The University of North Carolina Press

288 pp., 6.125 x 9.25, 78 illus., notes, index

The Steven and Janice Brose Lectures in the Civil War Era

Cloth

ISBN  978-0-8078-3206-6

Published: April 2008

Large Print

ISBN  978-0-8078-6612-2

Published: February 2010

Causes Won, Lost, and Forgotten

How Hollywood and Popular Art Shape What We Know about the Civil War

By Gary W. Gallagher

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More than 60,000 books have been published on the Civil War. Most Americans, though, get their ideas about the war--why it was fought, what was won, what was lost--from movies, television, and other popular media. Renowned Civil War historian Gary Gallagher guides readers through the stories told in recent film and art, showing how they have both reflected and influenced the political, social, and racial currents of their times. Too often these popular portrayals overlook many of the very ideas that motivated the generation that fought the war. The most influential perspective for the Civil War generation, says Gallagher, is almost entirely absent from the Civil War stories being told today.

About the Author

Gary W. Gallagher is John L. Nau III Professor of History at the University of Virginia and author or editor of numerous books, including Lee and His Army in Confederate History and The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864.

Reviews

"In-depth, analytical, and thought-provoking. . . . An important, must read for students of the Civil War."
--Journal of American History

"A solidly researched and intriguing exploration of the influence of popular culture on public understanding of the war. Anyone interested in the Civil War and the impact of media on historical understanding will find Gallagher's latest book rewarding on many levels."
--Civil War Times

"[A] highly entertaining analysis of how the Civil War has been treated in popular culture."
--The Boston Globe

"Provides insight into how the war is viewed in contemporary American culture. . . . The four interpretive frameworks Gallagher uses for his analysis are instructive for understanding the dominant trends in art and film."
--Southern Historian

"A short and very readable book that should appeal to anyone with more than a passing interest in the Civil War."
--On Point

"Highly recommended."
--Choice