This Hallowed Ground

A History of the Civil War

By: Bruce Catton

Narrated by: David Drummond

Length: 18 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

This audiobook is the classic one-volume history of the American Civil War by Pulitzer Prize winner Bruce Catton. Covering events from the prelude of the conflict to the death of Lincoln, Catton blends a gripping narrative with deep, yet unassuming, scholarship to bring the war alive in an almost novelistic way. It is this gift for narrative that led contemporary critics to compare this book to War and Peace, and call it a "modern Iliad." Now over 50 years old, This Hallowed Ground remains one of the best-loved and admired general Civil War books: a perfect introduction to listeners beginning their exploration of the conflict, as well as a thrilling analysis and reimagining of its events for experienced students of the war.

©1956 Bruce Catton (P)2018 Tantor

Still one of the best!

This book, written in 1955, is still one of the best one-volume Civil War histories. Other authors have built upon this, such as James McPherson and Allen Guelzo, but you won’t be disappointed if you get this book. Mr. Catton is a fantastic writer.

This version, recorded in 2018, is done well.

If you’re looking for more comprehensive history of the war, I would recommend his three-volume Centennial trilogy that begins with “The Coming Fury.” You can also look into Shelby Foote‘s trilogy as well, another magnum opus of epic proportion

Great book, but not a great Narration

Unfortunately, I can barely stand this narrator. He is very "droning" and monotonous. I'm about halfway through this book, and the only reason i can stay with it, is due to the excellent detail beneath the poor narration. I wish they would re-record this with a better narrator, but we know that won't happen.

Good Telling of the Civil War

Good Telling of the Civil War, but the narration is really hard to listen to. Very droning voice, monotone, and almost sounds like a computer. Kind of ruins a good story and a good account of the war.

Amazing

I cannot give this book a higher recommendation. I am 35 years old and I only recently decided to learn more about the Civil War—a conflict I avoided because it depressed me. I made the right choice starting with Bruce Canton’s work in “This Hallowed Ground.” Looking back, however, I wish I would have purchased a book of maps with military overlays to supplement the audio book.

Excellent Story

Wonderful story of the Civil War. Catton once again shows the world the essence of the struggle, and what a great author he truly is.
Drummond’s narrative is easy listening and puts you in the ranks of the soldiers.

Exciting Documentary

Excellent narration. Exciting story construction. A very well told compilation of events in the Civil War.

Great book, bad narrator

The book starts with almost no setup, just straight into the action in 1861, and feels confused and chaotic for a while, but i think that was intentional. Overall a great sweeping story of the war and what it meant for society.

Unfortunately the narration is horrible. Cross between an action movie preview and a computer generated monotone. I got used to it eventually but a big distraction at first.