Battle Cry of Freedom

The Civil War Era

By: James Macpherson

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 39 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

James M. McPherson, professor emeritus of U.S. history at Princeton, is one of the foremost scholars of the Civil War. In this informative and meticulously researched masterpiece, he clarifies the differing ways of life and philosophy that led to this shattering conflict.  

Abraham Lincoln wondered whether in a free government the minority have the right to break up the government. Jefferson Davis felt forced to take up arms to guarantee his states rights. McPherson merges the words of these men and other political luminaries, housewives, and soldiers from both armies with his own concise analysis of the war to create a story as compelling as any novel.  

Battle Cry of Freedom vividly traces how a new nation was forged when a war both sides were sure would amount to little dragged for four years and cost more American lives than all other wars combined. Narrator Jonathan Davis powerful reading brings to life the many voices of the Civil War.

©2003 James Macpherson (P)2020 Recorded Books, Inc.

The Civil War Like You’ve Never Learned Before

This book is so much more than, which General commanded which army in which location, and who won the battle.

This is a very comprehensive approach to this matter, which incorporates 19 Century societal norms, feelings, and notions, as well as the political machinations of the time. Also, you get a very good background on why the war was almost inevitable, and why and how the major players of the civil war got to where they were.

I don’t often say this, but this is the best history book I’ve ever read.

beautiful

I've been studying the American civil war for the past 3 years and this book has put all together in an extremely cohesive informative way. I can't hardly wait for the next one in the series

Excellent Book

This is a excellent book on the causes and politics of the Civil War. Great detail is covered in the prewar causes and political maneuvering that led up to hostilities. This same kind of detail goes into the two sides dealing with European powers as well as competing factions on their own sides. This is not a book of battles as it only gives a broad overview of the major battles and campaigns. Instead it focuses more on how those battles effected the feeling of the people back home, responses from the politicians, and the commanding generals standing with the troops and people.

Narrative a bit lacking but very informative

It was actually a very good book and although it didn’t have as good a narrative as Shelby Foote’s series, or contain as much detail towards military operations, it contained much more information and discussion on the culture, economics, and societal impact of the war. I understand why it is used as the base literature for study of the War of the Rebellion. Final rating is 8/10. Would recommend to anyone looking for a comprehensive one-volume book on the war

No question

This is one of the finer works of this genre ranking with those of Wilson ,Belchiwitz, and Redfarter. The narrator is smooth as almond silk milk and others of his ilk. In other words fritz not to be missed dissed or pissed