For someone looking for a more emotional view of the Civil War, with more 'people and feelings' than true history, then this is a very nice read. It is the fictionalised account of the Geyers and the Hales, cousins - one family of the South, the other from the North, that find themselves divided and fighting each other during the War Between the States in the US. The Geyers were farmers, of the land, though were not slave owners, and the story focuses around their eldest son, John, an artist who went into the war as an artist correspondent, torn by his love for both families and seeing both sides of the argument. He hates the institution of Slavery, a hatred amplified by the hanging of his black friend, a freed man for hiding fugitive slaves. The Hales were city-folk. Not only were they divided on their views, but by their styles of life. You see all the various scenes of how families were divided, how the glory of war could turn sour for the many boys simply looking for adventure.

There was a real John Geyser, and he did draw a lot of pictures as his time as a soldier. But he was not a war correspondent, and not that professional of an artists. Still is immature drawing carry a power to convey the horrors of war.

So take the 'history' with a grain of salt and enjoy the 'emotions' of the great conflict that ripped families and friends apart.

This book was basis and 'publicity' version for the CBS television mini-series The Blue and the the Gray, an epic staring the great Stacey Keech and Gregory Peck as Lincoln. This book and the mini series had Bruce Catton as consultant. I also highly recommend this mini-series as giving a human side to the conflict.

This book will probably only be read by those opposed to capital punishment, which is a great pity. While the information in the book is dated, and the tone of the editors' introduction (covering several chapters) is extremely, off-puttingly shrill and sanctimonious, the interviews it contains should be mandatory reading for all citzens concerned about our penal and justice systems. Granted, there are no interviews with death penalty advocates, so the book is largely preaching to the converted. The power of the interviews is such that it becomes hard to imagine a rational person -- any rational person -- coming to a conclusion other than that the death penalty must be abolished. The book takes an optimistic view on the decline of capital punishment, which makes it sad to read in these times when the tide of public opinion has swept so heavilly in favor of capital punishment (and mandatory sentences). One hopes that a follow-up volume will be published to update the material. This book is well worth reading, even with its outdated data and outlook and its alienating introductory chapters.

This book is wonderfully written, very informative and truly a must-read!

Guide Bleu Paris & Versailles is a sound initiative. Versailles is such a world in itself. So different from Paris in all ways that we could not consider the tiny chapter about Versailles in most Paris guides was enough. Guide Bleu are well known for their sound expertise, their rigourous, systematic approach of monuments. So don't be surprised if you feel like partipating in some kind of surgerical discovery of the most visited palace in the world. Rooms 1, 2, 3, .... You will find a description of each single visitable room in castle of Versailles. Gardens are also well described. If you planned to spend at least one day in Versailles (worth it!) then this guide will be quite helpful. You will consider it as reference book when you will be back home. French readers consider Blue Guide books as reference books as if they were history manuals. Paris monuments are also well described even if no book would be big enough to cover all aspects of parisian life and landscapes. Consider this buy as appropriate if you love history and are serious about tourism.