This republic of suffering death and the american civil war

A moving work of social history, detailing how the civil war changed perceptions and behaviors about death. It created a republic of suffering, frederick law olmstead wrote as he viewed the dying and wounded on a. It is the failure to see life amid death that most detracts from this republic of suffering. Harvard president and historian faust mothers of invention. Drew gilpin faust talks about her book this republic of suffering. The sheer scale of the slaughter in the american civil war more than the total military deaths in all the rest of the united states wars combined still overwhelms almost 150 years after the fact. Drew gilpin faust follows the carnage in all its aspects, on and off the battlefield. Death and the american civil war 43008 two renowned civil war historians drew gilpin faust and david w. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide faust, drew gilpin, this republic of suffering. During the war, approximately 620,000 soldiers lost their lives.

This republic of suffering explores the impact of this enormous death toll from every angle. The civil war began primarily as a result of the longstanding controversy over the enslavement of black people. Death and the american civil war, in which she explores the impact of the death toll of approximately 620,000 soldier during the. An illuminating study of the american struggle to compr. Civil war social historian drew gilpin faust, recently installed as president of harvard university, has written an eyeopening, thoroughly researched, and highly original account of how the civil war generation dealt with the daily, horrific realities of death. The book was also a finalist for the national book awards 2008 and the pulitzer prize. Drew faust on the shared suffering of the civil war. Historian drew gilpin faust writes that civil war deaths both their number and their manner transformed america. In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust reveals the ways that death on such a. Testifying to its authors fascination with death 324, this scholarly and abundantly illustrated work focuses on the history of the american idea of the good death as this concept took shape during the civil war. This republic of suffering explores the impact of this enormous death. Death and the american civil war is a nonfiction book by drew gilpin faust, a wellknown historian and the first female president of harvard university. One of the most arresting lectures i have ever heard at a historians convention was delivered four years ago by drew gilpin faust at the annual meeting of the american historical association. Click to read more about this republic of suffering.

The lasting but littleunderstood impact of all that sacrifice is the subject of drew gilpin fausts extraordinary new book, this republic of suffering. Death and the american civil war offers a look into the civil war that is truly unique the impact of death as a phenomenon upon individuals whose reactions ranged from horror and refusal of participating in killing to gleeful celebrations of killing, and upon america as a society and culture. She also is the lincoln professor of history in harvards faculty of arts and sciences. Death and the american civil war from the worlds largest community of readers. An illuminating study of the american struggle to comprehend the meaning and practicalities of death in the face of the unprecedented carnage of the civil war. Fausts book takes a grim topichow america coped with the massive death toll from the civil war. No other generation of americans has encountered death on the scale of the civil war generation. The american civil war also known by other names was a civil war in the united states from 1861 to 1865, fought between the northern united states loyal to the union and the southern united states that had seceded from the union and formed the confederacy. Drew gilpin faust delineates the ways death changed not only individual lives but the life of the. How did they mourn the dead, honor their sacrifice, commemorate their memory, and help their families.

This republic of suffering explores the impact of this enormous death toll. Death and the american civil war by drew gilpin faust 2008. Death and the american civil war, historian drew gilpin faust writes that civil war deaths both their number and their manner transformed america. Death and the american civil war, the massive number of deaths embarked america on a new relationship with death, one that transformed society, culture and politics. Timely, poignant, and profound, this republic of suffering does the real work of. Jan 27, 2008 the lasting but littleunderstood impact of all that sacrifice is the subject of drew gilpin fausts extraordinary new book, this republic of suffering. The work of death was civil war americas most fundamental and most demanding undertaking. Enter city, state or zip code go fandango fanalert.

Drew gilpin fausts republic of suffering is a fascinating examination of the farreaching effects that the civil wars high death tolls had upon american society. This republic of suffering by drew gilpin faust the president of harvard, and a woman, fyi is a history of the civil war period that focuses on the devastating death toll of the conflict and its effects on american culture of that time and since. This republic of suffering audiobook by drew gilpin. Killing and death were ultraimportant to the common civil war soldier. Americans are no strangers to the destruction and horrific bloodletting that defined this nations civil war. In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust reveals the ways that death on such a scale changed not only individual lives but the life of the nation, describing how the survivors managed on a practical level and how a deeply. In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust reveals the ways that death on such a scale changed not only individual lives but the life. Death and the american civil war knopf, 2008 isbn 9780375404047. Women of the slaveholding south in the american civil war, 1996, etc. During the civil war, 620,000 soldiers lost their lives equivalent to six million in todays population. The united states embarked on a new relationship with death during the civil war in a whole series of ways. More than 600,000 soldiers lost their lives in the american civil war.

Death and the american civil war, by drew gilpin faust, the president of harvard university since 2007 and for decades a leading historian of the american south. The ric burns film is based on the book this republic of. Death and the american civil war, drew gilpin faust examines how the astonishing number of lives lost in the american civil war shaped the country for years to come. Drew gilpin faust delineates the ways death changed not only individual lives but the life of the nation and describes how a deeply religious culture. This republic of suffering explores the impact of the enormous death toll from material, political, intellectual, and spiritual angles. Jan 08, 2008 this republic of suffering hardcover death and the american civil war.

The ric burns film is based on the book this republic of suffering by harvard president. I got this republic of suffering for christmas this year. Death and the american civil war by drew gilpin faust, alfred a. Nov 18, 2019 like remarques the road back, fausts this republic of suffering is a cartography of sortsmapping how people respond to trauma, defeat, and above all mass death. Any quick look at the imagery and rhetoric of the civil war shows an obsession with life and newness. Fausts originality is grounded in a rudimentary social factthat during the civil war, a lot of people died over 620,000 and those who lived had to deal with it. Jun 30, 2008 it is the failure to see life amid death that most detracts from this republic of suffering. Fausts originality is grounded in a rudimentary social factthat during the civil war, a lot of people died over 620,000 and those who lived had to deal with. This republic of suffering death and the american civil war by drew gilpin faust by drew gilpin faust by drew gilpin faust by drew gilpin faust. Frederic law olmstead used the phrase republic of suffering to describe the many wounded and dying soldiers being treated at union hospital ships on the virginia peninsula. Death and the american civil war americans of the present day, who are generally appalled when battlefield deaths reach even doubledigit proportions, have almost no real comprehension of the tremendous loss of life suffered during the american civil war. Death and the american civil war, in which she explores the impact of the death toll.

The civil war was the deadliest war in american history. Faust suggests that the extreme death tolls created by the war caused americans to. Mar 12, 2020 an illuminating study of the american struggle to comprehend the meaning and practicalities of death in the face of the unprecedented carnage of the civil war. Fausts book is an illuminating study of the american struggle to comprehend the meaning and practicalities of death in the face of the unprecedented carnage of the civil war. For one of the few experiences shared by all living beings, death has been accorded remarkably little attention from historians. Blight examine the lives that were irrevocably changed by.

I love it because it shows a perspective that is not very often seen in many other books. An equivalent proportion of todays population would be six million. It is one of the best books on the civil war i have read in a long time. Drew gilpin faust delineates the ways death changed not only individual lives, but the life of the nation, and describes how a deeply. As drew gilpin faust explores in this republic of suffering. In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust demonstrates how the unprecedented carnage, both military and civilian, caused by the civil war forever changed american assumptions about death. The number of soldiers who died in the civil war, about 620,000, equals those. Like remarques the road back, fausts this republic of suffering is a cartography of sortsmapping how people respond to trauma, defeat, and above all mass death. Jan 09, 2008 historian drew gilpin faust writes that civil war deaths both their number and their manner transformed america. Death and the american civil war by drew gilpin faust. This republic of suffering demolishes sentimentalism for the civil war in a masterpiece of research, realism, and originality. Civil war and the american south and will be talking about her latest book which has just appeared which is called the republic of suffering. During her tenure there, she published this book, which was a finalist for both the pulitzer prize and the national book award.

This republic of suffering vintage civil war library. How the young united states dealt with the unprecedented and overwhelming number of dead in the civil war. Death and the american civil war vintage civil war library by drew gilpin faust. This republic of suffering audiobook by drew gilpin faust. Jan 02, 2012 i got this republic of suffering for christmas this year. During the civil war, 620,000 soldiers lost their livesequivalent to six million in todays population. By relying heavily on letters and other personal documents of combatants, their families and others, she puts more of.

In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust reveals the ways that death on such a scale changed not only individual lives but the life of the nation, describing how the survivors managed on a practical level and how a deeply religious culture. This republic of suffering explores the impact of this enormous death toll from every. Newsweek a shattering history of the war, focusing exclusively on death and dyinghow. This republic of suffering is the first study of how people in both north and south coped with this uniquely devastating experience. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing this republic of suffering. Faust argues that the task of dealing with more than half a. In this republic of suffering, drew gilpin faust demonstrates how the unprecedented carnage, both military and civilian, caused by the civil war forever changed american assumptions about. Sep 21, 2012 in her book this republic of suffering.