Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Midnight on the Potomac:
An old story told new.
Quick synopsis:
A different look at the last year of the Civil War.
Fact for Non-History People:
Lincoln would even visit Confederate prisoner hospital tents during the war.
Fact for History Nerds:
One out of every 50 Americans were killed during the Civil War.
My Take on Midnight on the Potomac:
There is something to be said for telling an old story a new way. It felt quite refreshing to look at the last year of the Civil War in Scott Ellsworth’s Midnight on the Potomac. Ellsworth pieces together short, impactful vignettes of the North and South as the Civil War came to a close.
I would characterize the book as a gateway to history reading. If someone who didn’t normally read history wanted a recommendation for a Civil War book which was short but entertaining, then I would recommend this one. That’s not to say there aren’t some new nuggets in here for buffs, though. The best parts of the book are when Ellsworth looks at a singular person who isn’t written about anywhere else. For instance, I’d venture to say Amanda Akin, a Civil War nurse, is not generally highlighted in most literature on the war. Even though these sections can be short, they are not forgettable and they do add a new view to the proceedings. This is no small feat as I have run into a lot of books which just go off on a tangent rather than providing meaningful insights to background players.
Simply, if you don’t know the Civil War and are even a little bit interested, pick this one up. If you have read a lot on the subject, then there is still some new things in here even if you know the high points. You’ll still enjoy the ride.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by NetGalley and Dutton Books.)
Verdict:
Great for all audiences. Buy it here!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.