Mcpherson, phd, an american history expert and one of the most distinguished historians of our time, was awarded the pulitzer prize in 1989 for battle cry of freedom. The civil war era, examines the social, political, and economic factors related to antebellum america and the civil war. Mcpherson the civil war twentyfive years after he published one of the bestselling histories of the civil war, james mcpherson talks. When the book has been written by the nations preeminent scholar of the civil war, the answer is certainly yes. Mcphersons most popular book is battle cry of freedom. Perspectives on the civil war is a collection of 16 essays by wellknown historian james mcpherson on a number of civil war related topics. James mcpherson new york state archives partnership trust. Mcpherson visited binghamton university to deliver the ninth annual shriber lecture. He is now working on a book about the navies in the civil war. He is best known for his pulitzer prize winning book battle cry of freedom which is the best overview of the civil war. Mcpherson should need no introduction to those of you who have made the civil war a subject of particular study.
A life, and daniel james brown, the boys in the boat. James mcpherson 20 empire state archives and history award laureate james m. James mcpherson author civil war historian james m mcpherson. Mcpherson about the course of the civil war, its importance and why it still matters, the subject of his forthcoming book, the war that forged a nation march 2015. Some of revisionist james mcpherson s civil war scholarship has come under criticism from economist and abraham lincoln critic thomas dilorenzo for a perceived latent pronorth bias to his work and for exhibiting a liberal political bent. The civil war era by james m mcpherson online at alibris. James mcpherson is well known to civil war buffs and scholars. But pulitzer prize winner james mcpherson spends the nearly 300 pages of his new book, tried by war, proving this conventional wisdom over, and over and over again. Mcpherson is edwards professor of american history at princeton university. Americas leading historian of the civil war, he won the pulitzer prize for battle cry of freedom, which was a new york times bestseller, and he won the lincoln prize for for cause and comrades. James mcpherson endowed the new professorship in american history at gustavus, his alma mater. James mcphersons fastpaced narrative fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in mexico to the ending of another at appomattox.
Mcpherson, professor emeritus at princeton university and winner of the pulitzer prize, donated a. Abolitionists and the negro in the civil war and reconstruction in 1965. His other bestselling books include for cause and comrades. One of the most acclaimed historians of the civil war has established an endowed professorship in american history at gustavus adolphus college. Why men fought in the civil war, drawn with the sword. Rehm tackles a host of topics and issues on her segment, from current happenings and world news to hum. Mcpherson will be signing copies of his newest book, war on the waters. In particular he has critiqued mcpherson s grasp of economic issues.
For the american civil war general of similar name, see james b. James mcphersons pulitzer prize winning book battle cry of freedom is available from our civil war trustamazon bookstore james mcpherson was born in north dakota and raised in minnesota, where he graduated from gustavus adolphus college in 1958. His monumental battle cry of freedom is the best one volume account of the horrific civil war which claimed over 60o,ooo battle deaths. Mcpherson is the george henry davis 86 professor of history at princeton university. Mcpherson began by telling the familiar story of robert smalls, the slave from south carolina who famously escaped from slavery by stealing a steamboat and piloting it into union lines. Jim mcpherson born october 11, 1936 is an american civil war historian, and is the george henry davis 86 professor emeritus of united states history at princeton university. The american civil war 9780689848339 by mcpherson, james m. The year with the most videos was 2012 with seven videos. Some of you will recall that james mcpherson last fall gave the new york times a list of the best historians. Renowned civil war historian creates endowed professorship. Now he has given npr a list of six civil war books to read now. He weaves social, political, and racial tensions and ideologies into a compelling and driven narrative that helps readers understand the complexity of the war.
Mcpherson is considered to be the dean of civil war historians. Filled with fresh interpretations and information, puncturing old myths and challenging new ones, battle cry of freedom will unquestionably become the standard onevolume history of the civil war. What lessons should combat leaders draw from the civil war. He received the 1989 pulitzer prize for battle cry of freedom. Mcpherson, including battle cry of freedom, and for cause and comrades. The best historians and books according to james mcpherson. Mcpherson is a professor emeritus for the history department in the princeton university with 55 videos in the cspan video library.
Reflections on the american civil war, what they fought for, 18611865. In addition to serving as president of the american historical association, he has been president of protect historic america and the society of american historians. During his may 14 interview, author james mcpherson argued thatunderstanding the civil war was essential to understanding issues today. James mcpherson s fastpaced narrative fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in mexico to the ending of another at. Copies of his book, as well as his other recent publication, lincoln, tried by war. Encyclopedia of civil war biographies, edited by james m. Professor mcpherson sat down with wskg history to discuss his career, civil war history, and his involvement as a historical consultant on pbss civil war medical drama mercy street. James mcpherson spoke about his book, battle cry of freedom. The book, which earned the 1989 pulitzer prize in history, spans over eight hundred pages. His books include the struggle for equality, marching toward freedom, and ordeal by fire.
Mcpherson has 150 books on goodreads with 106310 ratings. James mcpherson slavery, freedom, and the union navy. Now featuring a new afterword by the author, this handy paperback edition of the pulitzer prizewinning battle cry of freedom is without question the definitive onevolume history of the civil war. Mcpherson is the author of twentytwo books and over thirty scholarly works on the civil war and the eras that preceded and followed the civil war. According to author, now prophet, james mcpherson, on page 79 in his 2009 book titled the library of congress civil war desk reference. Favorite civil war books that bring to life such an interesting and pivotal chapter in american history. James birdseye mcpherson november 14, 1828 july 22, 1864 was a career united states army officer who served as a general in the union army during the american civil war. Mcpherson to the show on september 27, 2012, to discuss his new book, war on the waters. Mcpherson was presented with the pulitzer prize for history for battle cry of freedom. James mcpherson, author of battle cry of freedom 1988 and over a dozen other books on the american civil war, will be here to answer questions starting at 1. Mcpherson won the pulitzer prize for this book, and when you read it, youll likely understand why. Mcphersons works mostly focus on the american civil war and reconstruction, including battle cry of freedom, which won a pulitzer prize in 1989, and for cause and comrades, which won the lincoln prize in 1998.
Mcpherson, explores why individuals fought in such a vicious contest. In 2014, the new york times published a brief interview with noted civil war historian james mcpherson, the george henry davis 1886 professor of american history at princeton university. Published on mar 17, 2015 one of the nations leading civil war historians, james mcpherson, explores why the war remains so deeply embedded in the national psyche and identity of americans today. Mcpherson s bold 1988 narrative, battle cry of freedom. Peter native, a renowned civil war historian, creates. He then stated that this famous story was by no means unique. Mcpherson was on the generals staff of henry halleck and later, of ulysses s. Mcpherson, phd, an american civil war expert and one of the most distinguished historians of our time, was awarded the pulitzer prize in 1989 for battle cry of freedom. An interview with historian james mcpherson civil war trust. Military history recently spoke with pulitzer prize winner and civil war historian james m. Pulitzer prizewinning civil war historian and 1958 gustavus alumnus dr. Symondss books on civil war generals and admirals, on naval.
He also spoke about how the conflict may, 2015 the war that forged a nation and. He is the author of numerous books on the war, the presidency of abraham lincoln, and other related subjects most recently war on the waters. The civil war era in 1989, which he considers to be the highlight of his career, and the ainsfieldwolf award for race relations for struggle for equality. Listeners to national public radio may be familiar with the popular show hosted by diane rehm. James mcpherson s fastpaced narrative fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of. Some of the essays are brand new, but most have been published before but have been reworked for this book. Mcpherson, well known for such works as battle cry of freedom, for cause and comrades, and tried by war, now offers war on the waters, a volume that compresses a complex topic into 226 pages of text and skillfully merges. Looking closer at the context in which he created the list, im more convinced he didnt mean it as a list for books about the civil war. Many southerners who did not own slaves hoped and expected to be able to do so in the future.
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