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    Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the American Civil War
    Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the American Civil War
    Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the American Civil War
    Audiobook14 hours

    Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the American Civil War

    Written by S. C. Gwynne

    Narrated by Robert Petkoff

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    From the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Empire of the Summer Moon and Rebel Yell comes “a masterwork of history” (Lawrence Wright, author of God Save Texas), the spellbinding, epic account of the last year of the Civil War.

    The fourth and final year of the Civil War offers one of the most compelling narratives and one of history’s great turning points. Now, Pulitzer Prize finalist S.C. Gwynne breathes new life into the epic battle between Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant; the advent of 180,000 black soldiers in the Union army; William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea; the rise of Clara Barton; the election of 1864 (which Lincoln nearly lost); the wild and violent guerrilla war in Missouri; and the dramatic final events of the war, including Lee’s surrender at Appomattox and the murder of Abraham Lincoln.

    “A must-read for Civil War enthusiasts” (Publishers Weekly), Hymns of the Republic offers many surprising angles and insights. Robert E. Lee, known as a great general and Southern hero, is presented here as a man dealing with frustration, failure, and loss. Ulysses S. Grant is known for his prowess as a field commander, but in the final year of the war he largely fails at that. His most amazing accomplishments actually began the moment he stopped fighting. William Tecumseh Sherman, Gwynne argues, was a lousy general, but probably the single most brilliant man in the war. We also meet a different Clara Barton, one of the greatest and most compelling characters, who redefined the idea of medical care in wartime. And proper attention is paid to the role played by large numbers of black union soldiers—most of them former slaves.

    Popular history at its best, Hymns of the Republic reveals the creation that arose from destruction in this “engrossing…riveting” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) read.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateOct 29, 2019
    ISBN9781508252559
    Author

    S. C. Gwynne

    S.C. Gwynne is the author of His Majesty’s Airship, Hymns of the Republic, and the New York Times bestsellers Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He spent most of his career as a journalist, including stints with Time as bureau chief, national correspondent, and senior editor, and with Texas Monthly as executive editor. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife.

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    Reviews for Hymns of the Republic

    4.5/5

    123 ratings11 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Excellent book. I oved it very much. Very well written and moving account.
    • 5/5
      No author has ever brought home to me the absolute hell of the American Civil War as S.C. Gwynne has in this book. In this current time of intense societal regression in the United States, one can look with some anxiety upon a not-so-distant mirror of hostility. We can only hope that there is emergent leadership with some of the qualities of Lincoln as we travel forward on a challenging American journey.
    • 5/5
      Well written with some new insights into familiar events. Fluid narrative that carries you through the events with interest and anticipation.
    • 5/5
      Very descriptive tales from the most brutal war in American history. I would recommend
    • 5/5
      Fantastic author. I have read so many books on the civil war and thought I would not find anything new- I was very wrong! My only criticism is that the author has so few other books for me to read. His books on Comanches and Jackson were also excellent
    • 5/5
      History is enlightening and hard to hear at times . People at their worst and best. Good listen.
    • 5/5
      S.C. Gwynne is the best! I’ve read several of his books, and his grasp of history, and his telling of it make it truly interesting and accessible.
    • 5/5
      "Hymns of the Republic" is well researched, organized, and written, and the audio vocalization is extremely engaging. The author did a great job of staying objective and looking at both sides of the story with well-researched material and well-developed thought. It is a fascinating book and coupled with the vocals for the audio version makes it hard to take a break from listening. Five stars.
    • 5/5
      Really well written. A great book that I highly recommend.
    • 4/5
      This is a detailed study of the last year of the American Civil War. Even as a college history teacher I learned a great deal of information I was not familiar with. The author is particularly detailed in the military aspects of the war's final days. Civilians be damned. My main gripe and I feel certain the author would deny this but this is a Southern author who lets his Southern biases come out. He takes much glee describing the negative traits of Northern Generals and leaders fully detailing their flawed character traits, cruel behaviors and lack or abilities. He doesn't ignore Southern leader's frailties but handles them with much less detail and zeal. That aside, if you ignore the author's biases (in my opinion) you can learn a lot.
    • 4/5
      A highly readable, highly engaging narrative regarding the Civil War from April of 1864 to April of 1865, focusing prominently on the stories of the major players involved.The author begins by framing the scene based on all that had happened beforehand: Union superiority in resources, Confederate superiority in tactics and leadership. The author describes U.S. Grant, Clara Barton, Robert E. Lee, and William Tecumseh Sherman in detail. The author describes Grant's overall military strategy in how to bring the war to a conclusion, and working to make sure that Lincoln would be re-elected in the fall of 1864. The Wilderness campaign, Petersburg, Atlanta, Sherman's March to the Sea, Sherman's march through South Carolina, and the final days of fighting from Petersburg to Appomattox are spoken of, although the paucity of detail in describing many of the important battles was a little frustrating. A well-researched, overall well-presented, and highly engaging narrative.**--galley received as part of early review program