NDG book review: Three good books about the civil war

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

You already know the argument.

You probably know what it’s like to have a broken family or to have to defend your beliefs in the conflict-ridden climate we live in. So read this summer about a time in history when war tore the country apart, set brother against brother, righted a great wrong and left scars on the country, the people and the families…

Sometimes the story is in the details and in “Voices from Gettysburg” by Allen C. Guelzo (Kensington, $29.00) Read a day-by-day, person-by-person account of arguably the most influential battle of the Civil War.

Using real letters from prisoners, soldiers, and others who were at Gettysburg on those days in July 1863, you’ll get an accurate sense of what it was like to be on or near the battlefield. Filled with authentic voices, maps, and other documents, this book will put you right in the middle of the action and make it hard to put down.

At some point in your life, you have no doubt read or learned something about Harriet Tubman. In your mind, she may seem invincible, like some kind of super-powered being, because of her bravery during the Civil War and the lives she helped to free. “Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faithful Dreams of a Free People” by Tiya Miles (Penguin Press, $30) you’ll learn that some of what you think you know is myth and that there’s actually a lot more to learn about Tubman’s life and work.

It’s true that Tubman helped hundreds of people gain their freedom, but this book goes even further, including the environment she grew up in and the relationships she had with the women she helped and others. We get a fresher, deeper look into Tubman as a person, and readers learn more about the spiritual life that comforted her in difficult times. That alone could be an inspiration for travelers today.

And finally, if you want a little surprise with your summer reading, grab “Wide Awake: The Forgotten Force That Elected Lincoln and Fueled the Civil War” by Jon Grinspan (Bloomsbury, $32).

Whatever one may think, the elections we have experienced in this country in recent times have not been the most controversial: At the beginning of the political season in 1860, a group of young Northerners, men and women, black and white, began to organize on behalf of the abolitionists and abolitionists.

They called themselves the Wide Awakes and became a political force to be reckoned with during the election. It’s possible, says Grinspan, that the Wide Awakes were one of the main catalysts of the war. This book is full of action and shows you that history can be full of surprises.

If these books only whet your appetite for more, you’re in luck: There are literally thousands upon thousands of books about the Civil War. All you have to do is ask your favorite bookstore or librarian for help, and the book you want will be sent to you right away, no questions asked.