Immagine dell'autore.

David M. Potter (1910–1971)

Autore di The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861

13+ opere 886 membri 10 recensioni 2 preferito

Sull'Autore

In 1968 Martin Duberman described David Potter as a man who "may be the greatest living historian of the United States. With the additional evidence of this collection of his essays [The South and the Sectional Conflict] I'm glad for the chance to say that in print, not least because Potter is mostra altro little known outside the historical profession, in part because he has written only a few volumes . . . and in part because he has always shied away from self-advertisement" (N.Y.Times). A native southerner, Potter did his undergraduate studies at Emory University and took his Ph.D. at Yale University in 1940. He taught at a number of universities, including Yale from 1942 to 1961 and Stanford from 1961 until his death. He also lectured widely in this country and abroad and served as Harmsworth Professor at Oxford University and Commonwealth Fund Lecturer at London University. (Bowker Author Biography) mostra meno
Fonte dell'immagine: Wikipedia

Opere di David M. Potter

Opere correlate

Why the North Won the Civil War (1960) — Collaboratore — 284 copie
The Democratic Experience; a Short American History (1963) — Collaboratore — 33 copie
A Union officer in the Reconstruction (1948) — A cura di — 17 copie

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Civil war, history, military
 
Segnalato
junie06 | 7 altre recensioni | Jan 17, 2023 |
Great account of all the issues leading up to civil war- from Kansas, to Dred Scott, to John Brown to the exciting 1860 election and finally to the dicey period from dec 60 to april 61 - as states balanced competing interests. Just the right amount of detail and personal color to draw the story out, but not so much as to bog it down. Outstanding.
 
Segnalato
apende | 7 altre recensioni | Jul 12, 2022 |
While dry in parts and somewhat dated, this almost 65 year old book was full of interesting observations, many which seem eerily applicable to today's United States.
 
Segnalato
heggiep | Apr 21, 2018 |
This is a reread of one of my favorite books. This is an excellent narrative history of the political events leading up to the Civil War. I consider it the best book on how the Civil War started that I have read. It is a thick 600 pages and took me a couple of weeks to read. The focus is on the events more than the personalities. If any character stands out it is Stephen Douglas. His decision to go South at the end of the 1860 presidential campaign to try to save the Union is lauded as an act of courage. President Buchanan is prominent for his poor handling of the Kansas crisis and the Lecompton Constitution.
Each chapter is a detailed analysis of the events that led to secession and Civil War. The emphasis is on the details. For instance the decision to attack Fort Sumter by the Confederate government took place on on April 9, 1861, four years to the day before the surrender at Appomattox. After setting out the choices available based upon the circumstances the author then discusses the decisions that were made and why.
The analysis of the alternatives and choices made lift this book a cut above the standard narrative history. It is not often that I come across this level of scholarship. Another plus is the author's discussion of how many of the events have been dealt with by other historians. I read a lot of the textual footnotes which contain a lot of the most interesting details.
The secondary sources are a little dated but the heavy reliance on primary sources gives me confidence in the author's scholarship.
The author conveyed a very clear understanding of the events and why the actors made the choices they did. In order to fully enjoy the book I think it would be important to have some knowledge of the topic. I enjoyed the book very much and learned a lot more the second time around.
… (altro)
½
1 vota
Segnalato
wildbill | 7 altre recensioni | Dec 31, 2012 |

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Statistiche

Opere
13
Opere correlate
4
Utenti
886
Popolarità
#28,920
Voto
4.2
Recensioni
10
ISBN
28
Lingue
1
Preferito da
2

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