This Mighty Scourge

Perspectives on the Civil War

By: James M. McPherson

Narrated by: Barrett Whitener

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom and many other award-winning books, James M. McPherson is America's preeminent Civil War historian. Now, in this collection of provocative and illuminating essays, McPherson offers fresh insight into many of the most enduring questions about one of the defining moments in our nation's history.

Listeners will find insightful pieces on such intriguing figures as Harriet Tubman, John Brown, Jesse James, and William Tecumseh Sherman, and on such vital issues as Confederate military strategy, the failure of peace negotiations to end the war, and the realities and myths of the Confederacy.

Combining the finest scholarship with luminous prose, and packed with new information and fresh ideas, this book brings together the most recent thinking by the nation's leading authority on the Civil War.

©2007 James M. McPherson (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"It will seduce anyone, Civil War neophyte or fanatic, for its authority and judgments....There is not a bad chapter in this book. This Mighty Scourge is a marvelous read from a master historian. Like all good history, what it makes you want to do is know more." ( Boston Globe)

Quite informative

One the bargain specials at Audible turned out to be an interesting collection of essays on different aspects of the Civil War, ranging from the real reasons the war began, to how close foreign powers came to intervening, to Southern revisionism in history books after the war, to whether Sherman was an underrated general, to the political life of Abraham Lincoln. Most of the pieces are written as responses to some existing work or theory in Civil War scholarship, but McPherson does a good job of providing context for the casual history buff. Overall, his writing is engaging and informative, and gave me a lot more perspective into the complex interweave of political, historical, social, and military factors that defined the reality of the war as it took place, some of which modern readers might not know about. Occasionally, some of the essays descend into academic dryness, but most of them were full of fascinating detail and insight.

Tremendous so much new to me

I believe this is is a wonderful companion volume to the 1619 project. At least up to the chapter of the lost cause. With regard to the Civil War and Lincoln the entire book is tremendous.

Outstanding!!!

Extraordinary collection of McPherson's ideas and analyses of various subjects related to the Civil War. It's one of the most enjoyable books I've listened to on the subject! Great narrator, and wonderful questions to ponder for all civil war buffs!

Black side of War

"The mighty Scourge" is a look into the past; the experiences of the era just before and after the Civil War. Told often in the words of the slaves themselves makes this book essencial to understanding the humane issues surrounding the American civil War. Read "The Mighty Scourge" for a fresh, perspective on American history. E. Eastman

Appropriate for all Civil War readers.

Another excellent Mcpherson book. The compilation of many essays provides the novice Civil War reader with a great survey of varying issues and the more advanced Civil War reader with snippets to look into further.

as a non-historian enjoyed

Barrett Whitener's narration is superb, in my estimation, his interpretation sets the book apart. The material, for me, is very interesting, one professional review attacked some of McPherson points these I am not grounded in this area enough to know or rely care, since overall the essays are powerful and provoking enough to sustain interest and to inform on some facets, as Jessie James, Lincoln's challenges and difficulties.
The work is a series of essays some written for other purposes and at other times with a few new and some others updated.

Just brilliant

Loved it. James McPherson is one of my favorite ACW authors. Just a fantastic compilation.

Jason Blum
Washington, DC

Hard to top McPherson

James McPherson is the intellectual master of nonpartisan Civil War history. This anthology is a series of gems and the final chapters on Lincoln are particularly informative.

Read in a flat monotone except for when the narrator attempts to feign an affected accent when voicing various characters.

Highly recommended for serious students.

The Mighty Scourge

I found this book interesting in that it looked at so many different angles of the Civil War. Much mor than my history books. It went into depth the personalities of the different players of the war and used many sources to make the narrative more historically accurate. In my opinion it's a good listen for Civil War buffs.

Excellent Book, Awful Performance

Another indespensible perspective on the Civil War from James McPherson. Here he goes into depth about some topics only briefly covered in his outstanding Battle Cry of Freedom vols. 1 & 2. The excellence of the book is unfortunately marred by a bizarre performance that is so rapid as to be almost incomprehensible. Once I slowed it to half speed it was better, only now a bit slow. I cannot imagine this audio could have been produced intentionally.