This is in fact an interesting piece of literature that was produced by the Bruce Catton, unlike his usual commentary on the American Civil War; his novel captures the sentiments of a young man coming of age and incorporates a strong nostalgic component that has become a major part of the American life (Ch. 11, p. 246). Having been a part of an era, where the aftermath of the war still reverberated throughout the nation and for the author, Catton, those were the stories that he had grown up listening to in rural Michigan.…
The many features, trends, themes, and characteristics are repeated, but only one of two of each really stood out and helped lift up the book. One feature of the book was that the major events were not leaped to skipping the transition stage. The minor events and transitions between, after, and before the battles were not left out or sacrificed in detail. The book made the reader feel as if you were one of the every changing number of soldiers. The important trend happens to be mentioned almost after almost every battle was the mentioning of the state of Washington and what the rest of the counties opinion incorporated as well. A theme that was strongly backed by David McCullough was that George Washington was not a brilliant strategist or was he a without blunders and mistakes, but he had perseverance and showed that he learned from experience. Finally he gave a spirit to the army and was the difference in victory and defeat. Lastly, two characteristics of the book stood out the most. First the amount of detail was wonderful and made the reader become…
In his story-based composition, McCullough writes to interest even the pickiest of readers. He personifies the tales of the American Revolution, allowing even the dullest of battles to become suddenly amusing. Also, he provides anecdotes of most of the leading generals of the war, allowing the reader…
The novel I chose for the historical book review is called The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara. This novel is about the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War, and it is written from the perspective of the people fighting while sharing their thoughts and feelings about the battle as it goes on. Although it is historical fiction, The Killer Angels centers around the Battle of Gettysburg, which, of course, really took place. While the strategy of the battle is factual, the dialogue is fictitious. The book starts with a Foreword that gives details of the armies and people involved. Four main chronological sections cover the days of Monday, June 29, 1863, through Friday, July 3, 1863, while switching between viewpoints Union and Confederate participants. An Afterword tells the reader what happens to several of the key characters. Even though a chapter is written from one commander's perspective, the author still allows you to see what some of the other characters in those scenes are thinking. Without this way of writing the novel, the reader wouldn’t truly be able to understand thoughts and opinions of the soldiers, so some of the choices wouldn't have made as much sense. Shaara included the arguments between characters about how to go about the attack, which gives the reader much more details about how complicated the few days of the battle were.…
Fredrick Douglass narrates his novel using ethos, logos and pathos, all of which help him to establish credibility, emotion, and a personal connection with the reader. Through Douglass’ use of example which appeal to all three, the reader can find a substantial amount examples which appeal to pathos, which helps Douglass to establish not only a connection with the reader, but to emit emotion from them as well.…
4. ^ "Writers hall picks four inductees" (http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/091909/uga_494743547.shtml). Online Athens (Athens Banner Herald). September 19, 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009. 5. ^ Georgia and Henry Lincoln Douglass, African-American Heritage Trail. (http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/things-do-see/georgia-douglas-johnson-and-henry-lincoln-johnson-africanamerican-heritage-trail) From culturaltourismdc.org. Retrieved February 6, 2013.…
In both pieces of writing, the revolutionizing settings heighten the theme. In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the slave owners of historical America impose harsh treatment…
His stories were intened for national standards, let alone international ones were impressive. He uses first hand knowledge on why 20th century Civil wars followed. And why a cycle of endless bloodshed occured. In the case we found a surprising split for the United States of reconciliation immediately after the Appomattox. The survival of the United States as one nation was at risk. We come to find out in Winik's writing from the book that Reconstruction isnt easy, he writes "Yet Reconstruction is complex, it is nuanced, and , to later generations almost wholly baffling and prone to being misunderstood.The popular conception is that Reconstruction was to commence at war's end."2 Acknowledgeing the awful, violent, bitter political fights that accured and continued during the Reconstruction - over the four million freed slaves status particulary - and an entire nation was released from the oppressive weight of slavery. We believe that when Abraham Lincoln pleas for his second inaugral address, hoping for compassion and forgiveness, Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman generously gives in terms, but Robert E. Lee use guerilla warefare as a refusal which created an atmosphere that ultimately led to a lasting peace. Because this was where and how Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appmattox Courthouse, ending the American Civil War. As…
[5] Stauffer, John. Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass & Abraham Lincoln (Warner Books, 2008)…
The novel is an enjoyable and entertaining read, yet there are a vast number who do not believe so. Killing Lincoln has been banned from one of the Ford’s Theatre bookstores while the others still continue to sell it (Horowitz). In my opinion, I feel that is a little absurd. O’Reilly states that there were several meetings held in the oval office before the oval office was even constructed. Yes that is incorrect because it was not constructed until the Taft administration, but it is a minor detail. It does not take away from the bigger picture and importance of why the book was written in the first place. His next mistake was citing that the Ford Theatre was burned in 1862 instead of 1861. Does one year make that big of a difference to all those historians out there? The peephole in the state box door was carved by Harry Ford, manager of the Ford’s Theatre, not Booth but by stating that Booth had carved the peephole, it keeps the readers on their toes and more interested. It spices things up. That’s what books are meant to do. Attract and hook readers into the novel. That was O’Reilly’s goal. Not to just write another history book, but to write one that could be informational while entertaining at the same time even though that means making the slightest mistakes to keep it entertaining.…
Melvin Burgess uses language very powerfully in a variety of different ways. He uses very persuasive ways of changing the readers opinion but leaves it open a bit to you can still think what you want and kind of have your own opinion about the book but adds a bit of his own opinion.…
David McCullough once said, “Every book is a new journey.” This statement holds so much truthfulness for McCullough because he believes that to write a good book you must read what your subject read and go where you subject has been. By doing this McCullough is able to get to know his subject on a personal level. By reaching this level he was able to achieve greatness. Not only has McCullough won the heart of Americans, he has won two Pulitzer Prizes on his works, Truman and John Adams. He has also one two National Book Awards, for his books, Mornings on Horseback and The Path Between the Seas. Among his many honors, his most admiral award is the Presidential Medal of Freedom, this is an award given by the President of the United States.…
Abstract: Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts Wars and conflicts may determine the rise or fall of great leaders. Even today, such leaders are portrayed as martyrs for their impeccable courage and valor on the battlefield. In Bruce Catton's essay, Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts, he reveals the different leadership styles of both generals and then presents the strength of two conflicting currents that entered into a final collision, the Civil War. Catton introduces a sentiment of excitement and change in his beginning paragraphs by introducing comradeship and amnesty. These concepts represent the pinnacle of American history and its new foundations. Catton uses literary techniques of diction, contrast, and juxtaposition to reveal the situation that was presented to both generals.…
During the Civil War Era Frederick Douglass, Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln went through some difficult times. Each of their writings was affected differently by the Civil War. All three of these men’s writings were emotionally impacted.…
The book occurs in the past and there were many important events during this time period. I would recommend this book to people who are in high school, therefore he or she would already have background information and had learned parts about the history of the United States. Any kind of reader who is fascinated in sports, history, and an action genre would like this…