NF Jay Winik's "April 1865"

[JeffBrooks]

I just finished April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik. I read it because of the generally very favorable reviews it received and because it focuses on a time period I am currently researching heavily for my own future writing. It was a very well-written book and the writing flowed very easily.

However, I noticed that Winik made an unusually large number of dubious claims. He states, for instance, that:

-Robert E. Lee's face was grazed by a sharpshooter's bullet in 1863
-John Brown studied military fortifications in Europe
-Lincoln visited George Pickett's wife in Richmond during his famous visit there on April 4, 1865

Among others.

Has anyone else read this book and had the same reaction?

 

[cash]

I just finished April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik. I read it because of the generally very favorable reviews it received and because it focuses on a time period I am currently researching heavily for my own future writing. It was a very well-written book and the writing flowed very easily.

However, I noticed that Winik made an unusually large number of dubious claims. He states, for instance, that:

-Robert E. Lee's face was grazed by a sharpshooter's bullet in 1863
-John Brown studied military fortifications in Europe
-Lincoln visited George Pickett's wife in Richmond during his famous visit there on April 4, 1865

Among others.

Has anyone else read this book and had the same reaction?

Well written from the standpoint of wordsmithing, but horrid from the standpoint of accuracy and use of evidence. He regularly fumbles, mishandles, and mangles the evidence.

My review: https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2015/08/26/april-1865/

 

[Canadian]

Well written from the standpoint of wordsmithing, but horrid from the standpoint of accuracy and use of evidence. He regularly fumbles, mishandles, and mangles the evidence.

My review: https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2015/08/26/april-1865/

You really took it apart with great attention to detail. I hadn't realized it was so sloppily researched.

 

[Canadian]

I remember enjoying the book the first time I read it nearly a decade ago. I took it at face value then. I began rereading it last year and could not stand it enough to finish it . Winik had too much Robert E. Lee worship and Lost Cause-ism for me.