Rating: 
Summary: an important propaganda piece
Review: Expect to see this volume show up on required reading lists for students in Politically Correct history classes across the nation. For students who find themselves in such classes, I recommend
(1) the excellent review of this predictable propaganda piece found at...
and
(2) any good reference on the central fallacy of it's editors: anachronistically reading current prejudices and partisan controversies into past events and calling it "history". This type of tendentious writing of polemical tracts is well treated in the excellent, albeit somewhat dated: Whig Interpretation of History by Herbert Butterfield.This is not to say that the mythological elements of "The Lost Cause" are beyond criticism. Another book, which might also be on at least a few "Politically Correct" reading lists, but much better than this collection, is "Look Away!: A History of the Confederate States of America" by William C. Davis. You can find more about Butterfield's and Davis' books by searching for them on this site.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Research
Review: Gary Gallagher continues to provide books with an excellent cross section of essayists. Usually he covers particular battles and campaigns, but here he covers an important topic, myth as history. There is unfortunately too much myth as history presented on Civil War and I remember much of it from growing up during the centennial in the 1960s, which I have grown to recognize after years of my own research. Neo Confederates will not like this, but that is a good reason in itself to buy it. Of the writers, Alan Nolan is on the shakiest ground when discussing Lee, but hits the nail on the head on most of the rest. This is a good adjunct to William Davis' book of his own essays called "The Cause Lost".
Rating:
Summary: an important propaganda piece
Review: Having just finished this book, I see why some of the essays have caused some controversy. It takes a hard look at the facts of the war, versus what has been presented as accurate history by many Southern leaders and writers. Simply put, some of the authors openly question many commonly held views, particularly those proposed by people interested in justifying the South's loss, or reasons for leaving the Union. Overall, the essays are solid: some great, some good, and a few are only okay. I found Alan Nolan's, Gary Gallagher's, and Jeffrey Wert's essays to be most compelling. They are all well written, researched, and argued. Also, the topics they cover are interesting. Although I do not agree with Alan Nolan's low opinion of General Lee as a soldier, the rest of his essay takes many of the myths of the "Lost Cause" head-on, and dispells them convincinly. Two of the essays I did not find very exciting: Keith Bohannon's, or Charles Holden's. The topic were too narrow for my taste. The other essays are all good, and helped add to my understanding of the war. I recommend this book to anyone who is a Civil War "buff", or student of the war. If you think that the war was not fought over slavery, but only states rights, you should explore the discussion of this topic in numerous essays.
Rating: 
Summary: Lost Cause, no myth
Review: I am a 52 year old Native Texan! I have no less then four ancestors who fought for the Confederacy. The interesting thing about this book is the attempt to create a myth. The South lost the war. The cause of freedom was lost! The South wanted to practice Thomas Jefferson's form of Republican government. The North, having elected Lincoln, bought a war. Lincoln had to give them one. New England attacked the United States, represented by the Southern States. The Republic was destroyed and the Federal Union of States was born! Lincoln never was a great man, only his murder created the "Great Emancipator". The Federal Union ground the South beyond the devistation of the war. Every attempt was made to rebuild a Republican Nation ruled by a single party. The War Between the States was fought for political power and money with the New England money interests pulling all the strings. The remnents of this late war still hang over the country. The final steps of Radical Reconstruction are being attempted in this very century. Attacks on the South, its Battle Flag and its history are still being redefined or at least attempted. Case in point this very book. Read this book for what it represents, fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Consistently interesting
Review: I do not claim to be an expert on the Civil War, but I have always had a great interest in the events leading up to the war, and still think The Impending Crisis 1848-1861, by David M. Potter completed by Don E. Fehrenbacher (which book I finished reading May 15, 1976) is the best book on that era. I greatly enjoyed the essays in this book, and I agree that the best of the nine is Alan T. Nolan's "The Anatomy of the Myth." He effectually annihilates arguments of neo-Confederates, especially the one that secession was not about slavery. Anyone interested in Southern history should read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: The truth about Southern propaganda
Review: It is one thing to want to romanticize the past because it makes you feel comfortable, but it is entirely another thing to believe that such things are history. The one thing that should be obvious when reading these essays is not whether you want to accept the myth or not, but that there was (and still is) a deliberate attempt (by the Confederate spin doctors) to change or hide the truth. One can be in denial of the actions and purpose of the Confederacy (and the results), but one cannot deny the blatant attempts at the propaganda. This book, albeit dry at times, clearly shows that there had been very calculated and deliberate efforts to mislead future generations to the truth.
Rating:
Summary: The War Continues
Review: Somewhat convoluted approach to the Southern cause, but now that I have finished the book, it is not worth reading. Perhaps it is worth checking out of the public library to grasp the "Northern" view point, but overall, the book is too partisan.
Rating:
Summary: The War Continues
Review: Somewhat convoluted approach to the Southern cause, but now that I have finished the book, it is not worth reading. Perhaps it is worth checking out of the public library to grasp the "Northern" view point, but overall, the book is too partisan.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Lost Cause
Review: The revisit by these scholars will no doubt rattle some apologist's "cages". The myth is so entrenched,that the real lost cause is trying to persuade neo-confederates who stubburnly refuse to ackowledge some truths in these well presented essays. Hopefully this text will make it to required reading in the schools of their offspring.Well documented and researched,I found the essay on the myth as a religion both amusing and disturbing.Highly recommend.Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A Terrible Propaganda Piece
Review: The shamelessly teleological approach to research displayed in this book is its most memorable feature. The ability of the authors to disregard 25 years worth of scholarship on Southern nationalism is only the most blatant methodological crime committed in what is without a doubt one of the worst examples of research I have ever encountered.
| 
