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The American War: A History of the Civil War Era * Gary W. Gallagher and Joan Waugh * State College, Pa.: Spielvogel Books, 2015 * 292 pp. * $29.95
There is no shortage of single-volume histories of the Civil War era, but the field's continuing growth means that new syntheses are always welcome. Written by two eminent historians, The American War is a valuable contribution. In twelve crisply written chapters, each roughly twenty pages long, Gary W. Gallagher and Joan Waugh survey the war's origins, course, consequences, and legacy. They seek to empower students to answer key questions about why the war came, why the Union triumphed, and whether or not Reconstruction was successful. Everyone who teaches undergraduate courses on the Civil War should consider assigning this book, and anyone seeking a concise overview of the period will profit from its insights.
Specialists will be familiar with the book's historical and historiographical content, but several features make it especially attractive...