Burns whose documentary is a transcendent piece of media that holds up fairly well despite newer scholarship and is, as a piece of art, one of the most moving films I have ever seen. The third, and likely the least known of the three, is Bruce Catton. Had he lived into the 1990s, he certainly would have been a featured speaker alongside Foote in the Burns documentary.
Catton wrote extensively on the Civil War including a trilogy similar to Foote’s about the war as a whole and a trilogy about the Army of the Potomac for which he won a Pulitzer Prize for the third book, A Stillness At Appomattox. Refreshingly, for someone writing in the 1950s, Catton often gives the Union army the spotlight and is unsparing in his praise, having grown up around veterans of that war. His books are well researched, easy to understand, and punctuated by moving prose and vivid imagery. He was a damn good writer and thankfully left a lot for us to enjoy before his death in the late 1970s.
For many years, Catton was an editor for the American Heritage Magazine, where he wrote the text for this book, The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War. It’s certainly not its best work but it is a solid primer on the Civil War and entertaining for what it is.
As you might guess, the volume consists largely of etchings, posters, drawings, paintings, photos, and the like etc. etc. What is really fascinating is that many of the famous engravings, such as those by Kurz and Allison, aren’t included. Instead, you are more often treated to drawings by first hand witnesses. Many are less epic and glorious than those highly exaggerated prints but they offer a glimpse into the far darker world of actual warfare. Despite being a massive Civil War buff, I had never seen many of these. When understanding any period in history, I think having a visual reference is very important and, unsurprisingly, this volume succeeds in that regard.
As for the actual text written by Catton, it is very workmanlike and doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for him to do what he does best. A version of this book with just text was later released and was only about 280 pages long. As such, only a small amount of space can be spared for each battle. Highly exaggerated maps are included that help give you some idea of how each battle played out but don’t expect to walk away from this book understanding the tactical nuance of, say, Champion Hill.
Nonetheless, Catton does a fantastic job at giving a big picture view of the war. His narrative of the military campaigns is broken up by chapters on the economics of war, politics, naval warfare, and the homefront just to name a few. A good amount of detail is given on the lead up to the war as well. Catton casts a wide net here and mostly succeeds in delivering a very succinct one volume history of the war. There is even some space dedicated to black troops that, while perhaps insufficient by modern standards, goes a long way in giving due credit and is far more equitable than other contemporary authors.
Now the question is whether I would still recommend it as a good introduction to this subject. To be sure, I think some of the scholarship is a bit dated here. For one, Catton is a bit too harsh on the Radical Republicans. Were they always tactful? No, not even close. Were they dedicated to an America where truly all men are created equal? Yes, and I believe that deserves more credit than is provided. I also think Catton gives too much credit to the average Southern soldier here; I just don’t buy that average Rebel soldiers were politically inept enough to not understand both what the war was about and their own economic and social incentive to preserve slavery. He is also forced to simplify certain things here and there because of space. This is more understandable to be sure and kind of a necessity in a book like this which is meant more for casual readers.
The last few pages, however, are incredibly forward thinking. Catton illustrates the point that the Civil War is still very much unfinished. If we wish to solve the problems laying at the heart of our nation, we must recognize that the malignancy of racism is the cause of many of our woes. Whether or not we choose to solve or continue to suffer from it is up to us. But whether the war was truly a victory is for us to decide. For a big picture, it can be surprisingly poignant.
All that being said, I think this is still a good starting point (i.e. not a finishing point). You can find this book second hand for like 5 bucks and, at the very least, it's fun to throw on a coffee table and flip through. The selection of pictures is great and Catton is still an excellent writer. Whenever he gives space to talking about Lincoln or the death of slavery, his passion is palpable and it is a joy to read. The last few pages of the penultimate chapter is pure Catton genius.
“These had created the atmosphere in which men tried to put the Union back together, to turn enmity into friendship, and to open the door of freedom for a race that had lain in bondage. The wonder is not that the job was done so imperfectly, but that it was done at all.
For it was done, finally; if not finished, at least set on the road to completion…It came out of what men were, but it did not go as men had planned it. The Almighty had His own purposes.”
Catton wrote extensively on the Civil War including a trilogy similar to Foote’s about the war as a whole and a trilogy about the Army of the Potomac for which he won a Pulitzer Prize for the third book, A Stillness At Appomattox. Refreshingly, for someone writing in the 1950s, Catton often gives the Union army the spotlight and is unsparing in his praise, having grown up around veterans of that war. His books are well researched, easy to understand, and punctuated by moving prose and vivid imagery. He was a damn good writer and thankfully left a lot for us to enjoy before his death in the late 1970s.
For many years, Catton was an editor for the American Heritage Magazine, where he wrote the text for this book, The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War. It’s certainly not its best work but it is a solid primer on the Civil War and entertaining for what it is.
As you might guess, the volume consists largely of etchings, posters, drawings, paintings, photos, and the like etc. etc. What is really fascinating is that many of the famous engravings, such as those by Kurz and Allison, aren’t included. Instead, you are more often treated to drawings by first hand witnesses. Many are less epic and glorious than those highly exaggerated prints but they offer a glimpse into the far darker world of actual warfare. Despite being a massive Civil War buff, I had never seen many of these. When understanding any period in history, I think having a visual reference is very important and, unsurprisingly, this volume succeeds in that regard.
As for the actual text written by Catton, it is very workmanlike and doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for him to do what he does best. A version of this book with just text was later released and was only about 280 pages long. As such, only a small amount of space can be spared for each battle. Highly exaggerated maps are included that help give you some idea of how each battle played out but don’t expect to walk away from this book understanding the tactical nuance of, say, Champion Hill.
Nonetheless, Catton does a fantastic job at giving a big picture view of the war. His narrative of the military campaigns is broken up by chapters on the economics of war, politics, naval warfare, and the homefront just to name a few. A good amount of detail is given on the lead up to the war as well. Catton casts a wide net here and mostly succeeds in delivering a very succinct one volume history of the war. There is even some space dedicated to black troops that, while perhaps insufficient by modern standards, goes a long way in giving due credit and is far more equitable than other contemporary authors.
Now the question is whether I would still recommend it as a good introduction to this subject. To be sure, I think some of the scholarship is a bit dated here. For one, Catton is a bit too harsh on the Radical Republicans. Were they always tactful? No, not even close. Were they dedicated to an America where truly all men are created equal? Yes, and I believe that deserves more credit than is provided. I also think Catton gives too much credit to the average Southern soldier here; I just don’t buy that average Rebel soldiers were politically inept enough to not understand both what the war was about and their own economic and social incentive to preserve slavery. He is also forced to simplify certain things here and there because of space. This is more understandable to be sure and kind of a necessity in a book like this which is meant more for casual readers.
The last few pages, however, are incredibly forward thinking. Catton illustrates the point that the Civil War is still very much unfinished. If we wish to solve the problems laying at the heart of our nation, we must recognize that the malignancy of racism is the cause of many of our woes. Whether or not we choose to solve or continue to suffer from it is up to us. But whether the war was truly a victory is for us to decide. For a big picture, it can be surprisingly poignant.
All that being said, I think this is still a good starting point (i.e. not a finishing point). You can find this book second hand for like 5 bucks and, at the very least, it's fun to throw on a coffee table and flip through. The selection of pictures is great and Catton is still an excellent writer. Whenever he gives space to talking about Lincoln or the death of slavery, his passion is palpable and it is a joy to read. The last few pages of the penultimate chapter is pure Catton genius.
“These had created the atmosphere in which men tried to put the Union back together, to turn enmity into friendship, and to open the door of freedom for a race that had lain in bondage. The wonder is not that the job was done so imperfectly, but that it was done at all.
For it was done, finally; if not finished, at least set on the road to completion…It came out of what men were, but it did not go as men had planned it. The Almighty had His own purposes.”
July 23, 2022
This book is a volume 1 of 2 (approx. 800 pages plus appendix) - made as memorablia for 100 years anniversary for Civil War in USA. I've got chance to read both of the books because my friend's father visited US in 1960-ies and got these books and a chronological table which follows the books as a present. My background as former Sovet kid made me a novice to American civil war history. We learned at school that whole war was about black slaves and their freedom and it was just "an episode" of normally very lucky Amercan nation history.
Not exactly... Well the book was written just less than 100 years after war ended, which means what some eye witnesses - last veterans died just a decade or two before, and their relatives can still remember them or the stories they tald. I love books of that type, also movies, because they can still transcribe the culture without acting.
Generally the book lacks any political or racial leaning in the description of the persons and the facts of war, which these books is full of.
Practical advice: each chapter has a "summary" of 3-5 pages of small and a little bit difficult text, and then it is 10-20 pages of detailed and colorful illustrations, drawings and photorgaphies, from 1860-ies and sometimes of modern times which depicts scenes from the battles and the key personalites as well as pictures of ordinary soldiers, fallen and burned landscapes and houses.
The book depicts war in all brutality and it makes also sense to compare this war with modern wars, as WWI, Civil war in Russia, WWII, and recent war in Ukraine. First - the US civil war was the first modern war: the guns and technology made such a big progress that they had modern "semi" automatic weapons, Ironclads (ships made of iron) and almost modern artillery, and concentration camps. The poor soldiers died mostly of wounds and infections, due to lack of medical treatment which was way behind the progress of weapons. Moreover, the cause of war was not a race/imansipation, but rather political and economical control of different types of society. Another thing is the North's ruthless in destroying the society and people of the South for the case of "good". War was still winning by numbers (casualities of 15000 in each battle was normal), and the army og 60000 won other army of 25000. So weapon was not a decisive thing yet, but influx of immigrants to North and Souths reluctance to give freedom to slaves (to give them chance to defend South) made a great deal. Book shows also modern European policy as Napoleon III war in Mexico and British diplomacy. It was interesting to read in detail about Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Grant, McClellan, Lee, Stonewall Jackson and others less known but still important figures.
Not exactly... Well the book was written just less than 100 years after war ended, which means what some eye witnesses - last veterans died just a decade or two before, and their relatives can still remember them or the stories they tald. I love books of that type, also movies, because they can still transcribe the culture without acting.
Generally the book lacks any political or racial leaning in the description of the persons and the facts of war, which these books is full of.
Practical advice: each chapter has a "summary" of 3-5 pages of small and a little bit difficult text, and then it is 10-20 pages of detailed and colorful illustrations, drawings and photorgaphies, from 1860-ies and sometimes of modern times which depicts scenes from the battles and the key personalites as well as pictures of ordinary soldiers, fallen and burned landscapes and houses.
The book depicts war in all brutality and it makes also sense to compare this war with modern wars, as WWI, Civil war in Russia, WWII, and recent war in Ukraine. First - the US civil war was the first modern war: the guns and technology made such a big progress that they had modern "semi" automatic weapons, Ironclads (ships made of iron) and almost modern artillery, and concentration camps. The poor soldiers died mostly of wounds and infections, due to lack of medical treatment which was way behind the progress of weapons. Moreover, the cause of war was not a race/imansipation, but rather political and economical control of different types of society. Another thing is the North's ruthless in destroying the society and people of the South for the case of "good". War was still winning by numbers (casualities of 15000 in each battle was normal), and the army og 60000 won other army of 25000. So weapon was not a decisive thing yet, but influx of immigrants to North and Souths reluctance to give freedom to slaves (to give them chance to defend South) made a great deal. Book shows also modern European policy as Napoleon III war in Mexico and British diplomacy. It was interesting to read in detail about Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Grant, McClellan, Lee, Stonewall Jackson and others less known but still important figures.
May 7, 2012
Darien Munden
Picture Book
From elections, to famous battles, to demographic charts showing the voting polls of the Lincoln election, this book has everything! As a history buff I find any book that relates the story of the Civil War to be a priceless piece of American history. However, some books just rise above the rest to give readers the chance to not only know what happened before, during, and after the war, but also the ability to see life through the lens of those that experienced the war that reunited the nation. There are photos of generals, lead cabinet officers, and even soldiers from both the Confederate and Union armies. And with every photograph Catton tells the story behind that photo and the lasting history attached to it. This book is over five hundred pages and takes a monumental force of will to read it. The fact that the pictures, paintings, and photographs showcased in this book help to move the reader along gives some degree of comfort in completing this daunting task. Enjoy!
Picture Book
From elections, to famous battles, to demographic charts showing the voting polls of the Lincoln election, this book has everything! As a history buff I find any book that relates the story of the Civil War to be a priceless piece of American history. However, some books just rise above the rest to give readers the chance to not only know what happened before, during, and after the war, but also the ability to see life through the lens of those that experienced the war that reunited the nation. There are photos of generals, lead cabinet officers, and even soldiers from both the Confederate and Union armies. And with every photograph Catton tells the story behind that photo and the lasting history attached to it. This book is over five hundred pages and takes a monumental force of will to read it. The fact that the pictures, paintings, and photographs showcased in this book help to move the reader along gives some degree of comfort in completing this daunting task. Enjoy!
May 6, 2020
The photos, paintings, and drawings are worth the read alone. Cattons ability to concisely relate the most important events taking place is well-suited to this type of book. This is not where to look for an in depth study of the causes and effects of civil war battles or for a deep understanding of the social and political earthquakes taking place at that time. But for a well laid out retelling of the important events and battles in an easy to follow chronological order, and for sheer enjoyment, this book is a treasure.
September 29, 2019
This is a general history of the American Civil War from its background to Lincoln's assassination. As the title indicates it is composed predominantly pictures instead of text.
Each chapter has five or so pages that give an overview of the chapter itself, and the rest of the chapter is filled with relevant pictures alongside a couple paragraphs going into a little more detail on the subjects from the overview. For instance, the chapter relating to the Battle of Gettysburg will have pictures taken from early cameras of the battlefield and the military camps, more modern pictures of the area as it is now, maps showing the routes taken by the armies, and one more thing.
It is a drawing of the battles and how they progressed. Just one image for the major moments in a given battle that lasts two days or more. One is supposed to follow the numbers to follow the events. It is an interesting concept, but I found it confusing. Maybe I wasn't reading it right.
It is a mostly chronological account focusing on the land armies and their leaders but a few chapters divert from this. There is a chapter focusing on the naval battles and there is one for the political battles fought by diplomats at home and abroad. There is one for the common soldier on both sides and the kind of live he lived.
It is a fun book that does more than list dry facts. There is such a force of personality in the prose that one can imagine Bruce Catton lecturing on the subjects.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "American Heritage Picture History of the American Civil War" an A+
Each chapter has five or so pages that give an overview of the chapter itself, and the rest of the chapter is filled with relevant pictures alongside a couple paragraphs going into a little more detail on the subjects from the overview. For instance, the chapter relating to the Battle of Gettysburg will have pictures taken from early cameras of the battlefield and the military camps, more modern pictures of the area as it is now, maps showing the routes taken by the armies, and one more thing.
It is a drawing of the battles and how they progressed. Just one image for the major moments in a given battle that lasts two days or more. One is supposed to follow the numbers to follow the events. It is an interesting concept, but I found it confusing. Maybe I wasn't reading it right.
It is a mostly chronological account focusing on the land armies and their leaders but a few chapters divert from this. There is a chapter focusing on the naval battles and there is one for the political battles fought by diplomats at home and abroad. There is one for the common soldier on both sides and the kind of live he lived.
It is a fun book that does more than list dry facts. There is such a force of personality in the prose that one can imagine Bruce Catton lecturing on the subjects.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "American Heritage Picture History of the American Civil War" an A+
July 10, 2014
My rating is inflated, but this book holds a special place in my heart. It was the beginning of a life-long love of Civil War history. I started checking it out of the library when I was in fourth grade. I was fascinated by the maps, and especially by the dioramas of the battlefields. I love it so much, I bought the updated edition for my son.
November 10, 2014
The book was well written but was hard to keep track of the characters as far as who was union and who was confederate!
June 15, 2024
An incredible, compact explanation of the entire Civil War, telling of many battles and events that happened during the Civil War. For having a good 600 pages, a lot of pages real estate are just photos, some are historical photos, paintings, or pictures of monuments, there are layouts of battlefields, although I feel I learned more from looking up a the battlefields maps instead of the illustrations in the book. There still is a lot of text, at the beginning of every chapter there is a good four pages of pure text and information, and the sections after seem more like summaries, it’s hard to explain unless you actually look inside the book and know what I’m talking about. I actually went to Gettysburg, this book definitely helped me understand everything, and I don’t think I would have understood anything if I didn’t read this book. If you’re planning on reading this just for a full explanation of the Civil War, this is perfect. If you’re actually planning on going to one of the battlefields or monuments, I would suggest just looking up that battlefield and reading about it online, which leads me into one of my major complaints. The book doesn’t really linger on anything, it provides basic information, I know a play by play of every battle would increase the book by another hundred pages, but I feel it just needs more. The book also provides information for the general era, it doesn’t switch to a different battle whenever you turn the page, it tells you more of the politics, international relations, and other important events that pushed the war forward (emancipation, state succession, etc.) Overall, this book is a delightful bottle of information for the the time of the Civil War.
February 15, 2025
I really enjoyed Bruce Catton’s overview of the Civil War. It is a BIG, HEAVY, coffee table book, that reads better sitting at a table than trying to hold it.
It doesn’t cover ALL the battles fought. At the beginning of each section there is a rough overview, then maps and pictures with more detail of the battles, or subject at hand. Midway there is a rather lengthy coverage of naval battles and ships of both sides.
The 3-D painted maps that are overleaf style (2) pages are a treat! This book is worth the price just for the battle maps IMHO (I paid $5.00 for mine, in Used like new condition).
I liked Bruce Catton’s writing style. He gets right to the point and the with minimal verbiage or flowing prose. Good thing too, or I wouldn’t be able to lift this book!
I have Shelby Foote’s 14 volume 40 Anniversary narrative on the Civil War as well. Reading it of course has more details, it is 4,188 pages total. And I enjoyed it tremendously. In fact reading Shelby I can hear his southern gentleman’s accent, and his flowing prose and masterful writing just leaves you wanting more.
I may read Bruce’s Trilogy on the Army of the Potomac at some point. I’m sure it has more details, and for the sheer joy of reading would flow quicker without all the pictures and side notes this book has.
Still this book should on the shelf of anyone who has an interest in the Civil War.
It is likely the best one volume book on the subject.
Being a Civil War nerd, I have many books on the subject including fictional history like the Shaara’s Trilogy.
It doesn’t cover ALL the battles fought. At the beginning of each section there is a rough overview, then maps and pictures with more detail of the battles, or subject at hand. Midway there is a rather lengthy coverage of naval battles and ships of both sides.
The 3-D painted maps that are overleaf style (2) pages are a treat! This book is worth the price just for the battle maps IMHO (I paid $5.00 for mine, in Used like new condition).
I liked Bruce Catton’s writing style. He gets right to the point and the with minimal verbiage or flowing prose. Good thing too, or I wouldn’t be able to lift this book!
I have Shelby Foote’s 14 volume 40 Anniversary narrative on the Civil War as well. Reading it of course has more details, it is 4,188 pages total. And I enjoyed it tremendously. In fact reading Shelby I can hear his southern gentleman’s accent, and his flowing prose and masterful writing just leaves you wanting more.
I may read Bruce’s Trilogy on the Army of the Potomac at some point. I’m sure it has more details, and for the sheer joy of reading would flow quicker without all the pictures and side notes this book has.
Still this book should on the shelf of anyone who has an interest in the Civil War.
It is likely the best one volume book on the subject.
Being a Civil War nerd, I have many books on the subject including fictional history like the Shaara’s Trilogy.
February 25, 2025
This book has been credited with creating more Civil War buffs than any other publication since its release in 1960. I am not among that number. I was already hooked as an 8-year-old after buying a copy of "The Civil War" by Fletcher Pratt (see my review elsewhere on Goodreads) two years earlier. As the other reviews have noted, this is a hefty coffee table book with the majority of the page space consumed with photos. The photo selection is excellent, with many that I had not seen previously. Accompanying the photos is narrative by one of the best Civil War historians. The narrative is at a very high summary level, appropriate for the mass market target audience. I found the maps somewhat cartoonish and a bit confusing because they capture the events of the entire battle, which occurred at different times. I prefer the maps by Steven Stanley included in the "Battle Maps of the Civil War" series from the American Battlefield Trust. At this point in my life, I am more interested in detailed studies of individual battles than a one volume summary of the war. But if I was a Civil War neophyte, I would have rated this 5 stars.
February 23, 2022
Contains the beautiful & inspiring David Greenspan battle maps
A great resource for those interested in the ACW. A pretty chunky hardback, chock full of illustrations and maps. I've not read much of the text yet. I got this almost solely on account of the superlatively brilliant David Greenspan 'battle maps'.
There are around 17/18 of these exquisite hand painted aerial maps, featuring beautifully rendered landscapes, with a near isometric look, but actually in perspective, all populated by little armies of simplified and stylised 'Blues and Grays'.
These treasures alone make this book, for me, an essential purchase. They're the most evocative renderings of ACW battles (or any battles, for that matter) I've ever seen, and have haunted my imagination since I first saw them as a child.
A great resource for those interested in the ACW. A pretty chunky hardback, chock full of illustrations and maps. I've not read much of the text yet. I got this almost solely on account of the superlatively brilliant David Greenspan 'battle maps'.
There are around 17/18 of these exquisite hand painted aerial maps, featuring beautifully rendered landscapes, with a near isometric look, but actually in perspective, all populated by little armies of simplified and stylised 'Blues and Grays'.
These treasures alone make this book, for me, an essential purchase. They're the most evocative renderings of ACW battles (or any battles, for that matter) I've ever seen, and have haunted my imagination since I first saw them as a child.
February 16, 2023
Great overall view of the Civil War with lots of photos, pictures, sketches, paintings and maps. I especially liked the 3d master maps showing major battles with particular actions noted across the battlefield. Lots of insights into the key players of the war. Just 1 minor complaint: For some reason many events were repeated several times with slightly different information provided rather than one overall narrative. Also, a bit confusing when only the general's name is used and not what side he was on. It would have been nice to have one master map showing the overall movements and battles over the entire USA during the course of the war. Overall, an excellent coffee table book.
November 9, 2016
Growing up, I had the children's abridged edition of this book and was always fascinated by David Greenspan's 3D maps of the various battles. American Heritage and Bruce Catton set the bar for all picture histories of the Civil War with this book. After all these years of admiring the picture collection and 3D maps, I'm glad to have finally read Bruce Catton's text.
August 19, 2021
This book is much, much more than a picture book. It contains gaphics on key battles and more. When read with another authoritative book, supplemented by a podcast and/or a video, a young reader (or older reader) will learn about America's most-vicious and semi-industrialized war that was a horrific premonition of wars to come.
May 16, 2024
Worth actually reading from cover to cover, not only an excellent source of photos, maps and artwork but detailed breakdowns of battles and national politics.
It looks like a coffee table book but is far more than that.
It looks like a coffee table book but is far more than that.
August 31, 2024
Such excellent writing and a splendid overview of America's Civil War. The pictures, maps, and original illustrations were so thought-provoking and seamlessly integrated into the narrative. A wonderful introduction to get one started on this crucial era of our history.
October 12, 2018
A great coffee table book.
March 24, 2024
This book has the most amazing pictures! The art work is beautiful! Great book to know all of the civil war
October 17, 2019
This is something like a Ken Burns Civil War documentary but in a two volume coffee table history. It goes on depth on how it started in the 1850s through all aspects of the war with old pictures, mural portraits of the battlefields & after the war.
After finishing it I have a clearer understanding of the American Civil War.
After finishing it I have a clearer understanding of the American Civil War.
October 10, 2015
Bruce Catton is a well known Cicil War author. You may enjoy reading the book if you are a Civil War fan and enjoy reading about the different battles. I read it because Catton was one of Dennis' favorite authors. Also our house sits on property where the Union soldiers camped during the Battle of Fredericksburg.
July 30, 2011
This was the book that got me interested in the Civil War when I was a kid. It had lots of pictures and fantastic maps of the battles. The chapters gave you and idea of what went on during the war without going into to much detail, which was just fine at the age I read it at.
June 5, 2013
I think this is the book I just browsed. I picked it up from the town transfer station on Wednesday. It's a bit beat up. Some liquid spilled on it but it's definitely useable. Kind of a coffee table book with a fair amount of text by Catton. I'll just work my way through it a bit at a time I guess.
December 4, 2013
Spent most of junior highschool enthralled with the illustrations of this book then couldn't for the life of me remember what it was called. Glad to have finally found it again. Now off to buy myself a copy...
February 4, 2021
Awesome pictorial and narrative of the Civil War. There are some facts and information that I learned in this book that I have never read or seen anywhere else. Deals with leaders, officers in a very sterile but informative way. Takes the reader from pre-war to post war circumstances.
January 26, 2008
One of the best historical narratives of the War Between the States. Excellent photograhs, topo maps of battle lines, and a narrative by renowned Civil War historian Brunce Catton.
August 27, 2008
This was the best picture history of the Civil War until the PBS Civil War series book was published.
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September 11, 2009CW973.7Cat
April 13, 2012
When I was in junior high school I used to study and study the battlefield maps in this book.
October 15, 2012
As an elementary student, I must have checked this book out of the library a hundred times. An absolutely beautiful book.
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