This is a book about the work of death in the american civil war. In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust reveals the ways that death on such a scale changed not only individual lives but the life of the nation, describing how the survivors managed on a practical level and how a deeply religious culture struggled to reconcile the unprecedented carnage with its belief in a benevolent god. Drew gilpin faust discusses her book, this republic of suffering. The american civil war was the result of a variety of causes ranging from enslavement and states rights to industrialization and societal change. It covers all aspects of death and how the war either changed trends or magnified thereof. Communities, parks and museums, primarily in the east and south, will continue to offer living historie. Sep 18, 2012 drew faust, author, this republic of suffering. I wrote republic of suffering after working on the civil war for decades. The most distinctive and widespread experience of the civil war was the.
Its a different look at the civil war through the lens of death. In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust demonstrates how the unprecedented carnage, both military and civilian, caused by the civil war forever changed american assumptions about death. October 24, 2008 in this republic of suffering, historian drew gilpin faust reveals that the rate of death during the american civil war was six times that of world war ii a fact which. What do you really know about the major turning points of the american civil war.
An equivalent proportion of todays population would be. The north had more soldiers, more manufactu the confederacy lost the civil war for a variety of reasons, chief among them a lack. To set the scene for our discussion of books about the american civil war, please tell me about your book, this republic of suffering, which illuminates the toll of the war. Faust explores the major changes to mid19thcentury americas traditions and customs of honoring the dead.
This book won the american history book prize of the new york historical societyand was a finalist for the national book award in 2008. The american civil war was fought, from 1861 through 1865, over sectional issues between north and south, including questions of slavery and the power of the central. Jan 08, 2008 more than 600,000 soldiers lost their lives in the american civil war. The central african republic is amid a brutal civil war that has killed tens of thousands. The tremendous change that swept the united states due to the horrendous number of war dead.
A finalist for both the pulitzer prize and the national book award, this republic of suffering details how mass death affected the lives of survivors during and after the civil war. This republic of suffering explores the impact of this enormous death toll from e. Death and the american civil war, drew gilpin faust explores the war that changed americas relationship with death. Jan 09, 2008 historian drew gilpin faust writes that civil war deaths both their number and their manner transformed america.
Death and the american civil war this republic of suffering. The ric burns film is based on the book this republic of suffering by harvard president drew gilpin faust. Death and the american civil war is a nonfiction book published in 2008 by drew gilpin faust, an american historian and the first woman to serve as president of harvard university. This republic of suffering quotes by drew gilpin faust. This republic of suffering by drew faust five books expert. Foregoing the usual discussions of battles and tactics she focuses on personal values and culture taking us into the minds of 1860s americans. Theres two things that rick wilson loves the most in this world. Death and the american civil war vintage civil war library drew gilpin faust. By relying heavily on letters and other personal documents of combatants, their families and others, she puts more of. As drew gilpin faust explores in this republic of suffering. An equivalent proportion of todays population would be six million. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide faust, drew gilpin, this republic of suffering.
Death and the american civil war, a thoughtful study of the impact of the war s massive death toll on society and government. Description an illuminating study of the american struggle to comprehend the meaning and practicalities of death in the face of the unprecedented carnage of the civil war. Feb 19, 2021 rereading drew gilpin fausts often cited and highly regarded book, this republic of suffering. An illuminating study of the american struggle to comprehend the meaning and practicalities of death in the face of the unprecedented carnage of the civil war. The civil war death rate was six times that of world war ii, when. The tremendous change that swept the united states due to the. What do you know about the major turning points of the american civil war. It seeks to describe how between 1861 and 1865 and into the decades that followed americans undertook a kind of work that. The very interesting this republic of suffering by drew gilpin faust, president of harvard university, might be a bit morbid for some readers since it deals with death, dying, burial and such issues during the civil war. Faust examines all aspects of death in the american civil war in this unique, insightful topical history.
Sep 19, 2012 ric burnss latest film is based largely on fausts book this republic of suffering. The american civil war first began when confederate troops opened fire on fort sumter in charleston harbor. Sixty percent of the battles were fought in virginia. Death and the american civil war, which addresses the vast landscape of death and suffering experienced during the war years and beyond. This republic of suffering drew gilpin faust first. Jan 27, 2008 this is a book about the work of death in the american civil war. Fausts originality is grounded in a rudimentary social factthat during the civil war, a lot of people died over 620,000 and those who lived had to deal with it. This republic of suffering by drew gilpin faust was, to me, an extraordinary book because, as i said earlier, we have written so much and watched so many movies that we think we know all about the civil war. Mar 27, 2008 an illuminating study of the american struggle to comprehend the meaning and practicalities of death in the face of the unprecedented carnage of the civil war. The causes of the civil war may be traced to a complex mix of factors, some of which can be t. Jan 27, 2008 the lasting but littleunderstood impact of all that sacrifice is the subject of drew gilpin fausts extraordinary new book, this republic of suffering.
But what the civil war was about, when you break it down to its essential components, was mass killing on a scale. Discover the latest and greatest in ebooks and audiobooks. Brimming with empathy, she recounts the grit of life during wartime through the lens of the dying and the mourning. Then again, the american civil war was a gruesome war. The two sides involved in the american civil war were the union, which represented the north, and the confederacy, which represented the south. The airing of this important program comes not just on the same week as the 150th anniversary of the battle of antietam. More than 600,000 soldiers lost their lives in the american civil war. She joins rick and cohost molly jongfast to chat about her exp. In suffering, faust says the civil war changed our idea of. This republic of suffering demolishes sentimentalism for the civil war in a masterpiece of research, realism, and originality. This republic of suffering by drew faust five books. After the war ended, struble sent flowers every memorial day to decorate his own grave, to honor the unknown soldier it sheltered and perhaps to acknowledge that there but for gods grace he might lie. Testifying to its authors fascination with death 324, this scholarly and abundantly illustrated work focuses on the history of the american idea of the good death as this concept took shape during the civil war. Nbcs cynthia mcfadden investigates for today, providing a heartbreaking look at how its affecting the countrys children and sharing how people can.
In suffering, faust says the civil war changed our idea. Like remarques the road back, fausts this republic of suffering is a cartography of sortsmapping how people respond to trauma, defeat, and above all mass death. Death and the american civil war, the massive number of deaths embarked america on a new relationship with death, one that transformed society, culture and politics. This book is replete with personal experiences and observations of soldiers and their families. On this episode of the new abnormal, taste the nation host padma lakshmi combines the two. This republic of suffering summary and study guide. In the end one can only conclude, as the author does, that the meaning of the civil war lies in death itself. Learn more about the american civil war with the resources compiled in this comprehensive list of battles fought during this fouryear conflict. This republic of suffering by drew gilpin faust the president of harvard, and a woman, fyi is a history of the civil war period that focuses on the devastating death toll of the conflict and its effects on american culture of that time and since. Death and the american civil war 2008, has a new degree of relevance as we begin year two of the pandemic. Death and the american civil war offers a look into the civil war that is truly unique the impact of death as a phenomenon upon individuals whose reactions ranged from horror and refusal of participating in killing to gleeful celebrations of killing, and upon america as a society and culture. Fausts extraordinary new book, this republic of suffering.
In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust reveals. Drew fausts brilliant new book, this republic of suffering, builds profoundly from the opening discussion of the christian ideal of the good death to the last harrowing chapters on the exhumation, partial identification, reburial and counting of the union dead. In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust reveals the ways that death on such a scale changed not only individual lives but the life of the nation, describing how the survivors managed on a practical level and how a deeply religious culture. Death and the american civil war awaiting the heavenly country. This republic of suffering explores the impact of this enormous death toll from every angle. The united states embarked on a new relationship with death during the civil war in a whole series of ways. There were the two sides involved in the american civil war were the union, which represented th. American experience death and the civil war season 28.
Death and the american civil war by drew gilpin faust, alfred a. Dec 06, 2020 in her 2008 book this republic of suffering. Civil war social historian drew gilpin faust, recently installed as president of harvard university, has written an eyeopening, thoroughly researched, and highly original account of how the civil war generation dealt with the daily, horrific realities of death. The american civil war, a conflict of considerable scale, was fought on home soil. Most civil war books are about great battles and specific generals. During the war, approximately 620,000 soldiers lost their lives. Fausts originality is grounded in a rudimentary social factthat during the civil war, a lot of people died over 620,000 and those who lived had to deal with. Fausts book is an illuminating study of the american struggle to comprehend the meaning and practicalities of death in the face of the unprecedented carnage of the civil war. Death and the american civil war by drew gilpin faust 2008. In 1860, the united states was a different country. This description may be from another edition of this product.
The american civil war was fought, from 1861 through 1865, over sectional issues between north and south, including questions of slavery and the power of the central government to enforce its will within the united states. She and her husband live in cambridge, massachusetts. As i completed a book about southern women, i recognized that they were saying something to me that i hadnt seen made clear beforethat the civil war death toll transformed those who survived. The confederacy lost the civil war for a variety of reasons, chief among them a lack of resources and manpower.
What many americans believed would be a northern rout turned into a vicious bloodbath the deadliest war in united states history. Published by random house usa inc, united states, new york 2009 isbn 10. William ridgway after felix octavius carr darleywikimedia commonspublic domain on february 4, 1861, delegates from the seven seced. Drew gilpin fasts book, this republic of suffering, covers something much more personal. Author ivy schweitzer posted on november 10, 2018 october 31, 2020 categories dickinsons family and friends, spirituality and religion, travel and global tags civil war, making a good death, naseer hassan, the republic of suffering.
Hulton archive getty images the battles of the civil war were fought across the united states. Mary trumps legal battles against her uncle might seem like a fun little political soap opera, but its way more than that, marys lawyer ted boutrous explains on the latest episode of the new abnormal. Drew gilpin faust talked about her book this republic of suffering. Best books on the american civil war five books expert.
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