The American Civil War: A Military History
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Product Description
Review
'John Keegan brings his subject alive and is particularly good on how unreliably nasty war can be' --Daily Telegraph
'What I loved most, and what Keegan is always superb at, is analysis' --The Scotsman
'You would be hard pressed to find a better written one-volume history of this epic struggle'
--Guardian Review
`...Keegan's book is illuminating...' -- Sunday Herald
'illuminating' --Scottish Sunday Herald --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
'What I loved most, and what Keegan is always superb at, is analysis' --The Scotsman
'You would be hard pressed to find a better written one-volume history of this epic struggle'
--Guardian Review
`...Keegan's book is illuminating...' -- Sunday Herald
'illuminating' --Scottish Sunday Herald --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Book Description
This major and long-awaited work will be the definitive history of the American Civil War by our greatest military historian.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I am afraid I must beg to differ from the previous reviewer. This book is (of course) very good as a military history. However, despite its title it really does not aspire to be more than that (as the notes and bibliography reveal) - and there is a great deal more than that to the Civil war. So it is far from being a definitive book about the war - and if you are looking for that you may well be disappointed.
However it is excellent on the real military history aspects. Keegan has conveyed more clearly to me the impact of geographical factors, both generally and in relation to specific battles, than anything else I have read. He is excellent on identifying and keeping track of the planning of the war on each side. He is also wonderful at evaluating the individual generals, and drawing speaking parallels with generals of other wars. Frankly, I could have used and enjoyed more detail on each of these facets, but particularly the last.
The two big problems with the book are (1) the title, which conveys a false sense of the ambit of the book - it should more properly be called "A Military History of the Civil War" or "The Geography, Battles and Generals of the Civil War" (2) the introductory chapters (and to some extent parts of the concluding chapters too) where Keegan goes outside the military history remit; these sections are frankly somewhat carelessly written and edited (so much repetition - including the same phrase twice within two paras -that I came close to throwing the book across the room) and say nothing illuminating at all. He would have been much better to drop these, cut to the chase, and give us some more of what he is really good at.
However it is excellent on the real military history aspects. Keegan has conveyed more clearly to me the impact of geographical factors, both generally and in relation to specific battles, than anything else I have read. He is excellent on identifying and keeping track of the planning of the war on each side. He is also wonderful at evaluating the individual generals, and drawing speaking parallels with generals of other wars. Frankly, I could have used and enjoyed more detail on each of these facets, but particularly the last.
The two big problems with the book are (1) the title, which conveys a false sense of the ambit of the book - it should more properly be called "A Military History of the Civil War" or "The Geography, Battles and Generals of the Civil War" (2) the introductory chapters (and to some extent parts of the concluding chapters too) where Keegan goes outside the military history remit; these sections are frankly somewhat carelessly written and edited (so much repetition - including the same phrase twice within two paras -that I came close to throwing the book across the room) and say nothing illuminating at all. He would have been much better to drop these, cut to the chase, and give us some more of what he is really good at.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The number of books on the American Civil War is huge. To write a new work that is worth reading is very difficult, requiring perceptive scholarship of the highest order, good illustrations, clear detailed maps, et. I had expected much better from an historian of the calibre of John Keegan. The book is not well written (it starts with a paragraph lasting almost three pages and is plagued by irritating repetitions that his editor should have corrected), the maps are about the worst I have seen in a modern work of serious military history and it is not until the final third of the book that the author says anything worth reading. I can only think that the author was pushed by his publisher into writing a book that did not interest him.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I sense that the reason so many people disparage this book is because, like me, they expected something much better from such a respected author. The book has all the feeling of something rushed out for the 150th anniversary to meet a marketing need, rather than a need to explain the complex issues of the war. Despite this it has some virtues, particularly for a reader seeking an overview when meeting the subject for the first time. The book does contain factual errors, but many of these are not significant to anyone except the keen student who will recognize them anyway. More dangerous in my view is that the book seems to expound the authors own views on a range of issues including slavery versus state rights and the relative merits of the military leaders without considering or barely acknowledging other viewpoints.
To the keen student, it is worth a read, but it cannot be considered a vital book when so many are available elsewhere. The keen student will probably note the lack of references and citations in the text and the very few appendix notes and draw their own conclusions
Since writing this review I have re-read James McPherson's "Battle Cry of Freedom" - Overall it is a much better one volume guide than Keegan's, and I readily recommend McPherson's as the better buy
To the keen student, it is worth a read, but it cannot be considered a vital book when so many are available elsewhere. The keen student will probably note the lack of references and citations in the text and the very few appendix notes and draw their own conclusions
Since writing this review I have re-read James McPherson's "Battle Cry of Freedom" - Overall it is a much better one volume guide than Keegan's, and I readily recommend McPherson's as the better buy
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
John Keegan: The American Civil War
As many previous reviewers have stated, this book does not provide a definitive account of the conflict (the fact that it is only 350 pages long is a clear indicator of this) and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by fitzsandpiper
Too much repetition
Much the same as other reviewers. I usually enjoy John Keegan's books but not this one. In fact I gave up on it after reading the same information for the third time and bought... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Border Reiver
Chaos and Mayhem
Keegan's book is well-researched, well-written and offers insight into a bloody conflict. He describes the chaos at the start of the war (e.g. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Bob
Decent enough, but..
The American Civil War by John Keegan is a decent enough book, but like many other reviewers, I do feel a little disappointed. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Flemming Nielsen
Explains military issues and events before and during the ACW
This is my first foray into the history of the American civil war (my usual haunt is WW1 and WW2 military history. Read more
Published 12 months ago by R&JGomersall
Disappointing effort from one of the UKs premier military historians
I approached this volume excitedly having devoured Keegan's single volume account of the First World War and found it to be the best work of its type. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Marital Bliss
Easily recommendable narrative cum basic analysis if what is required...
The US Civil War has always been one of the black holes in my history background - an area I have neither studied or taught directly. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Les Fearns
A Good Introduction
Prior to reading this book my knowledge of the American Civil War was pretty superficial. I really enjoyed the book and found it gave me an excellent introduction to the subject. Read more
Published 15 months ago by P. J. Connolly
Great introduction to the civil war
At some point we all are new to a topic. This can be awkward when you are dealing with a popular topic e.g. Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. Duducu
Not his best book
Like previous reviewers I was disappointed in this book. I agree that the editing was not very good. The layout of the final chapters is rather puzzling. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Paul Clappison
Listmania!
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