Looking for the right gift for the Civil War enthusiast in your family or circle of friends? Look no further. Here are ten gift ideas sure to satisfy:
10. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Renowned historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s bestselling look at the Lincoln presidency is now in paperback. While you might think the literary world doesn’t need another book on Lincoln’s presidency, that’s only because you haven’t read Goodwin’s latest. She examines President Lincoln’s tense and colorful relationships with three of his key Cabinet members: William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates. As Goodwin points out, Lincoln’s skill with people was perhaps his greatest strength as a leader, and his Cabinet reflected that. Any Civil War buff who likes to read will enjoy this book.
9. Lincoln by David Herbert Donald
In the 1990s, Pulitzer Prize winning author David Herbert Donald published what is perhaps the best Lincoln biography of the late twentieth century. Donald’s biography focuses on what Lincoln “knew, when he knew it, and why he made his decisions.” He accomplishes this by making extensive use of what Lincoln wrote and said as well as on the many reports and letters that Lincoln received. This is not only one of the best biographies of Lincoln; it is also one of the best biographies of any individual ever written.
8. Gettysburg by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen
If your friend or family member enjoys historical fiction, you can’t go wrong with Gettysburg, the first in an alternate history series that has the South winning the pivotal battle in Pennsylvania. Students of the real battle of Gettysburg know that Robert E. Lee launched an ill-fated invasion of the North in the summer of 1863. He brought with him a Confederate army still smarting from the loss of the brilliant and aggressive Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson and without an effective cavalry screen. In the Gingrich-Forstchen scenario, Lee and his lieutenant, James Longstreet, orchestrate a brilliant movement that leaves the Army of the Potomac at their mercy. It’s an exciting read, and a great lead-in to a series that includes the equally enjoyable Grant Comes East and Never Call Retreat.
7. Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips
If your friend or family member is the practical type, Donald T. Phillips’ classic business bestseller profiles Abraham Lincoln with an eye toward the leadership and management principles the 16th President exemplified. It’s a classic that should be on every working professional’s bookshelf.
6. Gettysburg (DVD or VHS), starring Tom Berenger and Jeff Daniels
Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Killer Angels, Gettysburg was released in the early 1990s by Ted Turner. While a little on the long side, the movie is tight and focused, unlike the meandering and disjointed Gods and Generals. Gettysburg stars Tom Berenger at Confederate General James Longstreet, Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee, and Jeff Daniels in a brilliant portrayal of Union Colonel Joshua Chamberlain.
5. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
The inspiration for the movie Gettysburg, Michael Shaara wrote the finest novel of the American Civil War, a feat for which he won the Pulitzer. Shaara’s classic gets into the minds of the battle’s participants, breathing life into an episode that students have learned about in the classroom for decades. Shaara’s son, Jeff, has continued in his father’s footsteps, writing the prequel, Gods and Generals, and sequel, The Last Full Measure. Both are great page-turners as pop fiction, but don’t hold a candle to The Killer Angels, which remains a literary masterpiece.
4. Ken Burns’ The Civil War series (DVD)
One of the finest documentary series ever produced, Ken Burns’ The Civil War is an absolute must-have for any serious Civil War enthusiast. Told mainly by the participants through diaries, letters, and other writings, the series traces the course of the America’s bloodiest war from its origins through the major battles and into the beginnings of Reconstruction.
3. The Last Days of the Civil War (DVD)
What’s better than a History Channel program on the Civil War? Answer: Five History Channel programs grouped together in one package. That’s why you’ve got to pick up a copy of The Last Days of the Civil War for the Civil War enthusiast in your life. The package includes biographies on Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis and two documentary programs focused on the final months of the Civil War. The cornerstone of the two-DVD set is “April 1865: The Month That Changed America,” which is (in my opinion) the absolute best Civil War documentary ever made. If your friend or family member doesn’t have this set, get it. Enough said.
2. Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson
Simply the best comprehensive treatment of the Civil War, James McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom remains a classic for Civil War buffs. If your Civil War enthusiast doesn’t already have a copy, I would be shocked. But if, indeed, that is the case and this volume is not part of their library, do them a favor and get it. The book provides an overview of just about every significant battle, personality, or issue of the Civil War. It is a must-have and a must-read.
1. Live the Civil War (sort of)
Sometimes, reading a book or watching a documentary just doesn’t cut it. There’s no better way to learn about the Civil War than to live it. How can you live it without a time travel device? Answer: Participate in a reenactment. Get on the Internet, find a Civil War reenactor unit near you, call them, and ask if they allow people to try out a reenactment for free. Many units are happy to loan a uniform, rifle, and set of equipment to a prospective recruit. Obviously, don’t make any promises you can’t keep, in terms of joining the unit. But see if you can make arrangements for your friend or family member to suit up and hit the field as a Civil War soldier. It will be an experience he or she will never forget.
The American Civil War was one of the most tumultuous and important periods in our nation’s history. It continues to fascinate us to this day. This Christmas, you can help your family member or friend connect with that period with one of the above gift ideas. Good luck.
Reference:
- The Civil War Reenactors Home Page at www.cwreenactors.com/index.php
