Book Description
The World War II home front revisited, with a skeptical appraisal of the Good War as a watershed in the nation's history. A superb account...a starting point for future work on the war. --Journal of American History. American Ways Series.
Customer Reviews:
TAKING OFF THE ROSE-COLORED GLASSES.......2002-06-21
John Jeffries examines the popular views of WWII as the "Good War" and as a watershed that led to rapid change in American society. His look at the economics may be dry, but the demographics are fascinating. He suggests that changes in prosperity, advances in science, and increases in federal power ushered in a time of big government, big business, big farming and vast social change for women and minorities--but the change was already under way. Chapters on geographic mobility and minority groups are particularly helpful in showing how these changes fit into the larger picture of American history. Was it a "Good War?" Recent books like The Greatest Generation pay a well-deserved tribute to the men and women of the era, but contribute to a misleading rose-colored view of the time. Jeffries' book adds fact and realism that lead to a clearer picture of the time.
Contrasting perspective.......2000-03-20
I found Jeffries' work to be lucid, informative and well written. Unlike the previous review, I was able to digest this work in an afternoon. The author does provide an alternative case for some popular history. But in fairness, his work offers the reader insights into the mindset and context of Americana circa 1941-1945. I wish Jeffries had expanded on the implications of EO 9066 in some greater depth, but that is a personal observation only and should not be construed as a negative reflection on his work. I compliment the author on his citation of sources which should provide the serious student with an abundance of further leads. Very much worth a look.
"Wartime America"ÿ.......1999-12-05
This book took me three months to read. It was so dry and boring it put me to sleep. The book contains no charts, no photos, nothing but text. It was part of an assignment for a college lesson. I'm embrassed to admit I chose this book because it was thin, yet the subject was over the topic I wanted. After I read it, I didn't find the deepth it promised. Its view was off in left field. If I was going to point out any one thing I learned for this book I'd say, size doesn't always make a book easy."ÿ
Book Description
Frank Schaeffer draws on his relationships with America’s military families to gather a timely and powerful collection of writing from the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like Keeping Faith and Faith of Our Sons, Voices from the Front bridges the divide between those who are in, or who have family members in the military, and the rest of us who can take that service for granted. It is a book about the intimately emotional and human side of military service. While Faith of Our Sons reflected this war through the homefront struggles of a quietly courageous community of families, Voices From the Front takes us directly to the often invisible front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan: from first deployment to patrols to combat to field hospitals and, in some cases, homecoming. As Schaeffer has written of a group he has come to think of—politics apart—as the next greatest generation, “We need to know the men and women in combat better and to understand what they are going through.” Powerful, moving and undeniable, Voices from the Front tells the story of this war in the voices of the Americans who are living—and dying—in it every day.
Customer Reviews:
In Their Own Words.......2006-05-22
I read this book while my son was serving his first tour in Iraq. He didn't write me any letters although we communicated via IM regularly, but mostly about what was going on back here. So reading these letters in the book, some funny, some serious, some sad, gave me some valuable insight into what he might be dealing with. These are real letters written by real people, and I would sometimes have to put the book aside for awhile and take a deep breath. But mostly I couldn't put the book down at all as I wanted to read more. Some wondered at how I could read such a book while my son was over there, but as his mother, I would have gladly traded places with him so why not learn everything I can about the war he is fighting? Kudos to Frank Schaeffer (and John) for providing us with this type of information.
A deeply serious portrayal of the human side of war.......2004-12-13
Compiled and edited by Frank Schaeffer, Voices From The Front: Letters Home From America's Military Family is an anthology of letters from American soliders, sailors, airmen, and Marines currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. A deeply serious portrayal of the human side of war, including many missives written under stressful or harrowing circumstances, Voices from the Front is an outspoken collection of those who lay their lives on the line for the sake of their country, in their own words. Highly recommended and timely reading, Voices From The Front is a welcome contribution to Military Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
All Americans Must Read.......2004-10-19
Although I am halfway through, I couldn't wait to post. This is a must read for all Americans especially those who do not truly understand the sacrifice the military makes for our country. The book is powerful, awesome and emotionally overwhelming. My father, my husband and his father and grandfather served in the US military. This book has brought me even greater understanding and appreciation for the job our armed forces do and I am forever grateful for the freedom and security they provide. God bless and keep them.
Thank you to Frank Schaeffer for this important work.
Every American Should Read This Book.......2004-10-05
Voices From the Front is an excellent book to give insight to those who aren't involved in the military and give support to those who are. My husband is in the Air Force and actually has some of his letters published in the book. Three months after his tour in Korea he got sent to Iraq and will be there until January. Though is was difficult to read some of the letters in the book it was also encouraging to know that I am not alone in this situation. I am proud that my husband is serving his country even if it means we have to be apart. I wish that every American would read this book to help them remember that our freedom and the freedom of others comes with a price. Thank you Frank Schaeffer for all your hard work and giving voices to our military men and women and their families.
Book Description
In the mountains of western North Carolina, the Civil War was fought on different terms than those found throughout most of the South. Though relatively minor strategically, incursions by both Confederate and Union troops disrupted life and threatened the social stability of many communities. Even more disruptive were the internal divisions among western Carolinians themselves. Differing ideologies turned into opposing loyalties, and the resulting strife proved as traumatic as anything imposed by outside armies. As the mountains became hiding places for deserters, draft dodgers, fugitive slaves, and escaped prisoners of war, the conflict became a more localized and internalized guerrilla war, less rational and more brutal, mean-spirited, and personal—and ultimately more demoralizing and destructive.
From the valleys of the French Broad and Catawba Rivers to the peaks of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, the people of western North Carolina responded to the war in dramatically different ways. Men and women, masters and slaves, planters and yeoman, soldiers and civilians, Confederates and Unionists, bushwhackers and home guardsmen, Democrats and Whigs—all their stories are told here.
Customer Reviews:
Insightful but dry.......2007-03-21
A few pages into this book it occurred to me that it must be written by a college professor since it was text-book dry. Sure enough, not one, but two of them.
Having said that, it is loaded with an insightful peek into a specific region of our country during a very specific time. A good read for anybody interested in the history of the mountains of North Caroilina.
"Balanced View" of Confederate Appalachia.......2005-12-08
If one is looking for a detailed study of the skirmishes and battles of western North Carolina in the American Civil War, this is not the research. Inscoe and McKinney may only reflect on the skirmishes and battles, however, they skillfully present the detailed sociopolitical and geopolitical "tone" of western North Carolina and the American Civil War. To embrace western North Carolina's entry and struggle during the Civil War, East Tennessee and western North Carolina must be studied. One can't separate the influences of East Tennessee from western North Carolina; hence, equal examination allows a "balanced view."
Moreover, as a border state with North Carolina, East Tennessee was predominately pro-Unionist by a margin of two-to-one. Tennessee and North Carolina were the last two states to secede. With several western North Carolina regiments fighting numerous Civil War skirmishes and battles in East Tennessee, both states are discussed.
The Heart of Confederate Appalachia: Western North Carolina in the Civil War justly provides the reader with the "prelude to the aftermath" of western North Carolina in the Civil War. There are 368 pages, with 67 pages dedicated to accurate and detailed primary and secondary sources.
It is considered a "must have" addition for the student and scholar of western North Carolina and East Tennessee during the American Civil War.
Matthew D. Parker
Good Exploration of Civil War Western North Carolina.......2000-08-02
Progressing from his study of slaveholding in Western North Carolina (Mountain Masters) and other explorations of Southern Appalachian History, John Inscoe has teamed up with Gordon B. McKinney, the editor of the microfilm version of the Zebulon B. Vance Papers and author of Southern Mountain Republicans to produce the first scholarly synthesis of the Civil War in Western North Carolina. The book breaks new ground in relying on the scholarship of the past twenty years to revise the portrait of a part of North Carolina that was considered to be staunchly Unionist. It explores mountaineers attitudes toward slavery, secession, and the war in general in very broad strokes; these insights are fleshed out with details from specific locales. From the historian's point of view, the authors have not met the rigorous burden of proof in many cases, choosing to base their conclusions on just one or two primary sources; in some cases, they are forced to draw from examples outside of the region (such as Tennessee) which would fail to satisfy the most demanding of those who want conclusive evidence. However, the book is a wonderful tale and in many cases shows the myriad of responses to what has been described as the most influential historical event in United States History.
Book Description
This beautifully written study looks at the haunting, melancholy horror films Val Lewton made between 1942 and 1946 and finds them to be powerful commentaries on the American home front during World War II. Alexander Nemerov focuses on the iconic, isolated figures who appear in four of Lewton's small-budget classics--The Curse of the Cat People, The Ghost Ship, I Walked with a Zombie, and Bedlam. These ghosts, outcasts, and other apparitions of sorrow crystallize the anxiety and grief experienced by Americans during the war, emotions decidedly at odds with the official insistence on courage, patriotism, and optimism. In an evocative meditation on Lewton's use of these "icons of grief," Nemerov demonstrates the film-maker's interest in those who found themselves alienated by wartime society and illuminates the dark side of the American psyche in the 1940s.
Nemerov's rich study draws from Lewton's letters, novels, and scripts and from a wealth of historical material to shed light on both the visual and literary aspects of the filmmaker's work. Lavishly illustrated with more than fifty photographs, including many rare film stills, Icons of Grief recasts Lewton's horror films as suggestive commentaries on a troubled and hidden side of America during World War II.
Customer Reviews:
A Different Approach.......2007-03-24
This is perhaps the most original book written about Val Lewton's famous horror movies in decades. Nemerov looks at four images from Lewton's movies, images that center on little-known character actors Nemerov then shows how these tie into Lewton's Russian background, Lewton's career as a novelist, and American pop culture during World War II.
Rarely have I seen Lewton's films subjected to this kind of close analysis. While I might have wished that Nemerov focused on something from "The Seventh Victim" or "The Body Snatcher," I have to say that what he said made very good sense and placed Lewton in a broader context. (As opposed to the common idea that Lewton was such a genius that his films stand apart from everything else in the horror genre.) This is the rare book of which it can be said that I wish it were longer. Nemerov's enthusiasm for Lewton shines through, but he also has balanced judgment on Lewton's limitations as well. Strongly recommended for anyone interested in horror films or films of the Forties.
Wartime Horrors.......2005-10-27
"Icons of Grief" is a fascinating critical study of producer Val Lewton's RKO horror films within a World War II context. Historian Alexander Nemerov examines the subtle power of Lewton's low-budget chillers (notably "Cat People," "I Walked With a Zombie" and "The Ghost Ship") and the cultural reflection upon wartime America. By providing new insights on Lewton and his work, Nemerov encourages the reader to seek out these remarkable films.
Amazon.com
The author does not pretend that this is the definitive chronicle of World War II. Yet this remarkable compilation of photographs and memorabilia will bring back vivid memories of the era for those who lived through it, and--better yet--make it intensely real for those who did not experience it firsthand. Stan Cohen clearly remembers it all: victory gardens; scrap drives; air raid drills; women welders and drill press workers; children in gas masks; Fiorello La Guardia and the Civilian Defense Corps. There's even a photo of Joe Cobb of Our Gang comedies working on a B-52 bomber.
Customer Reviews:
The American Homefront During WWII.......2006-07-28
Aside from the stories my parents told me, this book is probably the closest I'll ever get to experiencing life in America during the early 1940's.
It's all here: the music, newspaper headlines, letters home, children's toys, wartime propaganda (including a "Jap Primer"!), rationing, fashions, transportation, movies, and loads and loads of photographs! I also like the fact that it begins with those years before the United States' involvement in the war, and the public's reactions and opinions of the European carnage pre-December 7th, 1941.
This is not a disjointed collection of words and pictures thrown together incohesively, but a book that re-creates in all its *glory* the lives and times of our parents and grandparents written by one who was there.
During dinnertime on many occasions my mother will tell my children vignettes of her youth during the war, how she and her friends used to collect scraps of metal and rubber, how they would save the grease from meat, of watching the latest war news during movie previews at the show, and of seeing the local boys off to fight in a far off land. And everything she would say is right here in even greater detail in this 'encyclopedia' of the World War II homefront.
It's this sort of a book that is needed to be in our educational system - not the politically correct pap written by opinionated saps being shoved down our children's throats today. THIS is how it was.
A truly awesome book.
A WWII SCRAPBOOK.......2004-03-01
This is a book that every Rosie the Riveter or decendant thereof should own. How easy it is to imagine life during WWII when immersed in the photo library and artifact archive Stan Cohen presents! The author clearly demonstrates a single-minded labor of love to preserve the overall personal story of this critical and singular period in American history. Another Amazon review complained about the somewhat unprofessional presentation of the materials in the book but this is exactly why I love it. It's like the very scrapbooks that the WWII generation used to put together - photos, matchbooks, dance cards, postcards, badges, sheetmusic, unusual war front news stories, posters, etc. The materials are organized in either topical or chronological chapters and thoroughly annotated. It's like finding the nation's wartime history in old box in the attic. The compendium brings history to life through the extraordinariness of the everyday objects and photos of homefront life.
The WWII U.S. Home Front is Brought to Life! A True Winner!.......2003-12-15
This is an absolutely great book! For those of us who had the incomparable experience of living in WWII wartime America, each page of this remarkable book will cause a jolt.
It's all there...with no punches pulled. The Government propaganda machine cranked out media that was aimed at having us hate our Axis enemies. (The same Germany, Italy and Japan that are our friends today.) Yes, the great photos and text cover it all....air raid drills and shelters, Victory Gardens, rationing, civil defense, draft boards, relocation of Japanese, the war plants and manpower. It was a time that the equal opportunity movements for women, African-Americans and the handicapped started to gain steam.
World War II brought us out of the Depression, and author Stan Cohen depicts how a sleeping America became an unmatched industrial machine because determination of its WWII work force. Nor does he neglect technologies that were developed in the home front. The computer, television and a multitude of other products were invented or advanced during this period.
V for Victory has 408 pages. Each page is remarkable.
I recommend this book highly.
Martin Davis, Ph.D.
A complete visual record of Home Front USA.......2002-01-06
The major fault with this book is its complete lack of design. With hundreds of photos and graphic material it should have been presented in a much more imaginative way.
However I found it a fascinating visual record of the war years, though at times it does get a bit overwhelming, do I really need to look at over fifty photos of scrap drives? The text is basically captions and some longer essays. There really should have been an index as well, this is the sort of book readers dip into and refer back to.
As well as the photos there is plenty of printed ephemera and these were the items that intriqued me most. The chapter on Food for Victory has a seed packet, recipe books, posters, a cover to a home canning book, a lunch bag, a packet of waxed paper, the front of a newspaper produced by Kraft cheese, a Victory garden book cover and photos of folk digging their gardens.
A lot of everyday printed items are shown in a similar book, 'Home Front America' by Robert Heide and John Gilman, with a lot more text than 'V for Victory' it covers the same years from the viewpoint of popular culture.
NOSTALGIC REMINISCENCE.......1997-12-10
We are writing a journal of the "Old Days" for our children and grandchildren. We needed our memory refreshed on WWII rationing and other patriotic actions. Stan Cohen had compiled just what we needed. (Note: Amazing how "politically incorrect" we were in those days!!!)
Book Description
Never did so large a proportion of the American population leave home for an extended period and produce such a detailed record of its experiences in the form of correspondence, diaries, and other papers as during the Civil War. Based on research in more than 1,200 wartime letters and diaries by more than 400 Confederate officers and enlisted men, this book offers a compelling social history of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia during its final year, from May 1864 to April 1865.
Organized in a chronological framework, the book uses the words of the soldiers themselves to provide a view of the army's experiences in camp, on the march, in combat, and under siege—from the battles in the Wilderness to the final retreat to Appomattox. It sheds new light on such questions as the state of morale in the army, the causes of desertion, ties between the army and the home front, the debate over arming black men in the Confederacy, and the causes of Confederate defeat. Remarkably rich and detailed, Lee's Miserables offers a fresh look at one of the most-studied Civil War armies.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating book on a still-relevant subject.......2005-08-21
If you like Civil War history, you'll love this. Lee's Miserables is an account of the last year of the Civil War from the point of view of the Confederates--specifically, the Army of Northern Virginia. What is stunning is the optimism. While Lee's soldiers clearly recognized that their army and the Confederacy were in a tough spot, most seem to have believed that they would still succeed. Many Confederate soldiers believed very sincerely that God was on their side and that a miracle would save their beloved country. Only in the last few months did their confidence really begin to waver, and some kept it up until Lee's actual surrender. Until then, Lee's soldiers fooled themselves that the North was even worse off than they were. This was true, of course, if you looked only at the number of casualties on both sides; but the fact was that by the winter of the Petersburg campaign the Army of Northern Virginia and the Confederacy were seriously overmatched. The North still had a vastly greater population, industrial capacity, you name it, and was not inclined to give up now after all the sacrifices they had made earlier in the war. In reading the Confederates' optimistic letters, I was reminded again and again of today's cheery bulletins about how we are going to achieve success in the Iraq war. Self-delusion played a big part in keeping the Civil War going as long as it did. Self-delusion today by George Bush and other military and political leaders is keeping us in a pointless and unwinnable war. This book is a great reminder that it is always wise to keep in mind that there are some things that cannot be done.
This War is Real.......2001-11-06
Superb account of the soldiers who made up Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Tracy Power brings them to life for us as he digests their hopes, fears, and passions in this wonderful account of "Lee's Miserables" in the final year of the Civil War in Virginia. Covering a period during which Lee must continue to hold the Union armies at bay even though he has been deprived of his most talented subordinates, the author provides us with marvelous insights into what kept Lee's soldiers in uniform and willing to follow their commander despite the shadows lengthening over the Confederacy in 1864-65.
I recommend this book to all of my students in a Civil War history course that I teach. Every student who has read it has thanked me for the suggestion. Well organized, highly readable, and thoroughly balanced, this is "must" reading for anyone who wishes to understand the 19th Century southerners who fought on even when hope had all but disappeared. Great work by a fine historian and talented author!
An intimate look at the decline and fall of Lee's army.......2000-05-21
By ancestry and upbringing I am a Connecticut Yankee and, while for many years I have been a keen student of the American Civil War, my interests and sympathies are definitely pointed towards the Union (my relatives wore the blue). Thus, it is comparatively rare for me to enthusiastically read a book which is about a distinctly Confederate subject. I happily made an exception for J. Tracy Power's "Lee's Miserables". As it happens, a special focus of mine has long been on the Virginia campaigns of 1864-65, perhaps due to the early influence of Bruce Catton's wonderful "A Stillness at Appomattox". Mr. Power describes his book as a "hybrid of social and military history" and that is indeed an apt desciption. Although the reader can follow the course of the campaigns well enough through Power's narrative, the primary focus of the book is firmly upon how the men and officers of the Army of Northern Virginia perceived their situation and viewed the future, as told in their letters, journals, and other first-hand accounts. Although some soldiers in Lee's army remained confident to very end that they would ultimately achieve victory, "Lee's Miserables" chronicles a broad decline in morale over the winter of 1864-65. An army which could still defend its ground in September and October had become vulnerable by March and April.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in Civil War realities and who are ready to reject the hagiographic myths which have far too often dominated books about the Army of Northern Virginia. And I hope that someday there will be a comparable social/military history published about the Army of the Potomac during these same campaigns.
Good, not great........1999-11-27
It should be obvious to anyone who reads this book that Mr. Power is a skilled researcher and writer. His narrative is well documented and clearly organized. But I found it a bit short in analysis and narrow in coverage. Basically, this book traces the changes in morale among the Army of Northern Vigrinia's rank and file soldiers, something Power attributes to their own battlefield performance and results. He largely neglects to address other key contributors to morale (or lack of morale) in sufficient detail, for instance, the significance of religious revivals among the troops. In addition, most of Power's conclusions are not original. He basically reenforces--effectively, of course--earlier scholars' opinions regarding the ANV during the late months of the conflict. Still, this one is worth adding to your shelf.
Inspiring Southern history up close and very personal.......1999-02-12
Lee's Miserables covers the period from May 1864-April 1865 in great detail. It uses voluminous private correspondence and diaries from that time to give a very personal view of the campaigns beginning with The Wilderness and ending at Appomatox. The research done by Mr. Power is impressive and the documentation quite complete. As I read this book my respect for the Army of Northern Virginia increased with each page. Many of the men who fought for Southern Independence went in to the 1864 Campaign with every expectation of ultimate victory. As Grant's Army was repelled at Wilderness, then Spotsylvania, and again at Cold Harbor it did seem the future of the Confederacy was viable. But Grant did not march away after being defeated as his predecessors had done, even to the point that after Cold Harbor he had lost more casualties than Lee had in his whole army but Grant and his army stayed on Southern soil. Grant was undeterred, and pressed on to Petersburg and began the stalemate of trench warfare. The Spring Campaign of 1865 opened on a much-depleted Army of Northern Virginia and only the strongest diehards were still in the trenches when Grant began his offensive that lead to Lee's surrender at Appomatox. Throughout it all, Lee's Miserables were prolific writers corresponding with their wives, mothers, fathers, etc., regarding the substance of their daily thoughts and trials. This book gives great insight into the motives of the patriots and what kept them going under extremely difficult conditions. Their ability to withstand the privations of low rations, inadequate clothing, scarce footwear, and sinking civilian morale in the South are a testament to the spirit and determination of many in that dedicated army. One of the somewhat surprising events the author brings out is the number of defections from both the Union army and the Army of Northern Virginia. Many soldiers on both sides simply couldn't stand the stalemated conditions and growing hopelessness any longer and preferred life in a POW camp to that in the trenches. This is fine book about the reality of the decline and death of the Confederacy and well worth reading.
Average customer rating:
- I cannot recommend this book.
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The Air Raid Warden Was a Spy: And Other Tales from Home-Front America in World War II
William B. Breuer
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0471234885 |
Book Description
Critical acclaim for William B. Breuer
"A first-class historian."
-The Wall Street Journal
Top Secret Tales of World War II
"A book for rainy days and long solitary nights by the fire. If there were a genre for cozy nonfiction, this would be the template."
-Publishers Weekly
"Perfect for the curious and adventure readers and those who love exotic tales and especially history buffs who will be surprised at what they didn't know. Recommended for nearly everyone."
-Kirkus Reviews
Daring Missions of World War II
"The author brings to light many previously unknown stories of behind-the-scenes bravery and covert activities that helped the Allies win critical victories."
-Albuquerque Journal
Secret Weapons of World War II
"Rip-roaring tales . . . a delightful addition to the niche that Breuer has so successfully carved out."
-Publishers Weekly
Customer Reviews:
I cannot recommend this book........2006-03-30
The Author of this "historical" work claims that many bizarre accounts he records here are true. And at least some of them are indeed true. However, some of these accounts involve some of the most important men of the era, & are not recorded in any of the other texts on World War 2 I have read. Yet, the only source he "cites" for many of these stories, & the principle source for most of the others is "Author's Archives". Apparently, his "scholarship" tells him that this is sufficient.
WRONG!
No Historian, or aspriring Historian, should ever cite his own archives as a source. He should describe the document, such as "private diary of so & so, in Author's Archives". Otherwise, you get what some scholars call the "Magic Piece Of Paper" Syndrome, in which you can claim anything you want to, because your "Author's Archives" will "magically" produce anything you like. Any first year University student knows this.
And some of the "events" Mr. Breuer cites are pretty far-fetched, especially when you consider that the term "Author's Archives" implies that no one else on Earth has access to the information sources he cites.
I urge Mr. Breuer to donate these amazing documents to a University, so that other people may examine them.
Average customer rating:
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A Child's War: Growing up on the Home Front 1939-45
Mike Brown
Manufacturer: Sutton Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0750924411 |
Book Description
When World War II broke out in September 1939, it came as no surprise to the children of Germany: the Nazis had been preparing them for a war ever since they had come to power in 1933. To British children, however, it was an altogether different matter. Children all over Britain were deeply affected by the war: many were separated from their parents by evacuation or bereavement; all had "make do and mend" with clothes and toys; and some even died while contributing to the war effort at home. The author of this book describes what life was like on the Home Front during the war from a child's point of view. His illustrated, descriptive narrative includes details of evacuation, rationing, coping with gas masks and air raids, entertainment in the absence of toys, favorite radio programs and the important - and often dangerous - role of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. Interspersed with personal accounts and reminiscences, the book provides a glimpse of how children were affected by the pressures of war and how they coped with the difficulties they faced. A selection of period photographs and ephemera shows children at work and play and is a main feature of the book.
Book Description
In an examination of the effects of the Civil War on the rural Southern home front, Mark V. Wetherington looks closely at the experiences of white "plain folk"--mostly yeoman farmers and craftspeople--in the wiregrass region of southern Georgia before, during, and after the war. Although previous scholars have argued that common people in the South fought the battles of the region's elites, Wetherington contends that the plain folk in this Georgia region fought for their own self-interest.
Plain folk, whose communities were outside areas in which slaves were the majority of the population, feared black emancipation would allow former slaves to move from cotton plantations to subsistence areas like their piney woods communities. Thus, they favored secession, defended their way of life by fighting in the Confederate army, and kept the antebellum patriarchy intact in their home communities. Unable by late 1864 to sustain a two-front war in Virginia and at home, surviving veterans took their fight to the local political arena, where they used paramilitary tactics and ritual violence to defeat freedpeople and their white Republican allies, preserving a white patriarchy that relied on ex-Confederate officers for a new generation of leadership.
Customer Reviews:
Detailed look at the Civil War on the Wiregrass home front .......2006-08-23
Insightful look at how average or "Plain" folks of the Wiregrass/ Ocmulgee Big Bend area of Georgia lived and survivied the Civil War and Reconstruction. Tons of new information here that often made me think, but it wasn't a page turner. However, if you are looking for a book on the Civil War in Coffee, Irwin, Telfair, Pulaski, and Wilcox counties or a good Georgia Home Front history... this is for you.
An in-depth examination of the efforts to the Civil War on the rural South.......2005-12-07
The Civil War's reconstruction process in Piney Woods Georgia is the narrowed focus of Plain Folk's Fight, an in-depth examination of the efforts to the Civil War on the rural South. Race consciousness was at the forefront of a fight by rural whites to defend their way of life in their neighborhood. These rural folk helped tip Georgia toward secession in 1861, supplied troops during the war, and found themselves divided in loyalty to the Confederate nation and their neighbors. Chapters focus on volunteer units, family organization, stories of hardship and independence, and black/white relationships affected by terrorism. Not for the casual Civil War student, but a 'most' for any serious discussion or collection.
Book Description
Southerners whose communities were invaded by the Union army during the Civil War endured a profoundly painful ordeal. For most, the coming of the Yankees was a nightmare become real; for some, it was the answer to a prayer. But as Stephen Ash argues, for all, invasion and occupation were essential parts of the experience of defeat that helped shape the southern postwar mentality.
When the Yankees Came is the first comprehensive study of the occupied South, bringing to light a wealth of new information about the southern home front. Among the intriguing topics Ash explores are guerrilla warfare and other forms of civilian resistance; the evolution of Union occupation policy from leniency to repression; the impact of occupation on families, churches, and local government; and conflicts between southern aristocrats and poor whites. In analyzing these topics, Ash examines events from the perspective not only of southerners but also of the northern invaders, and he shows how the experiences of southerners differed according to their distance from a garrisoned town.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent work by engaging author..........2006-04-06
In this book, Ash analyzes the Southern experience in areas invaded by Union troops during the Civil War. Whereas most other studies on this subject deal with a specific town or locality, Ash's book presents an inclusive synthesis that examines the commonalities of the occupation throughout the South. Three main themes direct his study of occupation. One examines how Northern policies regarding the South during occupation developed over the course of the war. Another theme appraises how three different geographical segments of the South experienced occupation (garrison towns, the Confederate frontier, and no-man's land). Finally, Ash looks at how occupation by Federal forces led to internal conflicts between Southerners of varied political, social, and economic groups.
In Ash's study, three important hallmarks of the South were its social hierarchy, its rural communalism, and its race relations. These elements worked in combination to create a unique society that Northern invaders perceived as both backward and foreign. Because of the cultural disparities between the North and the South, the arrival of Union occupying troops was a greatly feared occurrence by Southerners. However, initial Southern interactions with Union troops proved to be less volatile than was originally thought. Despite Northern attempts to remain equitable and lenient within occupied areas, Southern recalcitrance persisted. The continuation of these rebellious attitudes forced Union troops to adopt a harsher policy in their administration of the occupied South, leading to further antagonism between the Union military and Southerners. The "hard policy" of Union occupation also increased existing internal conflicts in the South, such as those between slaves and their masters, Unionists and their secessionist neighbors, and poor whites and the propertied elites. Thus, with the Union control of the South and the disruption caused by this occupation, the established elements of Southern culture (social hierarchy, rural communalism, race relations) could no longer provide a completely cohesive society.
Very Good Look at the South after Union Occupation.......2000-06-01
A very interesting view of the other side of the Civil War. Ash takes the reader on a trip to the South and shows how life changed after the Union Army invaded. The book gives an overall look at the entire South, showing exactly how different regions were effected. Also includes many quotes from actual residents and cites from Southern newspapers, each giving the reader a true vision of what it was like to live there during the Civil War. A wonderful addition to a Civil War collection, especially if you are interested in the South.
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