Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words

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Words that moved a nation

First-rate work

A Scholarly Analysis readable by Anyone

insightful

A wonderful read, and contains important material on what Lincoln actually wrote and said and why.

Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words
Douglas L. Wilson
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech That Nobody Knows

Honor's Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney: Slavery, Secession, and the President's War Powers

This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War

Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails: The Untold Story of How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Win the Civil War

ASIN: 1400040396
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Book Description

Abraham Lincoln now occupies an unparalleled place in American history, but when he was first elected president, a skeptical writer asked, “Who will write this ignorant man’s state papers?” Literary ability was, indeed, the last thing the public expected from the folksy, self-educated “rail-splitter,” but the forceful qualities of Lincoln’s writing eventually surprised his supporters and confounded his many critics. Since his assassination in 1865, no American’s words have become more familiar or more admired, and their enduring power has established him as one of our greatest writers. Now, in a groundbreaking study, the distinguished Lincoln scholar Douglas L. Wilson demonstrates that exploring Lincoln’s presidential writing provides a window onto his presidency and a key to his accomplishments.

Lincoln’s Sword tells the story of how Lincoln developed his writing skills, how they served him for a time as a hidden presidential asset, how it gradually became clear that he possessed a formidable literary talent, and it reveals how writing came to play an increasingly important role in his presidency. “By the time he came to write the Gettysburg Address,” Wilson says, “Lincoln was attempting to help put the horrific carnage of the Civil War in a positive light, and at the same time to do it in a way that would have constructive implications for the future. By the time he came to write the Second Inaugural Address, fifteen months later, he was quite consciously in the business of interpreting the war and its deeper meaning, not just for his contemporaries but for what he elsewhere called the ‘vast future.’ ”

Illustrated with reproductions of Lincoln’s original manuscripts, Lincoln’s Sword affords an unprecedented look at a distinctively American writer.

Customer Reviews:

Words that moved a nation.......2007-08-05

Author Douglas L. Wilson once again hits the bull's-eye, this time with a painstaking study of Lincoln's rhetoric (the President's personal "sword"). This book should appeal not only to persons interested in the Great Emancipator, but to those interested in the craft of writing. Wilson takes us step-by-step through the process Lincoln used to hone some of his most famous statements, a journey revealing principles of clear writing. Wilson shows that Lincoln's clarity of expression wasn't effortless, but resulted from hard work.

First-rate work.......2007-06-02

Bold in concept and careful in execution, this work is a gem. Lincoln's constant revising, his sense of what was appropriate in given situations, and his surging command of the language over decades impress the reader. Wilson's understanding of the context of Lincoln's deployment of language is impressive. Cautiously revisionist.

A Scholarly Analysis readable by Anyone.......2007-05-30

Lincoln's Sword illuminates the power and clarity of Lincoln's words. Even if the reader is not a Lincoln devotee or scholar, this book's treatment of Lincoln's speeches are clear, concise and pleasureable. This is a book that anyone would enjoy reading.

insightful.......2007-05-07

well worth the read to gain insight into an often little understood man. the depth of the writing gives testimony to the depth of the man. read it and learn - not just about lincoln - but also how to use communications to move people towards your goals.

A wonderful read, and contains important material on what Lincoln actually wrote and said and why........2007-02-09

Lincoln has become one of those tests where someone can tell you their thoughts about him and you can often tell where they are on any number of issues. The problem is that much of what people think they know about Lincoln is only a bumper sticker or sound byte version of what went on. We try to judge Lincoln (and most of our great historical figures) by our lights rather than seeing him in the context of his own time. Of course, it takes some work to learn what happened and why rather than wringing our hands over, say, the suspension of habeas corpus.

This excellent book can be a great contribution to your education about the real Abraham Lincoln and how he conducted himself as President. He came into office with the elite dismissing him as crude and hopelessly unsophisticated. This book shows us how carefully he worked on his public speeches and the letters and articles that were published during his time in office.

Sometimes we forget that by the time Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861 that the movement for secession was well underway and the firing on Fort Sumter was on April 12, 1861, just a few weeks later. His second inaugural address was given on March 4, 1865, Lee's Surrender at Appomattox was on April 9th, and Lincoln was shot by Booth on April 14th. He died the next day. So, his entire service as President was bounded by that terrible war.

Douglas Wilson takes several of the addresses and letters central to Lincoln's Presidency and shows us what the extant drafts reveal to us about Lincoln's purposes, approach, and the political realities he faced. He also brings in testimony by those who were involved with those documents, worked with Lincoln, and contemporaries who wrote about them. It is all quite fascinating, especially because it is focused on what was happening and what was thought at the time rather than imposing anachronistic views from our day on those events. However, Wilson does spend some time examining what some contemporary critics have said about these documents and events. For example, he uses a few apt quotes from Garry Wills' wonderful book (one you may want to read) on the Gettysburg address because they are among the best things said about it in our time.

While other documents are considered in passing, the central documents examined in this book are: Lincoln's farewell from Springfield for Washington, his First Inaugural, the July 4, 1861 address, the Emancipation Proclamation (and its antecedents), a letter to Greeley, the Corning letter, the Gettysburg Address, and the Second Inaugural.

I would suggest that you get a copy of Lincoln's addresses or get them from the Web and read the documents along with the book (most are not provided in the book because of their length and their wide availability). I recommend the two volume set of Lincoln's "Speeches and Writings" from the Library of America (only the second volume is needed for this book). Reading what Lincoln actually wrote and said is quite edifying because one learns first hand what he said and did rather than being the prisoner of what others selectively provide you to promote their own agenda.

This is a great read, is very informative, and I strongly recommend it to you as part of your self education on what American History really is.

Civil War Stories (Dover Thrift Editions)

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Exceptionally Good Collection - Great Reading
A Soldier's View of the Civil War
HISTORY IN THE 1ST PERSON........
Ambrose Bierce: Hero/Genius/Necromancer
Thoroughly modern, completely enthralling

Civil War Stories (Dover Thrift Editions)
Ambrose Bierce
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486280381

Book Description

Sixteen dark and vivid selections by great satirist and short-story writer. "A Horseman in the Sky," "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," "Chickamauga," "A Son of the Gods," "What I Saw of Shiloh," "Four Days in Dixie" and 10 more. Masterly tales offer excellent examples of Bierce's dark pessimism and storytelling power. Note.

Customer Reviews:

Exceptionally Good Collection - Great Reading.......2005-11-06

Ambrose Bierce was not a likeable individual; he was often acerbic, sarcastic, and even mean spirited. Nonetheless, he created remarkably good short stories. This collection shares a common theme, the Civil War, but the individual stories belong to many different genre and will appeal to a wide audience. There is no need to be a Civil War enthusiast to enjoy this collection.

Ambrose Bierce fought in several bloody battles in the west in the Civil War including Shiloh and Chickamauga, is credited with rescuing wounded comrades under fire, and was badly wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The first story - What I Saw of Shiloh - is a 17-page fascinating, occasionally critical, first person account of his participation.

The next story - Four Days in Dixie - is another first person account, but I simply do not know whether Bierce was being truthful or not. Whether the truth, an exaggeration, or perhaps a fabrication, Four Days in Dixie is entertaining reading.

The remaining fourteen stories are clearly fiction and are characterized by unusual perspectives and unexpected endings. The tales of Ambrose Bierce not only make exciting, entertaining reading, but they are often thought provoking. The endings often come as a surprise, and leave the reader pondering the unusual outcome.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a good example. This story spans several genre, is not easily classified, and has an unexpected ending. This remarkable story has been recreated as a screen play and may be familiar to many readers from black and white television reruns of the Twilight Zone series.

This collection is uniformly good and warrants more than one reading. This Dover Thrift Edition is definitely a bargain.

A Soldier's View of the Civil War.......2005-10-18

Ambrose Bierce served during the American Civil War, serving as a cartographer and officer for the Union. In these 16 compelling tales, Bierce conveys the sights and sounds from a soldier's perspective of the war, ranging from being in the heart of battle in "What I Saw of Shiloh" to a young boy lost in the woods in "Chickamauga" to tales of the supernatural and of odd events, including "One of the Missing" -- a chilling tale of a soldier in an abandoned house -- and his famous "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge." Bierce's no-nonsense style puts the reader in the heart of the action, making the reader take an active part in the events. A great collection of stories from one of America's best writers.

HISTORY IN THE 1ST PERSON...............2005-09-04

Bierce writes with the eye of a skeptic and beyond the hurahhs and romantic vision of war. Given his later life the war apparently made an immpression on him which lasted till death.
The carnage, vile bloddy scenes, the death never left him and it was obvious in his writings and life. Good book to see the unvarnished truth!!

Ambrose Bierce: Hero/Genius/Necromancer.......2004-11-11

Ambrose Bierce was a Civil War soldier who participated in many bloody campaigns. And the stories contained herein this title, are the output of his frustration over the violence and senseless destruction of that time.

His trademark wit abounds throughout, which isn't of the Jay Leno "Ha-ha! Look at me! I'm a big-chinned clown!" sort, but rather of the "Look at how terribly cruel people are!" sort. The stark dialog with its terse exchange between characters, transcends the page to imprint upon the mind of the reader, that the world is a harsh foreboding place in which to attempt survival.

My favorite story is 'The Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge'. The descriptive narrative at Bierce's command, utilized to describe the hanging of a rebel spy, left me breathless and checking my neck for bruises.

Ambrose Bierce was a literary genius who never wrote his great novel. No, because such epic proportions were unnecessary. For Ambrose Bierce in short form, could convey all the depth and meaning of the universe, while resorting to only a modicum of grammar. He is the greatest humorist and wit that this country, and thereby the world, has ever produced. I miss him greatly.

This book stands as a vivid reminder, of that which led Bierce to become so wonderfully cynical. And this work should have the same effect upon all who dare read it. At least that is my hope.

Thoroughly modern, completely enthralling.......2002-09-23

You would never think of these stories as having been written in the 19th century, but they were. Ambrose Bierce was a Civil War veteran who seems almost to have tried to exorcise the horrors of the war he lived by writing about it. The result is gripping and utterly believable; the style is immediate, you-are-there, not-one-word-too-many. Not the flowery elaborate style you might have associated with Victorian prose.

The results convey the horrors of war as well as anything written in your lifetime. The story about the little boy who gets lost near his home when it is surrounded by a battle...I don't think I'll ever forget it. I won't spoil if for you but you've got to read it. If you think that 130+-year-old stories have nothing to say to you, give these a try, you will see otherwise.

Book Description

This collection of letters includes correspondence between Mrs Gaskell and over 100 coresspondents including: Carlyle; Ruskin; Rossetti; Dickens; and the Brownings. In addition Mrs Gaskell's own writing is considered, including her biography of Charlotte Bronte.

The Encyclopedia of Civil War Usage: An Illustrated Compendium of the Everyday Language of Soldiers and Civilians

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Civil War Usage
CW Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia of Civil War usage
The supreme reference tool for the American Civil War
Give'm the bulge! Bully for Garrison!

The Encyclopedia of Civil War Usage: An Illustrated Compendium of the Everyday Language of Soldiers and Civilians
Webb B. Garrison , and Cheryl Garrison
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581821867

Book Description

NOW IN PAPERBACK! There are few systematic guides to the language used by the generation that fought the American Civil War. In the 150 years since the great conflict, our language has changed, and as meanings have become obscure or lost, links with this vibrant past have dissolved and much of that which had meaning to our forefathers no longer has the same meaning to us.

What did it mean “to cross the bar”? What did it mean “to see the elephant” or “to go South”? Why did the armies have so-called ninety-day men and hundred-day men? What were soldiers supposed to do when their commander shouted, “Let her go, Gallagher”? How did one “pay tribute to Neptune”? What was a “picket pin”? Could one make a passable meal of “possum beer” and “secession bread”? How did one “vibrate the lines,” and why would anyone want to attempt such a maneuver?

To address this need, Webb Garrison has pored over his notes from more than thirty years of research and study to produce this dictionary and encyclopedia of words and phrases (including nicknames and slang) commonly used during the war. Where appropriate, examples and anecdotes are included to illustrate meanings. Often overlooked naval terms and esoteric formal and informal military expressions are addressed as well as short descriptions of oceangoing vessels and river craft.

More than 2,500 entries and 250 illustrations cover the terms, equipment, and organization of the three million soldiers who fought in the war. HISTORY; CIVIL WAR
ILLUSTRATED; PHOTOGRAPHS
7” X 9”, 288 PAGES

Customer Reviews:

Civil War Usage.......2006-09-08

I purchased this book to help me understand the terms used during the Civil War for a history project I am working on. The book is easy to read and the terms that I needed where easy to find as well as suggestions for terms that went along with what I was looking for. It will be a great addition to my history part of my home library and the price was reasonable. The book has also spurred my interest in other subjects connected to some of the terms I found in the book. Great book for anyone working on the Civil War.

CW Encyclopedia.......2006-03-22

A helpful guide to words & phrases current in the Civil War. Entries, alphabetically arranged, are brief and concise, sometimes overly so. Military ceremonies are mainly ignored, and in one case not quite correct. Still, very useful to explain those obscure references one finds in diaries and newspaper accounts.

The Encyclopedia of Civil War usage.......2006-02-24

An invaluable tool to help you understand change in word usage--excellent for reinactors, writers and scholars of the Civil War era.

The supreme reference tool for the American Civil War.......2005-05-19

This is undoubtedly one of the greatest reference works about the American Civil War, written by one of the most renowned scholars in this field. The 2,500 entries range from 'A1' and 'abaft' to 'Zouave'. There is a rich collection of slang terms that represent the speech of both sides in the War as well as entries that refer to weapons and machines. There are also many nicknames of generals and high-ranking military officers (for which there are useful biographies provided)and eponymous phrases such as 'Sherman's neckties' and 'Sherman's sentinels' etc. There is also a great deal of information about places, battles, prisoner of war camps etc. This book will be enjoyed both by the historian and the linguist. Here one can find practically every term or phrase associated with this period of history. Admittedly if one scanned carefully in the Civil War section of Paul Dickson's excellent work 'War Slang' or in Robert Hendrickson's books 'Whistlin' Dixie' and 'Yankee Talk' then one may well come across the odd entry not incluuded here. However, this work constitutes the greatest colletion in a single volume.
As a non-American the American Civil War has always both interested me and bewildered me. It seems that popular opinion has often simplified the causes of the war. In the entry on 'Slavery' the authors declare that this was "not the only issue dividing the north from the south". Indeed, there were many other political and economic reasons. It is a fallacy to go on believing that the South was the side of the baddies who wanted slaves while the North were the goodies who wanted to free the slaves. The Americans had fought bravely to secure their own independence. It does not seem illogical why an extremely large section of the states should want to form their own country (that would have been analogous with Canada). If this was their wish they should have been allowed to do so. Perhaps the feeling between North and South would have been a lot different today if the South looked on the North as just a friendly neighbour (in the same way that Canada does) rather than holding a grievance. In the war both sides displayed heroism and both sides committed atrocities. The total cost in terms of human life makes the American Civil War one of the greatest tragedies of world history. As for the pretext about the slaves, this was just a pretext. If this had been such a vital issue then why in the aftermath of the war was there no legislation to make former slaves equal citizens. Even almost a century later the Afro-American (for whom this war was supposedly waged) was still treated as a second class citizen. In the 1950's there was still a system comparable with the South African 'apartheid' with black people not allowed to travel in the same bus compartment as whites. Even those black soldiers drafted in W.W.1. and W.W.2 were kept seperate in their own regiments. In the Vietnam war a disproportionately high percentage of black people were enlisted and were not allowed to use their 'dap' or 'soul handshake' for fear that it might form constitute some exclusive bond. Even today it is in the poor black neighbourhoods (not the luxurious tree-lined avenues where the senators live) that the military frequent to find expendable recruits for Iraq. In the new Iraq occupation some slighly black 'showcase' Afro-Americans like Colin Powell and Condolisa Rice have gained prominence and wealth. However, they do not represent the needs or voice of their race. For the ordinary Afro-American getting killed every day in Iraq or living in a poor underpriveleged ghetto, things are little better today despite the sacrifice of so many lives in the Civil War.

Give'm the bulge! Bully for Garrison!.......2002-09-21

If my above mentioned words didn't offer what this book is about I don't know what will. Cheryl and Webb Garrison have assembled a great book featuring Civil War slang, lingo and material names. Words such as chinch (bed bug), hardware (weapon), leg case (desertion) pop-skull (whiskey) and yaller dog (coward). These are just a small few of the many words in this great book on Civil War era language. This book would be great for reenactors or anyone studying the war and learning more about how people communicated or gobble talked!

Blowing the Bridge: Essays on Hemingway and For Whom the Bell Tolls (Contributions in American Studies)

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Blowing the Bridge: Essays on Hemingway and For Whom the Bell Tolls (Contributions in American Studies)

Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0313284512

Book Description

This collection of recent essays on Hemingway and For Whom the Bell Tolls demonstrates the centrality of this Spanish Civil war novel in the author's life and canon and reestablishes the book's status as an American masterpiece. It provides a long overdue reassessment of the novel, which was an overwhelming critical and popular success in 1940. Following Rena Sanderson's introduction, the volume begins with a reconsideration of Hemingway's career by novelist Kurt Vonnegut. Ten literary essays by both well-known specialists and new voices follow. Employing a diversity of critical methods, including the biographical, historical, political, textual, ethical, feminist, religious, mythic, generic, and post-structuralist, these essays reveal the literary and historical richness of Hemingway's novel. Informed by recent developments in Hemingway scholarship, the chapters add up to a valuable Hemingway resource. The book is an important contribution to Hemingway studies, American literary scholarship, and American studies. It is essential reading for anyone working on For Whom the Bell Tolls.

The Columbia Book of Civil War Poetry: From Whitman to Walcott

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Memories and Meanings of Civil War

The Columbia Book of Civil War Poetry: From Whitman to Walcott

Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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Family of Poems, A

ASIN: 0231100027

Book Description

Including the classics of the genre as well as rare period pieces by African Americans and women, and northern and southern patriotic verse and songs, The Columbia Book of Civil War Poetry paints the background of the conflict and its literature in Richard Marius's renowned prose, with each poem introduced by a compelling vignette. What emerges is an unparalleled pageant of the war in all its power and sentimentality; the anger of its participants and their yearning for peace.

Customer Reviews:

Memories and Meanings of Civil War.......2000-08-02

If you want to find out what a tremendous event was all about--famine, pestilence, war--read the poems written about it. Ever since Homer, or the book of Judges, war poems have been written to tell us what happened, to whom, why. Richard Marius's fine selection, with his introduction to it, opens today's reader to the Civil War's horror, pathos, loss, and the emotions which are easy to forget, or worse still, to romanticize. It's a broad selection, from "John Brown's Body" and "Dixie" to today's meditations, in Derek Walcott's "Arkansas Testament," on the legacy of hostility toward blacks, North and South: the Civil War, to Walcott, is still to be won. Meanwhile a selection of photographs brings those terrible four years even closer. Even at a remove of 140 years, this collection of poems allows us to be moved by them and the passions which still haunt all of us.

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Excellent. This book makes you feel like Caesar's buddy.
Nice ending to a great series
Superbly Written Historical Fiction
Sensational!
Mesmerizing To The End...

Emperor: The Gods of War (Emperor)
Conn Iggulden
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385337671
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Book Description

The year is 53 B.C. Fresh from victory in Gaul, Julius Caesar leads battle-hardened legions across the Rubicon river–threatening Rome herself. Even the master strategist Pompey is caught unprepared by the strike, and forced to abandon his city. The armies of Rome will face each other at last in civil war, led by the two greatest generals ever to walk the seven hills. Thus begins Conn Iggulden’s towering saga of Julius Caesar as he approaches his final destiny—a destiny that will be decided not by legions but by his friend Brutus and an Egyptian queen named Cleopatra, who will bear his only son....

For Caesar, the campaign against Pompey will test his military genius and his appetite for glory to their limits, as the greatest fighting machine the world has ever seen divides against itself in a bloody conflict that will set brother against brother until victory or death. But for Caesar, another kingdom beckons—a world of ancient mysteries and languid sensuality, where a beautiful, bewitching woman waits to snare his heart.

The Gods of War follows Julius Caesar through politics and passion, ruthless ambition and private grief, and into the corruption of power itself. Those he has loved will play a part in his triumphs—as will the jealousy and hatred of his enemies.

From the spectacles of the arena to the whispered lies of conspirators, Conn Iggulden brings to life a world of monumental drama. And at its heart is one extraordinary friendship—marked by fierce loyalty and bitter betrayal, with dark events shrouded in noble ideals.

Download Description

The year is 53 B.C. Fresh from victory in Gaul, Julius Caesar leads battle-hardened legions across the Rubicon river–threatening Rome herself. Even the master strategist Pompey is caught unprepared by the strike, and forced to abandon his city. The armies of Rome will face each other at last in civil war, led by the two greatest generals ever to walk the seven hills. Thus begins Conn Iggulden’s towering saga of Julius Caesar as he approaches his final destiny–a destiny that will be decided not by legions but by his friend Brutus and an Egyptian queen named Cleopatra, who will bear his only son....

For Caesar, the campaign against Pompey will test his military genius and his appetite for glory to their limits, as the greatest fighting machine the world has ever seen divides against itself in a bloody conflict that will set brother against brother until victory or death. But for Caesar, another kingdom beckons–a world of ancient mysteries and languid sensuality, where a beautiful, bewitching woman waits to snare his heart.

The Gods of War follows Julius Caesar through politics and passion, ruthless ambition and private grief, and into the corruption of power itself. Those he has loved will play a part in his triumphs–as will the jealousy and hatred of his enemies.

From the spectacles of the arena to the whispered lies of conspirators, Conn Iggulden brings to life a world of monumental drama. And at its heart is one extraordinary friendship–marked by fierce loyalty and bitter betrayal, with dark events shrouded in noble ideals.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent. This book makes you feel like Caesar's buddy........2007-09-12

I'm a history buff and thought I knew the ins and outs of Caesar. Yeah, I did, but this book...well, it just makes you feel like you were standing in Rome and having first name basis buddy-ship with Caesar.

A very remarkable dude he is. Think aobut it. How many other dudes are so controlled and all rounded? Great in war, lucky with chics, and an excellent politician. No wonder he's so successful.

And what better way than to end life in a memorable way? Getting assassinated by folks who get jealous of you, including your best friends..."Et tu Brute" = "Even you Brutus". Man, that is just Immortal...god-like.

Nice ending to a great series.......2007-04-20

I've really enjoyed the entire series, going so far as to buy a 10 euro copy of the last installation in an airport in Copenhagen. Iggulden seems to have followed actual historical events fairly closely and providing some educated insight into the personalities of these fascinating people. The only minor complaint is that the story actually seems a little rushed. It probably could have been separated into two separate novels: the final battle with Pompey and the adventures in Egypt. At the end of the historical note, Iggulden hints that he might write another novel that continues where this novel leaves off. I can only hope that he follows through.

Superbly Written Historical Fiction.......2007-03-27

I've just finished up all four in the series and am left wanting more. Julius Ceasar was one of the most remarkable men in history and Iggulden has done an amazing job of bringing him to life in these pages. With so much at our fingertips today, it is hard to imagine a human being with that kind of vision, let alone the will and determination it would have taken to accomplish what still seems impossible.

James Hart Isley
Author of The Bear Hunter

Sensational!.......2007-03-10

I ordered the first two in the Emperor series (one of historical fiction chronicalling the life of Julius Caeser) and swallowed a dose of 'shock & awe' as I devoured these page turners. I wouldn't recommend them if you like to get to bed early, as I found myself continually battling the sandman to remain awake to see how the latest adventures of the protaganists turned out. While reading the first two I knew that I HAD to go back on Amazon to purchase the remaining books. I discovered that GODS OF WAR was not yet in paperback. Like it mattered. I am the proud owner of 3 paperbacks and 1 hardcover. It was well worth it. I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a good yarn, swashbuckling adventure, superior character development, fascinating historical fiction and plainly-just a damn good read. My only hope now is the author, Mr. Iggulden, decides to continue the saga with Octavian/Augustus, Mark Antony and that little Greek/Egyptian Minx. After that there's plenty of drama in the Empire. So to Conn, Sir, I beseech you to put 'pen to paper' and continue the journey. I will do my part and spread the word here in the colonies. I already owe you a pint!

Mesmerizing To The End..........2007-01-08

I have now read all 4 novels of the Emperor series, each one just as fascinating as the previous one. I hated to see the end, knowing that Iggulden was going to write next on Ghengis Khan, which he has done and which will be published later this year.

I hope he returns to the scene of Caesar's murder and continues the series, so much of great Roman history happened in the years following.

Of this book I can only say the story is told wonderfully, with such a fresh and unique angle on all the characters that it was easy to follow them from book to book; even meeting new characters as I went.

Thank you, Conn, for a truly satisfying journey through the Via Romana and please revisit it soon.

The Magnificent Activist: The Writings of Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911)

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Not a review; merely a comment on the subject

The Magnificent Activist: The Writings of Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911)

Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306809540

Book Description

A Da Capo original: The extraordinary writings of one of the most vigorous, effective-and overlooked-shapers of American history, and the rediscovery of an American visionary

Thomas Wentworth Higginson is little known today, but during his own lifetime his remarkable activism put him at the very heart of the pivotal social movements reshaping America for the nineteenth century and beyond. Born in Cambridge, he was a fervent abolitionist, running guns to anti-slavery settlers and financing John Brown's raid. During the Civil War, he commanded the first black unit to fight for the Union, and their achievements (publicized in his classic Army Life in a Black Regiment) opened the way for further black enlistment. He also championed women's rights for sixty years, lecturing and agitating for suffrage. His lifelong correspondence with Emily Dickinson led to his editing her verse for publication, which some have called his greatest literary legacy. But in fact that legacy is here, in the essays he wrote about the many causes to which he dedicated his life. With this volume Meyer has guaranteed the rediscovery of a major American figure whose ideas made him a radical in his society but a visionary in ours.

Customer Reviews:

Not a review; merely a comment on the subject.......2000-10-02

Howard Meyer is to be commended for his efforts at rescuing T. W. Higginson from the dustbin of history. All Americans, and especially African Americans, should know something of him. Clergyman, historian, author, early women's rights supporter, abolitionist, Colonel in the Union Army, T.W.H is a man worth knowing about - a true intellectual man of action. I have read Meyer's earlier works on T.W.H and benefited from them.

While browsing at a brick & mortar bookstore yesterday evening I came across Mr. Meyer's new book and casually fanned through it. I was horrified to see that the only (I think) photograph published within the book is that of a young college-age Wentworth, with unattractively long hair, and the look of an idle popinjay: imagine, if you will, a combination of Oscar Wilde and Virginia Woolf (and actually more of the latter). Howard, what in God's name were you thinking of?

Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

With CliffsNotes on The Killer Angels, you gain insight into the novel, which tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg from the points of view of four main characters. Get a glimpse of the realities of war, with its losses and tragedies, and the motivations and deep emotions of the men there.

This study guide carries you through this terrible and bloody event by providing chapter summaries and critical analyses. You'll also gain insight into life on the battlefield, the problems that officers and soldiers faced, how decisions were made, and the effect of those decisions. Other features that help you study include

Character analyses of major players
A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
Critical essays and theme discussions
A review section that tests your knowledge
Glossaries of key words and terms

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Download Description

The book tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg from the points of view of four main characters: Lee and Longstreet on the Confederate side, and Buford and Chamberlain on the Union side. It retells actual events day by day and conveys the emotions felt by participants in the most famous battle of the Civil War.

Michael Shaara's choice of characters enables him to describe the action and battle strategy from many levels of command and from various locations.

Customer Reviews:

Helped me read through it.......2000-08-27

The book itself, The Killer Angels, was not a difficult read. In fact, it's a really good book. The cliff notes however, help you to understand some of the millitary talk you may have skipped through. I personally like Barron'S book notes better, but they haven't done a Killer Angels review yet. I suggest this book to anyone who needs to read this book (for summer reading, AP US History)... it helps you to understand and study for a test better.

Average customer rating:

The English Civil Wars
Bob Carruthers , and Stuart Reid
Manufacturer: Cassell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

History | Business & Culture | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0304353906

Book Description

The years 1642 to 1651 were one of the bloodiest and most important periods in British history, as a series of civil wars brought backers of monarchy into death-struggle against supporters of a parliament. Follow the armies of Charles the First against those of Oliver Cromwell. Witness the only British king ever executed. Over 300 photos, 100 in color, offer authentic reconstructions of decisive battles, with complete details about winning commanders, tactics, and weapons.

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