Today I am putting together my list of best Civil War books of 2024 for an upcoming issue of theCivil War Monitor. It’s never an easy decision and I have to remind readers that, with a few exceptions, I could have easily arrived at a very different list.
With that in mind, I am curious as to what has stood out to you in the field of Civil War history in 2024 thus far. Thanks.
Comments are open to everyone.
Civil War Memory is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Thanks to everyone for the tips! I still have the Longstreet book on my TBR pile.
I loved the illustrations for this post, as I have actually read most of these books. A tiny nit to pick: I'd prefer a shot of C. Vann Woodward's edition of Mary Chesnut's "diary", even though it's less photogenic, as it makes so clear Chesnut's efforts to shape her book, rather than just artlessly jotting down her thoughts in an amazingly prescient way. Also, it contains all the "diary" content, not pruned as thought appropriate by Chesnut's friends or later editors.
I read "The Unvanquished" by Patrick K. O'Donnell and thought was really good. A completely new look at what had seemed well-trod territory. Erik Larson's "Demon of Unrest" was an enjoyable read, and like all of his works, focused on the human and personal aspects. For post post-Civil War, Fergus M. Bordewich's "Klan War" was a much-needed history of the rise of the KKK, its destruction by Grant and Merrill, and its eventual resurrection in the early 1900s. Bordewich also tells the story of how Reconstruction did not "fail," it was killed by political corruption and fecklessness.
I thought Elizabeth Varon’s book on Longstreet was outstanding. I also appreciated Fergus Bordewich’s Klan War. Not exactly Civil War but Civil War-adjacent
Thanks for making these mention. I've ordered Varon's book and somehow will find for it the top of my best stack of pending-to-read CW books. (Wife and I are also binge-revenge-watching the presidential campaign of our local-former-DA-about-to-rescue-America.)
The Pandemic created the space for me to study in-depth my favorite battle, then to grow more attentive to its being the root (or taproot, at least?) of The Lost Cause and then to how those lying liars assassinated JL's character as their route to faux-resurrecting REL's character as the Patron Saint of Enslavers. (Anybody seen any books on Lee's rotten officer corps management style?)
Thus, now I am attempting to catch up on JL's true life. Maybe then, Bordewich's book. (Then, KML's book-in-process on Shaw!)
I really enjoyed reading “Silent Cavalry” and “Unholy Traffic”. I also found it intriguing that essay formatted books were making a small comeback this year with “Limits of the Lost Cause”, “The War that Made America”, and “The Civil War and the Summer of 2020”
Thanks to everyone for the tips! I still have the Longstreet book on my TBR pile.
I loved the illustrations for this post, as I have actually read most of these books. A tiny nit to pick: I'd prefer a shot of C. Vann Woodward's edition of Mary Chesnut's "diary", even though it's less photogenic, as it makes so clear Chesnut's efforts to shape her book, rather than just artlessly jotting down her thoughts in an amazingly prescient way. Also, it contains all the "diary" content, not pruned as thought appropriate by Chesnut's friends or later editors.
It's a remarkable inside account of the Civil War. One of those books that I need to replace because of overuse.
I also liked:On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain by Ronald White
I also enjoyed it.
I enjoyed : The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: Reconstruction, 1860-1920 by Manisha Sinha
Still working my way through this one.
George Rable's Conflict of Command was the best I read this year.
I've read through most of it. Another solid study by Rable. Thanks, Michael.
I read "The Unvanquished" by Patrick K. O'Donnell and thought was really good. A completely new look at what had seemed well-trod territory. Erik Larson's "Demon of Unrest" was an enjoyable read, and like all of his works, focused on the human and personal aspects. For post post-Civil War, Fergus M. Bordewich's "Klan War" was a much-needed history of the rise of the KKK, its destruction by Grant and Merrill, and its eventual resurrection in the early 1900s. Bordewich also tells the story of how Reconstruction did not "fail," it was killed by political corruption and fecklessness.
Hi Roger,
I am unfamiliar with O'Donnell's book. Will definitely check it out. Thanks.
An Unholy Traffic is the one that really jumps out to me.
Such a good book. Here is my review with the author in case you missed it. https://kevinmlevin.substack.com/p/a-conversation-with-historian-robert?utm_source=publication-search
Yes! I really enjoyed this conversation.
I thought Elizabeth Varon’s book on Longstreet was outstanding. I also appreciated Fergus Bordewich’s Klan War. Not exactly Civil War but Civil War-adjacent
Thanks for making these mention. I've ordered Varon's book and somehow will find for it the top of my best stack of pending-to-read CW books. (Wife and I are also binge-revenge-watching the presidential campaign of our local-former-DA-about-to-rescue-America.)
The Pandemic created the space for me to study in-depth my favorite battle, then to grow more attentive to its being the root (or taproot, at least?) of The Lost Cause and then to how those lying liars assassinated JL's character as their route to faux-resurrecting REL's character as the Patron Saint of Enslavers. (Anybody seen any books on Lee's rotten officer corps management style?)
Thus, now I am attempting to catch up on JL's true life. Maybe then, Bordewich's book. (Then, KML's book-in-process on Shaw!)
Hi Margaret,
Both are excellent books. I am going to try to interview Liz Varon in November to mark the publication of her Longstreet bio in paperback.
I really enjoyed reading “Silent Cavalry” and “Unholy Traffic”. I also found it intriguing that essay formatted books were making a small comeback this year with “Limits of the Lost Cause”, “The War that Made America”, and “The Civil War and the Summer of 2020”
Hi Sam,
All great choices. I was also impressed with the quality of edited essay collections this year as well.