Emmett McDowell (1914–1975)

Marvelous book! "City of Conflict" is a history of Louisville, Kentucky -- and the near-by area -- during the Civil War. It was written on the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, but has a sensibility that makes the book seem as though it was written yesterday.

A great resource for information, with no sentimentality about the glorious South. "City of Conflict" also gives a revealing look at the origin of the character of Louisville today. To quote: "Once the 'Lost Cause' was indisputably and safely lost, it became so popular that fifty years after the War, Louisville probably numbered more Johnny Rebs and Southern Belles among her citizens than the state of Mississippi during the heyday of the Confederacy. [...] The paradox is that Louisville is not, and never was, a Southern city. Nor was Kentucky a Southern state. It was a Border state. Moreover, it was a Border state, which despite some concern in Washington, remained in the Union Camp."

"City of Conflict" covers only one very small corner of the action of the Civil War, but I'd highly recommend to anyone interested in that war or curious about Louisville's past.… (altro)