James Ford Rhodes’s History of the Civil War, 1861–1865 is a landmark work of American historical writing, awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1918. In this single-volume account, Rhodes—a respected historian and former industrialist—offers a clear, detailed, and balanced narrative of the Civil War, covering its causes, major military campaigns, political developments, and enduring consequences.
Written in a concise and accessible style, the book examines the conflict from multiple perspectives, giving careful attention to both Union and Confederate viewpoints. Rhodes explores the roles of key figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee, while also analyzing the moral and political weight of slavery and emancipation.
Although published more than a century ago, Rhodes’s work remains notable for its scholarship and objectivity. It stands as a vital contribution to Civil War historiography—a compelling synthesis of military history, political insight, and human drama during one of the most transformative periods in American history.James Ford Rhodes’s History of the Civil War, 1861–1865 is a landmark work of American historical writing, awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1918. In this single-volume account, Rhodes—a respected historian and former industrialist—offers a clear, detailed, and balanced narrative of the Civil War, covering its causes, major military campaigns, political developments, and enduring consequences.
Written in a concise and accessible style, the book examines the conflict from multiple perspectives, giving careful attention to both Union and Confederate viewpoints. Rhodes explores the roles of key figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee, while also analyzing the moral and political weight of slavery and emancipation.
Although published more than a century ago, Rhodes’s work remains notable for its scholarship and objectivity. It stands as a vital contribution to Civil War historiography—a compelling synthesis of military history, political insight, and human drama during one of the most transformative periods in American history.