Helpful Score: 2
Jay Winik's in depth analysis of the mid 19th century American geo-political landscape and the events and momentous decisions by a few men,in April 1865, North and South, that helped forge and solidify the nation was both interesting and enlightening. If you like history, it is great reading.
Helpful Score: 2
This is a great book about the end of the Civil War...One month in 1865 witnessed the frenzied fall of Richmond, a daring last-ditch Southern plan for guerrilla warfare, Lee's harrowing retreat, and then, Appomattox. It saw Lincoln's assassination just five days later and a near-successful plot to decapitate the Union government, followed by chaos and coup fears in the North, collapsed negotiations and continued bloodshed in the South, and finally, the start of national reconciliation.
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of the most well written and interesting books I have ever read. While its main theme is the confluence of major events in April, 1865, it is historical in many other respects, and it gives excellant descriptions of all of the main characters in the Civil War. A must read!
Helpful Score: 1
Well, his major premise is that this was the fulcrum month, the US was actually forged as a united nation, when it could have dissolved into guerrilla war and chaos. Somehow, he doesn't have enough hard information to make his case convincingly, and it ends up being a rather metaphysical argument. He spends a fair amount of time reviewing US history before the Civil War, and a fair amount after, which is interesting, but I wish he would have stayed a bit more on point, since it is a rather short book.
