American Civil Wars: A Continental History, 1850-1873 [Paperback]

Alan Taylor is a formidable historian and masterly writer. Thomas E. Ricks, Alan Taylor&offers compelling new insights.& Mr. Taylors transnational approach reveals the often unnoticed connections between Americas war over slaverys future and the concurrent battles for individual rights in Mexico and Canada. Those doubting that there is anything fresh to say about the bloodiest event in the republics history should read Pulitzer Prize winner Alan Taylors brilliant, panoramic account of the conflict. Taylors core argument is a compelling, and ultimately convincing, one.& [I]n his books greatest strength, [Taylor] doesnt simply rehash the stories of these neighboring nations, but stitches them to the American saga. Indeed&it is the interplay of these jostling forces within Mexico, the United States, and Canada that truly makes the era, and his book, a continental swirl. Given the momentous events and delicious cast of characters, as well as the two-time Pulitzer winners masterful storytelling skills, its no surprise that the book is nearly impossible to put down. This penetrating study is a must for Civil War history buffs. From its first map showing the United States of America and the Confederate States of America bordered not only by each other but also by the Republic of Mexico, British Canada, and Indian Territory, With his trademark erudition, Alan Taylor illuminates the great conflicts that rocked Canada, Mexico, and the United States. He shows how these foundational national struggles, while unique, arose from similar tensions over state and national power and ended in greater federal authority. A truly North American history of the defining political crises of the nineteenth century.& A must-read for all Civil War aficionados.