Interesting, and All Too Familiar

Exhaustively researched, this book chronicles the events leading up to the Civil War and takes the reader right on through it. There is no stone left unturned--battle by battle, conversations regarding the foes' perceptions of progress or failings --it's all here. There are many quotes that leave one reeling in their ring of modern-day sentiment, which is more than a bit scary. It seems that these sentiments run deep and have been taught effectively over the last 150 years. It explains a lot.

I confess there were times when I didn't read for depth but rather for general sense (in other words, I skimmed) but for the true Civil War or history aficionado, this is a must-read.