Civil War History - General DiscussionFor Discussions on Civil War Era Personalities, Politics, Issues, Campaigns, Battles, and more. Serious Civil War Discussions Only Please! All other posts will be deleted.
Oh Lord, we draw your attention to some members on this board, consorting with a Harvard historian; thou knowest, Oh Lord, that nothing good can come of that!
Watched her talk on Book TV a weekend or so ago. You should have seen the mess I made when my forehead mashed all the keys. Incredibly boring.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
... of reading this abysmal book and just finished it yesterday.
My original thoughts based upon Faust's NPR interview of some weeks ago are confirmed. This muddle, this nightmare, this sloppy confusion of false theories and war p*rn is a gross slap to Civil War students everywhere. I ask this to the board... has anyone on this board ever seen in any book, article, or letter the Civil War dead of either army measured in pounds as they lay in death on the field of battle? Can there be a more repulsive description of our heroes anywhere in Civil War literature? I challenge you all, and suspect that the answer is NO. It's simply a revolting disrespectful way to discuss this subject and the heroic men of 61-65 who fought so hard and sacrificed everything.
Why must academic historians so often have an agenda? Is it just to prove their silly theories, just to show their historian "chops"? Yet all the while they get so much wrong? Why is it that academic historians are mainly read only by fellow academics? It's a mystery, right? No. This book is a perfect illustration. The writer is the president of Harvard no less! Didn't she have editors at Knopf? How could she ignore the obvious truths of the reality of soldiers and dying on the field of battle so that she could foist her ridiculous theories of the "good death" upon us all?
Every review I have seen on this book has been fawning, excessive, complimentary. There has not been one ounce of critical analysis of this mess. Clearly, most reviewers didn't read the book through or were watching "Scooby Doo" re-runs as they read. I have written a detailed review of this appalling thing and will post it, or a link to it, in the coming days/weeks.
So, in conclusion, don't bother reading this book. As the cops say in all the bad movies... "Move along, there ain't nothing to see here."
Yes, this is true. I mentioned this in my post. My criticism of this book is not the common response to it.
Quote:
By the way, "Confusion..muddle...revolting disrespecful...gross slap in the face..." isn't critical analysis either, its just abuse.
No, it's called "opinion". If I think the conclusions are wrong, I can readily use the term "Confusion". If I consider the arguments confused I can readily use the term "muddle". If I consider it utterly inappropriate to describe our Civil War dead on the field of Gettysburg in pounds I can certainly use the term "slap in the face". You may not appreciate my strong feelings on this matter, and that is fine. However, I consider it "revolting, and disrespectful" to describe my country's dead heroes, North and South, by the pound!
Did you read the book???? If so, did you like it? Why? If you do like it you'll have lots of company as every review I have read on this mess (yes, I can use the term "mess" if I wish) is positive.
Ok, I would like to hear your defence of this book in light of my admittedly strongly worded attack upon it.
I'll look forward to your reply.
-FY
PS. If I chose to heap abuse upon this book, that is also my right, is it not? Isn't that the purpose of this board to discuss such matters? This book has got the most press for any Civil War book I've seen in years, and it merits none of it.
Dear Former Yank,
You can post anything you want, however you want, worded the way you prefer. Heap as much abuse as you judge proper. There are books that make me made too. But it comes across as emotional, not analytical.
The book is 5th down on my list, after Blight, Miller and a couple of novels.
Mat,
Thank you for your reply.
This book has really tweaked me off.
It's so utterly mistaken, so cold, and boring, and so unfortunate in its terminology. I don't recall the last time a Civil War book got me this riled up.
I do feel strongly about it, but I believe that my opinions are all backed up by evidence and strong arguments. I even use Faust's own text to disprove her points.
As before, I will post a link to the review soon. I don't mean to keep you waiting and apologize for it.
Thanks for your kind response.
Sorry if I was too argumentative.
Save yourself the pain, just take this critter off your list entirely.
Best Regards,
FY
Get your t-shirt from the Civil War Museum of Medicine in Frederick, MD. That's where I bought mine. Wear it proudly to your Civil War Round Table.
Several years back we went to South Mountain to visit the place where my great grandfather was wounded. Later we visited the Lutheran Church in Frederick that was used as a hospital. The Pastor told me I had to go to the Civil War Museum of Medicine and I was glad he did. It was a very interesting place especially since it dealt with wounded soldiers. If anyone travels to South Mountain or Antietam the museum would be a nice stop. We also stayed in Frederick.
__________________
"Those who forget to remember the past are condemned to repeat it", George Santayana.
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Drew Gilpin Faust on NPR's...... . 
Linear Mode
