I read the first half of this book for school, I found it pretty interesting, I just would have preferred to read only the chapters that really interested me, at my own pace.

I saw this book on the library’s new arrivals website and thought it might be interesting, so I put it on hold. I am not a huge Civil War history buff, but I love museums and their various items and the stories behind them, so I figured this book could be like a museum on paper. It was indeed interesting-very glad I did get it out! The objects ranged from the tragic (slave shackles intended for a child) to beautiful (daguerreotype of Cesear: A Slave) to historically significant (‘John Brown’ Pike). Uniforms, buttons, photos/paintings, books (diary, bible…), various letters and documents, each item’s photo is followed by an essay explaining and discussing it-fascinating stuff.

Gift from Skye Shirley

From the collections of the New York Historical Society, this is an annotated collection of their best, most evocative objects, meant to offer a material culture insight into the Civil War: letters, paintings, a pike from the Brown raid, a bronze cast of Lincoln's hand swollen from shaking with visitors, slave shackles, uniform buttons, a draft wheel, commemorative nick-knacks, telegraphs, military code books and recruiting posters.

Interesting glimpses at individual moments throughout the war period, from a pike made for John Brown's ill-fated raid, to a newspaper printed on the back of wallpaper in supply-starved besieged Vicksburg. New York-centric, which is to be expected--a lot of emphasis is given to New York's response to wartime, including the horrific draft riots. I had no idea the mayor of NYC had made overtures to the Confederacy, threatening to secede due to his concern over loss of the Southern economy. Provenance and background is given for every artifact. A book of interest to Civil War history buffs, and museum/archives enthusiasts.

This book is like a walk through a small museum with a knowledgeable guide. Rather than confining himself to the battlefields, the author includes items that tell the story of the war politically and privately. Though in places dry, the subject material alone made this an absorbing read.

A well written, if dry, overview of the Civil War as seen through the objects of the time. Well recommended for anyone who is looking for a history light on battle statistics that can easily be enjoyed a small portion at a time.

Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/887980/civilwar50objects