James Robertson (16)

Free and Open to the Public. Civil War historian and author of STONEWALL JACKSON, which won eight national awards and was the basis for the movie Gods and Generals, has written a book that reveals new information about the War, in time to commemorate its 150th anniversary. By examining overlooked elements—such ... (more)as the role of weather, health, and high emotions - to the world-changing effect of the rise of female workers, to the many "firsts" including the introduction of standard time, pre-sized clothing, canned goods, toilets, and Santa Claus; this book adds a new dimension to our understanding of the Civil War and discusses how the need to spread information about the dead and wounded gave rise to the U.S. Postal Service and whether or not President Lincoln really aged dramatically because of the war or from a rare disease. A perfect event for those who are fascinated by the Civil War. Literary Journal says "Beautifully illustrated and engagingly written, this thematically arranged book reveals the human side of America's bloodiest war. While the generals, battles, and politicians are given their place, James Robertson (spends more time discussing the smaller, everyday experiences of soldiers and civilians. Photographs, cartoons, and other illustrations make up more than half of the content, with accompanying captions formulated so that one need not even read all the text to appreciate the book and learn from it."