While not necessarily revisionist, the sanitizing of history certainly surfaces. The creative liberties also lean into ‘lost cause’ mythology and to some ‘bad faith’ historical representations. The American Civil War 1861 to 1865.
Credit where due, one of the better lines I've come across in a while. Great read also, have always liked the Frenchman, his savvy retreat at Corinth reminding of the creative measures at Gallipoli with the evacuation, obviously the Petersburg defences and Bermuda Hundred being his finest moment, criminally underrated general.
On Reconstruction I would recommend Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution 1863-1877 by Eric Foner for the standard contemporary interpretation. The most intelligent counter to Foner is The Ordeal of the Reunion: A New History of Reconstruction by Mark Wahlgren Summers. I have issues with Foner but I respect him ad he should always be read. Summers though is head and shoulders above everyone. There is no better researcher. Both men are of the left, although Foner goes further and is an activist. I do not know of a good definitive conservative take. Southern Reconstruction by Philip Leigh comes to mind and while I like it, it is not in the same league as Summers and Foner although like Foner he is an overt ideologue so both will ignore contrary evidence in a way Summers never would.
Thanks for that, always difficult to find objectivity, tried it here best as I could, but the subjective shall always surface at points upon historical interpretation. Summers it is, I shall be placing an order!
