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. Death and the civil war dvd,based on the bestselling book by drew gilpin faust, this film will explore how the american civil war created a republic of suffering and will chart the farreaching social, political, and social changes brought about by the pervasive presence and fear of death during the civil war. He is a contributing editor for the writer magazine. Death and the american civil war january 9, 2008 on january 9, 2008, harvard university president drew gilpin faust spoke on her newest book, this republic of suffering. Jan 09, 2008 historian drew gilpin faust writes that civil war deaths both their number and their manner transformed america. Death created the modern american union, she writes, not just by ensuring national survival, but by shaping enduring national structures and. It is very well written, exhaustive in its coverage of the topic of death in the civil war, and deserving of the accolades it received when it was first published. This republic of suffering explores the impact of this enormous death toll from every. As drew gilpin faust explores in this republic of suffering. The book was also a finalist for the national book. Ric burnss latest film is based largely on fausts book this republic of suffering. Plante is a chief for research services in the national archives and records administration with three videos in the cspan video library. Faust concludes her work with a powerful and sobering conclusion in the books epilogue, surviving. Death and the american civil war knopf, 2008 isbn 9780375404047.
Jan 26, 2008 the lasting but littleunderstood impact of all that sacrifice is the subject of drew gilpin fausts extraordinary new book, this republic of suffering. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience. Killing and death were ultraimportant to the common civil war soldier. American civil war ebooks for all free ebooks download. Historian drew gilpin faust explores the civil wars death toll from every angle, delineating the ways death changed not only individual lives but the life of the nation and its understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
For one of the few experiences shared by all living beings, death has been accorded remarkably little attention from historians. The starting point for drew gilpin fausts new book rests on one of the most basic facts about civil war america. This was a fantastic book, though sometimes hard to stomach. Most civil war books are about great battles and specific generals. 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 by drew gilpin faust published in 2008. Fausts book about the work of death in fact brings death to life.
Sep 21, 2012 in her book this republic of suffering. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide faust, drew gilpin, this republic of suffering. More than 600,000 soldiers lost their lives in the american civil war. Although it is a sad book in many ways, this republic of suffering is a joy to read. Best of all, if after reading an e book, you buy a paper version of this republic of suffering. 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. 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. Fausts painstakingly researched account of the civil war dead details how they died, what happened to their bodies, how families received the news, how they mourned, and how the north and the south this republic of suffering. The united states christian commission uscc was an organization that furnished supplies, medical services, and religious literature to union troops during the american civil war. The airing of this important program comes not just on the same week as the 150th anniversary of the battle of antietam. Drew gilpin fasts book, this republic of suffering, covers something much more personal. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.
Sep 21, 2012 drew faust on the shared suffering of the civil war in her book this republic of suffering. Death and the american civil war, historian drew gilpin faust writes that civil war deaths both. Death and the american civil war from the worlds largest community of readers. Death and the american civil war by drew gilpin faust. Drew faust and mark schantz similarly recognize the significance of the war to american deathways. Blight examine the lives that were irrevocably changed by. By relying heavily on letters and other personal documents of.
Death and the american civil war penguin random house. Death and the american civil war 43008 two renowned civil war historians drew gilpin faust and david w. This page contains details about the nonfiction book this republic of suffering. The united states embarked on a new relationship with death during the civil war in a whole series of ways.
Anthropologists have long recognized the centrality of rituals surrounding the end of life to a societys culture, but historians, with a few notable exceptions, have generally avoided a subject that might prove just as illuminating of larger meaning patterns as do. 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. Death and the american civil war by drew gilpin faust, president online at alibris. An equivalent proportion of todays population would be six million. Fausts book about the work of death in fact brings. Jun 30, 2008 in a beautifully written, deeply researched and profoundly thoughtful book that may earn her the title of the finest civil war scholar in the united states, harvards new president, drew faust, takes the reader on an emotive and analytical tour of death in civil war america. An illuminating study of the american struggle to compr. The tragic deaths of the civil war and their meaning and treatment by both north and south are the subjects of this republic of suffering. It supplied protestant chaplains and social workers and collaborated with the u. Death and the american civil war vintage civil war library. Death and the american civil war, in which she explores the impact of the death toll of approximately 620,000 soldier during the.
During her tenure there, she published this book, which was a finalist for both the pulitzer prize and the national book award. Death and the american civil war, which addresses the vast landscape of death and suffering experienced during the war years and beyond. Burns said the new film was inspired by harvard president drew fausts 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 program featured a clip from the pbs documentary death and the civil war, produced by burns and based upon fausts book this republic of suffering. Both authors have produced beautifully written and thoughtprovoking inquiries into the topic. I will begin by saying it is the least favorite book i have ever read. Drew gilpin faust talks about her book this republic of suffering. It is one of the best books on the civil war i have read in a long time.
The lasting but littleunderstood impact of all that sacrifice is the subject of drew gilpin fausts extraordinary new book, this republic of suffering. Historian drew gilpin faust writes that civil war deaths both their number and their manner transformed america. Death and the american civil war vintage civil war library faust, drew gilpin on. Death and the american civil war audiobook by drew gilpin faust. Chuck leddy is a member of the national book critics circle who writes frequently about american history. Ebooks for all more than 3000 free ebooks online home ebooks by. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. This republic of suffering excerpt american civil war. American civil war book, united states book, united states history book. More than 2000 free ebooks to read or download in english for your computer, smartphone, ereader or tablet. If you own the to this book and it is wrongfully on our website, we offer a simple dmca. Death and the american civil war audiobook drew gilpin faust.
Drew faust on the shared suffering of the civil war wbur news. Death and the american civil war, historian drew gilpin faust writes that civil war deaths both their number and their manner transformed america. In the actual civil war, the one that happened, the question of the divine and, more specifically, of theodicywhy god permits evilwas at. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. This republic of suffering demolishes sentimentalism for the civil war in a masterpiece of research, realism, and originality. For those who study the history of death, the civil war has long been a milestone in the evolution of american death culture. I love it because it shows a perspective that is not very often seen in many other books.
This republic of suffering explores the impact of this enormous death toll from every angle. Drew faust on the shared suffering of the civil war. This republic of suffering vintage civil war library. General readers will be riveted by the personal and passionate stories of soldiers clutching photographs of their children while dying on the battlefield, of emily dickinson reading newspapers and.
Jan 02, 2012 i got this republic of suffering for christmas this year. This book won the american history book prize of the new york historical societyand was a finalist for the national book award in 2008. Death and the american civil war is a nonfiction book by drew gilpin faust, a wellknown historian and the first female president of harvard university. Americans are no strangers to the destruction and horrific bloodletting that defined this nations civil war. Historian drew gilpin faust explores the civil war s death toll from every angle, delineating the ways death changed not only individual lives but the life of the nation and its understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. An equivalent proportion of todays population would be. 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. It combined religious support with social services and recreational activities. Publication date 2008 topics death, death, burial, burial.