"Don't Hurry Me Down to Hades"

[Linda Anderson]

Don't Hurry Me Down to Hades: The Civil War In The Words of Those Who Lived It by Susannah Ural includes Fanny Seward's eyewitness account of Lewis Powell's attack on her father, Secretary of State William Seward.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/artic...-Civil-War

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Hurry-Me-Down...n+to+hades

[J. Beckert]

That's interesting, Linda. First hand accounts are always the best and I believe give us the truest perspective. I especially thought the piece about the slave was interesting - " a runaway slave won freedom for himself and his family by joining the Union Army only to face prejudice as brutal and destructive as the life he’d left behind." I want to read "War Crimes Against Southern Civilians" next. The war's darkest days didn't always commence as the Battle Hymn played.

[L Verge]

I just ordered the Hades book. I have to say, however, that I really appreciated one comment in the publisher's article. Over the years, I have struggled to complete quite a few books that were written only to please academia, not the public who needs to learn the history. These books "feature" obscure subjects and subject matter, boring text filled with big words, personal dogma and philosophies of the author thrown in for good measure, etc.

The comment in this article that turned me on is:

Meanwhile, “Don’t Hurry Me Down to Hades” is Ural’s third book. She says she tried to make it readable for members of the general public, meaning more narrative and less “academese.”

“I think one of the mistakes academics make sometimes is that they’ll scoff at the ignorance of the public, but they won’t talk to the public. They’ll basically write books for each other,” Ural said. “To me, one of the big motivators of this book is that there is a very intelligent reading class out there, and it’s our job to tell it in a way that is not high academese.”

[RJNorton]

I am pleased to announce that Susannah Ural just joined the forum. Welcome Susannah!

[Linda Anderson]

Welcome to the forum, Susannah! I'm looking forward to reading your book.

[BettyO]

Welcome, Susannah!

I, too am ordering your book. The excerpts I've read are facinating!

You are very correct in that a well-written, readable book will reach far more people.