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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
Causes Won, Lost, and Forgotten
How Hollywood and Popular Art Shape What We Know about the Civil War
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.
"A thoughtful, well-researched, and well-illustrated study that helps readers learn how their understanding of the Civil War has been shaped."
--The Journal of America's Military Past
"In-depth, analytical, and thought-provoking. . . . An important, must read for students of the Civil War."
--Journal of American History
"An intelligent, readable account of how we look at the American Civil War. . . . Five stars."
-- James Durney, independent Book Reviewer
"A useful entry in the burgeoning literature that deals with the way in which the Civil War is remembered by Americans."
--Southwestern Historical Quarterly
"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
Cloth: $28.00
© 2009 The University of North Carolina Press
116 South Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
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