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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Elaine Laventure
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 4
WHAT I LEARNED
Color: U.S.A, Size: Medium
i AM NOT SURE THAT 4 STARS IS A FAIR SCORE, MY DOG IS AN AGGRESSIVE CHEWER, NEEDLESS TO SAY WITHIN 2 DAYS ALL THE TABS WERE OFF, BUT THERE WERE NUBS LEFT AND SHE CAN USE THAT. HERE IS A WHAT NOT TO DO, BRING IT TO THE DOG PARK, THEY ALL HAVE A BLAST BUT IF YOUR A BULLY/PIT MIX AND DECIDE TO SINK THEIR TEETH INTO IT, IT DOES DEFLAT. LESSONS LEARNED STILL A FUN TOY.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026
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Jedi and Waggy
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
Sturdy ball with pump
Color: Black/White, Size: Medium
Thick material so it won't pop so easy. Comes with a hand pump and 2 ball needles. Tabs for the dog to carry in his mouth. Although my dog bites the whole thing to carry. Savage loves it!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2026
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Grant C.
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Durable and fun
Size: Medium, Style: Ultra Tug, Size: Medium, Style: Ultra Tug
This is a cool toy. My dog took to it right away. It tosses great. I like that you can play a little tugging along with fetch. We mainly use it outdoors. It feels very strong and durable. For size reference my dog is a mini golden doodle and weighs about 30lbs.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2026
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Joshua J. Selby
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Great toy!
Size: Medium, Style: Ultra Tug
We have a 1 yr old rescue (German shepherd mix) and she didnt really know how to play with humans, she was scared of everything. We got this toy to help us teach her how to play fetch and tug of war and it really helped her come out of her shell. She loves this toy! It is very durable and fun to throw. Just enough rope to tug with her and doesn't come apart like other rope material. We got medium size and prob buy another one.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2026
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Clever Naming Scheme
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Durable
Size: Small, Style: Ultra Duo Tug
Well, our dogs didn't end up playing tug with each other, but they love the toy anyway and it still looks pretty good after a month. That doesn't sound like much, but they both love to chew and destroy rubber and they're ridiculously good at it. They also really like chewing the strap between the two balls, which is still in surprisingly good condition. Most "indestructible" toys are toast within the hour. Well worth the money. Plus, the unpredictable bounce when thrown keeps the dogs busy.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2026

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