SKU: 63831493756

Drawn with the Sword: Reflections on the American Civil War

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Drawn with the Sword: Reflections on the American Civil WarJames M. McPherson is acclaimed as one of the finest historians writing today and a preeminent commentator on the Civil War. Battle Cry of Freedom, his Pulitzer Prize winning account of that conflict, was a national bestseller that Hugh Brogan, in The New York Times, called "history writing of the highest order." Now, in Drawn With the Sword, McPherson offers a series of thoughtful and engaging essays on some of the most enduring questions of the

James M. McPherson is acclaimed as one of the finest historians writing today and a preeminent commentator on the Civil War. Battle Cry of Freedom, his Pulitzer Prize-winning account of that conflict, was a national bestseller that Hugh Brogan, in The New York Times, called "history writing of the highest order." Now, in Drawn With the Sword, McPherson offers a series of thoughtful and engaging essays on some of the most enduring questions of the Civil War, written in the masterful prose that has become his trademark.

Filled with fresh interpretations, puncturing old myths and challenging new ones, Drawn With the Sword explores such questions as why the North won and why the South lost (emphasizing the role of contingency in the Northern victory), whether Southern or Northern aggression began the war, and who really freed the slaves, Abraham Lincoln or the slaves themselves. McPherson offers memorable portraits of the great leaders who people the landscape of the Civil War: Ulysses S. Grant, struggling to write his memoirs with the same courage and determination that marked his successes on the battlefield; Robert E. Lee, a brilliant general and a true gentleman, yet still a product of his time and place; and Abraham Lincoln, the leader and orator whose mythical figure still looms large over our cultural landscape. And McPherson discusses often-ignored issues such as the development of the Civil War into a modern "total war" against both soldiers and civilians, and the international impact of the American Civil War in advancing the cause of republicanism and democracy in countries from Brazil and Cuba to France and England. Of special interest is the final essay, entitled "What's the Matter With History?," a trenchant critique of the field of history today, which McPherson describes here as "more and more about less and less." He writes that professional historians have abandoned narrative history written for the greater audience of educated general readers in favor of impenetrable tomes on minor historical details which serve only to edify other academics, thus leaving the historical education of the general public to films and television programs such as Glory and Ken Burns's PBS documentary The Civil War.

Each essay in Drawn With the Sword reveals McPherson's own profound knowledge of the Civil War and of the controversies among historians, presenting all sides in clear and lucid prose and concluding with his own measured and eloquent opinions. Readers will rejoice that McPherson has once again proven by example that history can be both accurate and interesting, informative and well-written. Mark Twain wrote that the Civil War "wrought so profoundly upon the entire national character that the influence cannot be measured short of two or three generations." In Drawn With the Sword, McPherson gracefully and brilliantly illuminates this momentous conflict.


Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 12/01/1997
ISBN: 9780195117967
Pages: 272
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.30w x 0.80d
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SKU: 63831493756

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Ella
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Best S&P grinder set that I have ever used!
Cute chefs cap! Love that they are glass containers with ceramic grinders. Grinds salt granules and pepper corns very finely in both directions. Excellent purchase! Great value!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2026
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Elizabeth
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Came quickly as described!
The Grinders are very well made. I keep them right next to the stove, so they are used daily. The came quickly. Very easy to fill... You wont be disappointed !
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Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026
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Ann Henson
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Small and perfect
This salt and pepper grinder set are perfect for what I wanted. They are small in size, easy to fill and grind the S&P perfectly.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2026
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Anonymous
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Value!
Color: Tall Set - Black White
Better than anticipated. These are sturdy and work very well. They came with a little funnel to fill, but easy enough without it. They are attractive, I keep on top my stove as I have room. Grind well.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2025
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MM72
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 3
Defective coarseness adjuster
Color: Tall Set - Black White
These salt and pepper shakers are ok. According to the description of the product, you should be able to adjust the coarseness of the salt and pepper added to them, but that was not my case. The coarseness adjuster on the set I received is set to one position and there is no way of changing it. The grinders work well, but if you are looking to adjust the coarseness of your salt and/or pepper look for another grinder set.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2026

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