Category: James Durney’s Book Notes

  • Civil War Book Review: Confederate Minds: The Struggle for Intellectual Independence in the Civil War South

    Confederate Minds: The Struggle for Intellectual Independence in the Civil War South by Michael T. Bernath Product Details Hardcover: 432 pages Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (July 7, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0807833916 ISBN-13: 978-0807833919 Independent, Southern tone, original and peculiar to itself You can always find a debate over whether the Confederate […]

  • Civil War Book Review: Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Redemption

    Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Redemption by Shane Kastler Product Details Hardcover: 176 pages Publisher: Pelican Publishing (October 1, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 1589808347 ISBN-13: 978-1589808348 If you wish to start a heated discussion praise/damn Forrest on a Civil War board.  Forrest is always a hot topic with strong opinions being voice by both sides.  A large […]

  • Civil War Book Review: A Rainbow of Blood: The Union in Peril An Alternate History

    A Rainbow of Blood: The Union in Peril An Alternate History by Peter G. Tsouras Product Details Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Potomac Books Inc.; 1 edition (July 31, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 1597972118 ISBN-13: 978-1597972116 I enjoy “what if” history understanding that alternate paths are very possible throughout our historical journey.  Doing alternate history is […]

  • September 2010 Civil War Book Notes

    Those that can’t write, Review! September 2010 James W. Durney *********************************************************** In my mailbox or on the shelves I want to recommend this book again.  I am enjoying the one-page Bios Part of the New Jersey Civil War Sesquicentennial is New Jersey Goes to War edited by Joseph G. Bilby containing 150 biographies of New […]

  • Civil War Book Review: The Grand Design: Strategy and the U.S. Civil War

    The Grand Design: Strategy and the U.S. Civil War by Donald Stoker Product Details Hardcover: 512 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 15, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0195373057 ISBN-13: 978-0195373059 Nations often stumble into war.  Miscalculations, expectations and preconceptions work together to blind one or both parties to reality.  The result is a war […]

  • Civil War Book Review: Commanding Lincoln’s Navy: Union Naval Leadership During the Civil War

    Commanding Lincoln’s Navy: Union Naval Leadership During the Civil War by Stephen R. Taaffe Product Details Hardcover: 352 pages Publisher: Naval Institute Press (May 4, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1591148553 ISBN-13: 978-1591148555 The author brings his considerable talents to the US Navy during the Civil War, their mission and their management.  As with Commanding the […]

  • August 2010 Civil War Book Notes

    Those that can’t write, Review! August 2010 James W. Durney *********************************************************** In my mailbox or on the shelves With no July issue, this section is larger.  Vacation was great but we are back to normal now. The Grand Design: Strategy and the U.S. Civil War by Donald Stoker examines how Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis […]