Reviews for Testament to Union: Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C.

The average rating for Testament to Union: Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C. based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-03-31 00:00:00 A. P. Lilley Even as an adult this was a fun read, despite being, like most adolescent books of this genre, decidedly formulaic. Sadly it, too, serves to inculcate boys with the notion that honor and glory is to be found readily in war. In the case of this book, just in time for the next one (WWI). The formula is quite simple. Take a series of actual dates and battles, throw in a boy too young to enlist, then have him accomplish a daring feat during, or between, battles. Use the brave venture to bring him into contact with a famous man in the war, who then finds him indispensable and sings his praises throughout the rest of the story to other famous men they meet. Do all this while making sure he escapes harm, but have a horse or two shot out from under him so as to convey a real sense of excitement and danger. Throughout the story, maintain the "War is Glorious" trope by employing frequent euphemisms like "sanguinary battle," refer often to death as "swift and sudden," and let the reader know young men are too "buoyant" to think much about "it" (blood, guts, and carnage), anyway. This book was published in 1914. Apologies to George Washington, but not always is it the lack of free speech by which, dumb and silent, we may be led, like sheep, to the Slaughter. Men freely offering their sentiments on a matter, can often do so as well.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-08-25 00:00:00 Sebastian Hartung If you can get by the adoration of stonewall ,the glorification of war, the repetitiveness (Hector st Hilaire for instance) and that the book is about good old boys fighting to preserve slavery then its a decent read