... remarkable... ―Foreign Affairs"... illuminates the workings of institutionalized racism through the correspondence of three South African women in the 1940s and ’50s." ―Feminist Bookstore News"The history of a place and time is made vivid by the combination of the rich personal record of the letters and the theoretically framed analytic discussion. The result is new insight into the history of black education in South Africa; and a revealing study of the dynamics of women’s relations under colonialism across the lines of race; age and power." ―Susan Greenstein; The Women’s Review of Books"A riveting and revealing book―one in which few of the characters wear hats that are spotlessly white." ―Third World Resources"This rich collection of letters deserves its own reading; as do Shula Marks’s bracketing essays. They are invaluable for clarifying the myriad ramifications that the letters raise for African women." ―International Journal of African Historical Studies"... powerful and perceptive....speak[s] eloquently to a Western audience that is poised to deal with the political and personal lives of South African women in an intimate holistic fashion." ―Belles LettresThe roots of modern Apartheid are exposed through the painful and revealing correspondence of three very different South African women―two black and one "liberal" white―from 1949 to 1951. Although the letters speak for themselves; the editor has written an introduction and epilogue which tell of the tragic ending to this riveting story.
#825505 in Books Russell F Weigley 2004-01-30 2004-01-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.64 x 6.12l; 1.95 #File Name: 0253217067648 pagesA Great Civil War A Military and Political History 1861 1865
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Good Overview of "The Great Civil War"By D. KeatingWritten by a highly regarded US military historian; this book does a solid job of explaining why the Civil war happened; how it was fought; and why the North prevailed in the end. Dr. Weigley has done a nice job of adding his voice to the current discussion of the war by some of today's best historians.Overall; the book is not the most stimulating reading; unless you are very interested in the subject (i.e.- you have already done some reading about the war). None the less; I really enjoyed the first part of the book (about the roots of the war and military strategy used in this era); and the end of the book (about why the North prevailed; and how the Confederacy collapsed so quickly; in the end) the most. I think that Dr. Weigley makes some great insights during these two sections.In a bit of a surprise; the political sections of the book are better written and more interesting to read than the military sections. I find this slightly strange; because of Dr. Weigley's expertise in US military history. For some key battles (Fredricksburg; Chancellorsville); he gives only a cursory summary; and does not add any new insight into these battles and their outcomes. I guess I expected to learn more about the military perspective than the political one by reading this book. But I must admit that it ended up the other way around for me; in this case.Overall; I enjoyed the book; but I must agree with a previous reviewer that this book is not on the same level as Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson. Simply put; if you have time (and/or interest) to read only one book about the war; don't read this one. Read the McPherson book instead. It is a more thorough and enjoyable book.On the other hand; if you are a student of the war (I fall into this category); or consider yourself a Civil War buff; this would be a good choice to add to your Civil War library7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Brilliant One-Volume History.By P. M.Most books about the Civil War lack context. Buy a book about Gettysburg; and you discover that Fredericksburg was an issue; as was the leadership of Hooker. So you back up and read some other book about Fredericksburg. Then you scream: is there NO decent one-volume overview; something short of Shelby Steele and Bruce Catton and the 10 volumne version? This is the book. Very readable; captures all of the battles and strategies within a political framework. Weigley's discussion of Fort Sumter is a classic; exploring why Sumter closed the major port of the South; and occupying Sumter forced the South to open hostilities and clarify their intentions. This book opens up all of the controversies of the Civil War buff; without settling any... what a valuable book!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Worth a purchaseBy David MarshallGreat book and a Lincoln Prize winner.
