Off Topic Review - Curiosities of the Civil War

This post is off topic for my blog, however it is a review of a book from Thomas Nelson Publishers - well known for publishing Christian books.

Garrison, Web. Curiosities of the Civil War: Strange Stories, Infamous Characters & Bizarre Events. Nashville, etc: Thomas Nelson, 2011.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publishers. I am in no way obligated by them to provide anything but my honest review.

Prepare to be overwhelmed with facts! This book is full of amazing details of the Civil war I have never heard before. Clearly Webb has been conducting extensive research on this important part of our history. Some details are interesting tidbits with no real bearing on the war (i.e. P. G. T. Beauregard was superintendent oft he U. S. Military Academy for only four days). Others are key events in this history such as the time that Confederate General Joseph Johnston was wounded twice, giving Jefferson Davis excuse to replace him with the now well known Robert E. Lee.

The book is divided into nine parts which contain general topics such as "Memorable Players," "No Two Military Events Were Identical" and "Notorious and nonesuch." Each part is then futher divided. Part two "Supporting Members of the Cast" is divided into chapters dealing with wives, clergymen, hostages, horses and other animals. These divisions are helpful for finding a fact one has already read. I kept reading things I wanted to tell other people. Being able to locate that interesting item again was great.

One slight drawback to the book is that it reads a bit like a list of details. It wasn't a book I wanted to read all in one sitting. But the writing is engaging, interesting and well done. It is not written like an encyclopedia nor is it boring.

There is also a certain bias to the book. It appears the writer leans toward sympathy for the Confederate cause. This doesn't show up everywhere in the book, but is noticeable in his descriptions of Abraham Lincoln.

In starting to read this book, I realized how little I really know about the Civil War. After reading, I feel that I know much more. I would have to say this book served not just to inform me but also to whet my appetite to learn more. I will definitely be sharing this book with others!


Curiosities of the Civil War: Strange Stories, Infamous Characters and Bizarre Events