Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. But his one volume history of the civil war disappoints. It has captured the imagination of writers, artists and filmmakers for decades but the reality of it confuses and divides historians even today. The american civil war by john keegan penguin random house. In his characteristically wry and perceptive prose, keegan offers us nothing short of. In this magisterial history of the first modern war, the distinguished military historian john keegan unpicks the geography, leadership and strategic logic of the war and takes us to the heart of the conflict. John keegan, may 15, 1934 august 2, 2012 john keegan was born in london, england on may 15, 1934. John keegan is the defence editor of the daily telegraph and britains foremost military historian. Dispatches from the unfinished civil war 1998 a stillperhaps increasinglyrelevant examination of civil war memory in. Keegan s book the american civil war in 2009, dwight garner wrote in the new york times. John keegans books include the iraq war, intelligence in war, the first world war, the battle for history, the face of battle, war and our world, the masks of command, fields of battle, and a history of warfare. Illuminated by keegans knowledge of military history he provides a fascinating look at how command and the slow evolution of its strategic logic.
He is the author of twenty books, including the acclaimed the face of. A military history by john keegan 2009, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. This book has a lot going for it, and yet i wouldnt say i enjoyed it very much. Above all, the american civil war gives an intriguing account of how the scope of the. Shaaras strengths are his accessible dialogue and john keegan esque ability to imagine mens responses to war. Bound in the publishers original cloth over boards, spine. Sir john desmond patrick keegan obe frsl 15 may 1934 2 august 2012 was an english military historian, lecturer, writer and journalist. With deft turns of phrase, keegan portrays the weaknesses and strengths of the wars principal. Instead of adding to the pile of chronicles of the american civil war, he has written a. In this magesterial history and national bestseller, john keegan shares his original and.
The american civil war the greatest military historian of our time gives a peerless account of americas most bloody, wrenching, and eternally fascinating war. The readers english accent and odd pronunciations of names, such as potomac, emphasizes that this is intended to be an impartial evaluation of the american civil war. If you are an usa civil war enthusiast or just like reading insights and applied facts of history, this book delivers firstrate. He received a degree in history from balliol college, oxford in 1953. This work is no exception and satisfies on several levels.
See all books authored by john keegan, including the first world war, and the face of battle, and more on. Critics also bemoaned the brevity of the book, which muddled the repetitive descriptions of battles and troop movements, and keegans obscure asides. Discover other books like this, author exclusives, and more. Sep 17, 2009 in this exclusive extract from his new book, our foremost military historian, john keegan, exposes the gruesome suffering endured by soldiers during the american civil war, and the role of poet. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. Not only, does he provide a crystal clear analysis of the development of the war, but he also makes the reader feel what the men who fought this war, the johnny rebs or the billy yanks, felt. His narrative is lamentably riddled with inaccuracies, including the dates, locations, and events of major battles. Oct 20, 2009 the american civil war ebook written by john keegan. John keegan, the foremost military historian of the past halfcentury, has treated mankinds great folly from a world perspective in such widely read books as. John keegan needs no introduction to followers of military history, with some 19 books to his credit. Illuminated by keegans knowledge of military history he provides a fascinating look at how command and the slow evolution of its strategic logic influenced the course of the war. John keegan the american civil war e book free pdf epub mobi azw3 fb2 lit amazon kindle ipad iphone android kobo papyre tablet. His book, the face of war, is a fascinating examination of major battles from a very different perspective. One surprising element is the number of mostly small errors in the book.
After two modern classicsthe face of battle 1976 and the price of admiralty 1988 keegan has followed with numerous coffeetable books as well as fine histories of world wars i and ii and a lesssuccessful account of the iraq war. A military history vintage civil war library keegan, john on. Keegans book isnt going to replace james mcphersons battle cry of freedom 1988 as the goto singlevolume history of the civil war, however, it is unusual and valuable for. The reith lecturer in 1998, he is the author of many bestselling books including the face of battle, six armies in normandy, battle at sea, the second world war, a history of warfare awarded the duff cooper prize, warpaths. All were excellent well written, interesting and informative. John keegan is our generations foremost military historian. John keegan the american civil war e book free pdf epub mobi azw3 fb2 lit amazon kindle ipad iphone android kobo papyre tablet the american civil war john keegan.
American civil war from a british point of view another winner by preeminent historian keegan. This is a very strange book to come from the pen of john keegan, who. Keegans new book, the american civil war, bristles with data that will send a thrill down any military geeks leg. Not only, does he provide a crystal clear analysis of the development of the war, but he also makes the reader feel what the men who fought this war. In this breakthrough study, the preeminent war historian john keegan goes to the heart of a series of important conflicts to develop a powerful argument about military intelligence. The greatest military historian of our time gives a peerless account of americas most bloody, wrenching, and eternally fascinating war. Boston globe a commanding history of the civil war. Acclaim for john keegans the american civil war keegan excels at explaining the events and circumstances leading up to the civil war, and explores how it might not have happened. The washington times a history that offers a thoroughly satisfying account for the general reader. His 1976 book the face of battle helped start what is still called the new military history, with its emphasis on the cultural context of war and the actual experience of men in battle. An excellent look at the american civil war john keegan is one of my favorite authors of military history and i have read many of his books, including his biography of winston churchill which was a bit of a change for him. In this magesterial history and national bestseller, john keegan shares his original and perceptive insights into the psychology, ideology, demographics, and economics of the american civil war. He is the defense editor of the daily telegraph london. John keegan s most popular book is the first world war.
John keegan is one of the most prolific and detailed writers of war, armies and their millieu. He wrote many published works on the nature of combat between prehistory and the 21st century, covering land, air, maritime, intelligence warfare and the psychology of battle. After graduation, he went to the united states on a grant to study the civil war. Aside from a few interesting insights into the nature of the american civil war, the book is appallingly edited and apparently not factchecked at all. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. He comprehends the civil war as a whole, as a war won or lost in the vast western theater, and one in which the winners were those few generals. The best civil war books of all time analysis civil. John keegan has 103 books on goodreads with 106019 ratings. On the one hand, this is a standard one volume history of the civil war. He published many works on the nature of combat between the 14th and 21st centuries concerning land, air, maritime and intelligence warfare as well as the psychology of battle. How simply the two sides slid into a terrible civil war, it almost seemed inevitable and was another depressing example about man being unable to resolve differences without recourse to war. June 5, 1999 in this sterling account of the tragic and unnecessary conflict that inaugurated a century of horror, british military historian keegan fields of battle. Sir john desmond patrick keegan, obe, frsl was a british military historian, lecturer and journalist. However, though critics were quick to voice their admiration for keegans previous works, they were deeply disappointed by the american civil war.
In this sterling account of the tragic and unnecessary conflict that inaugurated a century of horror, british military historian keegan fields of battle. John keegan was for many years senior lecturer in military history at the royal military academy, sandhurst, and has been a fellow at princeton university and a visiting professor of history at vassar college. All were excellent well written, interesting and informative and this book is no exception. The crucified christ was an appropriate symbol for millions of young men who diedtoo often anonymouslyon battlefields throughout the world between 1914 and 1918, writes historian john keegan in his ambitious onevolume overview the first world war alfred a.
More than 50 years have passed since the surrenders of germany and japan brought an end to world war ii, but that conflictis still steeped in controversy. Acclaimed military historian john keegans anthology of war writing from 25 centuries of battle in the book of war, john keegan marshals a formidable host of war writings to chronicle the evolution of western warfare through the voice of the most eloquent participantsfrom thucydides classic account of ancient greek phalanx warfare to a blowbyblow description of ground fighting. His 1976 book the face of battle helped start what is still called the new military. Keegans fine book will find its way to many a bookshelf. John keegan books list of books by author john keegan. A solid history of the civil war by the grand master of military writing. Jun 05, 1999 author john keegan gives the impression late in this very good book that he held the kaiser partially responsible for the great war as he embarked on a pointless attempt to match britains maritime strength that. He depicts with great clarity the haphazard nature in which both governments and armies entered the war. The american civil war was one of the longest and bloodiest of modern wars. He was the defense editor of the more about john keegan. The american civil war ebook written by john keegan.
The reith lecturer in 1998, he is the author of many bestselling books including the face of battle, six armies in normandy, battle at sea, the second world war, a history of. The american civil war, by john keegan the new york times. In his broad, singlevolume history, keegan offers an outsiders view of the american civil war, providing fresh insights from a bracingly impartial perspective. His captivating work promises to be the definitive history of the american civil war. After two modern classicsthe face of battle 1976 and the price of admiralty 1988keegan has followed with numerous coffeetable books as well as fine histories of world wars i and ii and a lesssuccessful account of the iraq war. He is the author of twenty books, including the acclaimed the face of battle and the second world war. Aug 05, 2012 the military historian sir john keegan, who has died aged 78, possessed a rare ability to describe warfare from the standpoint of the frontline soldier. Here he turns his attention to america, with dependably satisfying results. Oct 20, 2009 the greatest military historian of our time gives a peerless account of americas most bloody, wrenching, and eternally fascinating war. This is a very strange book to come from the pen of john keegan, who usually produces works that are cogent, wellwritten and persuasive. In this his latest book, john keegan has attempted the impossible.
Keegan brings the perspective of an english military historian to the american civil war, which does lend this history a rather unique flavor. Sir john keegan obituary history books the guardian. Dec 14, 2009 on matters of grand strategy keegan is at his best. His narrative is lamentably riddled with inaccuracies, including the dates, locations, and events of. Nov 01, 2009 in some respects the american civil war. He is the author of over a dozen books, including the iraq war, intelligence in war, the battle for history, the masks of command, a history of warfare, and the acclaimed the face of battle and the second world war. Oct 26, 2009 in this his latest book, john keegan has attempted the impossible. Keegan, a former senior lecturer onmilitary history at the royal military academy, sandhurst, and current defense editor of the daily telegraph in london, is adistinguished historian of war and the men who make it. Acclaim for john keegan s the american civil war keegan excels at explaining the events and circumstances leading up to the civil war, and explores how it might not have happened. The american civil war is exactly what it says on the tin.
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