Ask Civil War diehards when they first fell in love with the War Between the States and there's a good chance you'll hear about one of the early editions of this book, which was originally published on the war's centennial. Thoroughly updated by the remarkable James M. McPherson to take advantage of the latest scholarship, this classic retains all of the wonderful features Bruce Catton originally included. And then there are the pictures--they are some of the most striking battlefield visuals available. The American Heritage New History of the Civil War makes a great gift for young people interested (or potentially interested) in history, or good reading for folks who want an overview of how the North and South fought across five Aprils.

From Library Journal
With these two books, American Heritage continues its tradition of captivating historical storytelling through readable narratives and hundreds of illustrations of contemporary paintings, photographs, and maps many in color. The New History of the Civil War is a reissue of the second edition, published by Viking in 1996, which updated the highly acclaimed classic The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War (1960). Edited by McPherson (George Henry Davis Professor of American History, Princeton), it retains the style of the late Catton, known for award-winning histories that engage readers in understanding why Northerners and Southerners became passionately embroiled in America's deadliest war. What Catton did for the war generally, Symonds (history, U.S. Naval Academy) does for the Battle of Gettysburg, a monumental clash that marked the turning point of the war. Symonds focuses his narrative on the drama of battle, which lasted for three long days. Civil War aficionados and the curious will enjoy both books. Recommended for public and high school libraries, though libraries facing tight book budgets should stick with the New History of the Civil War for its panoramic coverage of the Civil War. Charles L. Lumpkins, Pennsylvania State Univ., State Coll. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Revised from the previous edition published in 1960 as The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War, this vivid time capsule back to the battlefields of the Civil War is an excellent place for general readers to familiarize themselves with the major events in that dreadful conflict, in which more than 620,000 troops died, more than in all other U.S. wars combined. Introduced by notable Civil War scholar James McPherson, who offers a brilliant analysis of the place occupied by that war in our national consciousness, this large-size overview combines limpid text by another famous Civil War historian, Bruce Catton, with a treasure trove of well-chosen and arrestingly presented illustrations, ranging from camera shots to sketches by combat artists. From the obviousness by 1860 of serious sectional dispute to the collapse and surrender of the Confederacy a few--but long years later, the whole course of the War between the States is objectively followed in engrossing fashion. Brad Hooper

Book Description
With excerpts from primary-source documents, hundreds of photos and maps, and well-written narrative, The American Heritage New History of the Civil War is an encyclopedic look at the four years of armed conflict at the heart of the division between North and South. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Bruce Catton and illustrated with more than eight hundred contemporary photographs, sketches, and magnificent paintings The American Heritage New History of the Civil War evokes the sweep and drama of a divided nation in one stunning and thorough volume. A great reference for civil war buffs and students of American history.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Bruce Catton's unsurpassed narrative, evoking the sweep and drama of a nation at war, provides the basis for The American Heritage New History of the Civil War, which includes more than 800 important contemporary photographs and sketches and magnificent paintings. The Civil War's battles and campaigns are painstakingly illustrated in three-dimensional maps that guide the reader through the four years of the struggle. With illustrations that range from photographs by Mathew Brady and sketches by soldiers at the front, to famous paintings by Winslow Homer, the book boasts an extraordinary breadth of pictures and artifacts culled from across the nation. This richly textured tapestry is made complete by the words of men and women who actually witnessed the events. From the journal entry of a Confederate soldier departing for battle and the letter an African-American soldier scrawled on the back of his wife's letter to him, to some of the best-known documents written in the very hand of Abraham Lincoln, each page of this book allows the participants to speak for themselves.

SYNOPSIS

With excerpts from primary-source documents, hundreds of photos and maps, and well-written narrative, The American Heritage New History of the Civil War is an encyclopedic look at the four years of armed conflict at the heart of the division between North and South. A hefty volume and excellent reference.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

With these two books, American Heritage continues its tradition of captivating historical storytelling through readable narratives and hundreds of illustrations of contemporary paintings, photographs, and maps many in color. The New History of the Civil War is a reissue of the second edition, published by Viking in 1996, which updated the highly acclaimed classic The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War (1960). Edited by McPherson (George Henry Davis Professor of American History, Princeton), it retains the style of the late Catton, known for award-winning histories that engage readers in understanding why Northerners and Southerners became passionately embroiled in America's deadliest war. What Catton did for the war generally, Symonds (history, U.S. Naval Academy) does for the Battle of Gettysburg, a monumental clash that marked the turning point of the war. Symonds focuses his narrative on the drama of battle, which lasted for three long days. Civil War aficionados and the curious will enjoy both books. Recommended for public and high school libraries, though libraries facing tight book budgets should stick with the New History of the Civil War for its panoramic coverage of the Civil War. Charles L. Lumpkins, Pennsylvania State Univ., State Coll. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal