March 2010

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Book Review: This Republic of Suffering

The book "This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War" was recommended to me by a follower on Twitter, and I definitely think it is worth reading! The book, by Drew Gilpin Faust, discusses how the incredible death on a national scale during the Civil War affected the country and the lives of individuals. It uses first-hand accounts of soldiers, relatives of soldiers, preachers, surgeons and others to describe how death was handled in a time of overwhelming casualties.

Faust details many aspects of the Civil War that before had remained relatively unknown to me. This book describes how the soldiers handled death, burials and killing each other, how relatives searched for loved ones and reacted to devastating news after battles, how the principle of the Good Death was enacted during war, and how different people during the Civil War sought to find meaning amid such catastrophic losses. It also tells how different organizations in the North and South honored the dead by creating cemeteries and trying to identify those that were lost. It also gives accounts of how family members remembered and honored their loved ones.

The Good: First of all, the writing is informative and engaging. I read this book fairly quickly as it was hard to put down, even when dealing with such a difficult topic. Many of the subjects in this book are not usually mentioned when talking about the Civil War, how the massive casualties affected the soldiers, their families, and the nation as a whole. Many previous books I've read talk only about the military campaigns or the political side of it. Secondly, I loved how this book uses first person accounts, songs and poems from the time, and newspaper articles to draw the reader in. It does an incredible job of detailing how death was dealt with on a large scale.

The Bad: This book deals with a topic that many people in the twentieth century still find difficult to talk about, that of death and its meaning. It is a very difficult subject to discuss, and I found myself having to read the book in small portions at one time to get through it. It is not a book for those who have a difficult time with the subject of death and dying or have difficulties reading vivid and often disturbing accounts of fighting and dying in war.

The Ugly: None to mention

Conclusion: This is one of the best books I've read on the Civil War. It is not a military history by any means but deals more with the social aspects of the war, geared specifically towards how soldiers and civilians alike handled dying, mourning, honoring the dead, and what the deeper meanings of this national tragedy might be. I highly recommend this book for any Civil War buff, especially to go beyond the statistics and military facts to give a different perspective on what the war cost in human lives and suffering.

Review of John Adams HBO Miniseries

The seven-part miniseries from HBO John Adams I viewed a few months ago did not disappoint. I have heard about this series before but hadn’t taken the time to watch it until recently. This series was realistic in its portrayal of the violence of the American Revolution and also the struggles the new country faced after independence was won. I applaud the focus on John Adams as an important figure to our nation.

Paul Giamatti gives a first-rate performance, portraying Adam’s political genius and incredible gift of oratory. John Adams might be the most underrated of the Founding Fathers. His presidency left a cloud hanging over him, yet his contributions to the American Revolution and birth of the country should not be overlooked. Laura Linney also gives a stellar performance as Abigail Adams. Not only was she Adams’ wife, but his advisor and confidant who was strong and intelligent.

This series was incredibly realistic and authentic down to the last detail. The costumes, locations, and dialogue all transport the viewers back to the 18th Century. It gives a gritty view of the Revolution, portraying mob violence, the horrific conditions of the army camps, and the dangers of epidemics. In contrast to this is the luxuries of the loyalty and nobility of the French society when Adams arrives as a diplomat. It really does show how radical the Revolution was at that time, and how important the Founding Fathers were to the birth of the nation.

I’m glad the story continues after the Revolution to explain what happened after the country won the war. Many people think that the story ends there, but the first few years of this new republic were crucial and filled with all sorts of political intrigues and troubles. Washington’s terms of office saw the beginning of the two-party system. Adam’s administration almost went to war with France, but in end, he kept the new country out of a potentially devastating conflict.

After seeing this series and reading the book it is based on, John Adams by David McCullough, I've come to appreciate and admire John Adams even more. I'd strongly recommend this series and book to everyone, not just history lovers like myself.

Lewis and Clark in Idaho

I've noticed that my own state of Idaho has a peculiar fascination with the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804. After all, part of Idaho's claim to fame is what happened to the explorers when Lewis & Clark reached the land that would become the state of Idaho. During a trip up north to Lewiston last fall, I became more aware of how much Idaho celebrates Lewis and Clark and a Shoshone woman named Sacajawea.

Sacajawea Statue at Lewis-Clark State College

On August 12, 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition crossed Lemhi Pass into present-day Idaho and shortly thereafter met a band of Lemhi Shoshonis. Lewis and Clark had brought along a young woman named Sacajawea and also her husband Charbonneau. They met Charbonneau, a French fur trapper, and Sacajawea at Fort Mandan during the previous winter and hired them as interpreters. Sacajawea would prove to be especially important. Lewis and Clark traded with the Shoshones and, with Sacajawea's help, was able to procure much needed horses to continue their journey.

Lewis and Clark with Nez Perce Chief Twisted Hair

The Corps of Discovery went back into Montana but then headed west again, crossing back into Idaho at Lolo Pass in September. Traveling across the formidable Bitterroot Mountains of north central Idaho was incredibly difficult, and they almost ran out of food. However, they were rescued from starvation by the Nez Perce Indians. The Nez Perce were very friendly and helped the group build canoes to continue. In October, Lewis and Clark camped at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, then departed Idaho and headed into Washington.

Lewis and Clark Camp Marker

Idahoans are proud of this heritage from Lewis and Clark, and I saw many examples on my road trip. The modern-day cities of Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington right across the river are obviously named for the explorers. Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston is named after them. While visiting a friend who goes to school there, I discovered their campus has buildings dedicated to them, and it has a beautiful statue of Sacajawea. We also saw a small interpretive center located next to the Snake and Clearwater Rivers with a replica dugout canoe and a marker pointing out when and where they had camped.

Lewis and Clark is a large part of Idaho's history and that can be seen just by visiting northern Idaho. I find myself continually on the lookout for memorials, statues, and names dedicated to their expedition!

Links to Learn More:

Thoughts on Studying Eastern Civilizations

This semester I have been taking a class on Eastern Civilizations, and we have been delving into Chinese history and philosophy the last few weeks. After finishing this section, I find myself amazed at how my knowledge and understanding of China has grown. It has made me somewhat frustrated that I haven't learned this information before. I've been pondering lately why we, as Americans, know so little about Asian countries and cultures.

I think one reason for this is that we are not normally taught this information in school. I remember having to take United States History and Western Civilizations during high school but never one on Eastern Civilizations. I think this is a shame, because there is so much to learn from the history of these countries. I know that there are a lot of factors that determine what classes are offered, but I also have seen the benefits of taking such classes.

Another possible reason why we don't know about the history or cultures of these countries is because it is difficult for Western minds to understand the different philosophies and worldviews of the East. Even after being immersed in the class, it is still a struggle for me to understand the values and perspectives of people that are opposite from myself. It is often a stretch to try to understand a completely different culture. I know this from personal experience!

This class I'm currently taking on Eastern Civilizations has opened my eyes to understanding more of current events and situations, like the relationship between the U.S. and China. I now know what people are talking about when they mention certain events, like the Opium Wars or Tienanmen Square. I believe we need to understand the history of other these countries, because it is important to understanding our own history.

Book Review: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the American Revolution

Before I read the book, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the American Revolution,” I would have called myself close to an idiot in regards to knowing about what happened in the Revolution. The birth of our nation has not been a topic of extreme interest for me until recently. Of course, I learned about the war for America’s independence in history classes, but it did not really capture my attention until visiting Yorktown last summer. This last 4th of July, the History Channel ran a special on the Revolution, and it was then that I wanted to know more.

“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the American Revolution” gives the history of America from when Columbus first landed in the West Indies to the adoption of the Constitution in 1789. It goes into great detail about the causes and events leading up to the Revolution, the major battles and campaigns (lesser known ones as well), how it ended, and the birth of the independent American nation. The book goes one step further in discussing the problems with the ineffective Articles of Confederation and then the construction of the Constitution.

The Good: This book does a better job of explaining the American Revolution and goes into much greater detail than the 13-part documentary, The Revolution, from the History Channel. It discusses the causes much better, including descriptions of the wars that took place in the colonies leading up to the Revolution, like the French and Indian War. The book does a great job of actually explaining how the British colonies developed and why many people choose to remain Loyalists during the War.

What I liked most about the book was that it described the major battles and campaigns of the war and the lesser known guerilla warfare that happened in the wilderness during that time. It introduces the reader to important players in the war and gives understandable definitions of terms that are not well-known today. The indexes include all these terms and names as well as a list of Revolutionary War sites to visit and where they are located.

The Bad: The only real criticism I had of the book was that it ended with the adoption of the Constitution and didn’t go any further. Many points of conflict remained between the British and Americans that led up to the War of 1812. While the book had several maps, I found myself wanting more of them included in it to understand the different campaigns.

The Ugly: None to mention

Conclusion: This book is highly recommended for those just starting to learn about the American Revolution. It refrains from intimidating language often found in other scholarly works that scares off readers. It does a good job of making the point that winning the Revolution was not guaranteed. At many points, the war hung by a thread and the American victory could even be called miraculous. Overall, the book shows just how radical the American Revolution really was and continues to be.