The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War

I just learned about this book published last October. It seems as if it might be interesting and I would be interested in hearing opinions about it from anyone who bought it or has looked at it.

Both of your criteria, I am afraid, I do not meet. I only listened to the author's CSPAN appearance and looked at Amazon's preview. It all depends on the audience of this coffee table book. Personally, I think a timetable approach does not draw people in as much as a more visual approach. The illustrations selected (for the first chapter) are but standard fare. Besides, the text one can read on Amazon is too pro-Southern for my taste. The dirty secret is that you can, with a little effort, see better stuff directly at the LOC website. My favorites are the drawings of Edwin Forbes (example Battlefield of Spotsylvania Court House).

Other contenders in the 150th anniversary coffee table market are:
TIME The Civil War by Time.
The Civil War A Visual History from the Smithsonian, which would be my choice after virtual browsing.

Another contender would William C. Davis' trilogy Rebels and Yankees which can be picked up second hand at bargain prices and has splendid illustrations.

Time-Life's three thick volumes Echoes of Glory are gorgeous too but probably go beyond the interests of the coffee table book audience.