The Civil War and Pop Culture: Favorite Stories and Fresh Perspectives from the Historians at Emerging Civil War( Chris Mackowski and Jon Tracey - CH)

Edited by Jon Tracey and Chris Mackowski The American Civil War left indelible marks on America’s imagination—collectively and as individuals. In the century and a half since the war, musicians have written songs, writers have crafted histories and literature, and artists and filmmakers have recreated scenes from the battlefield. Beyond popular media, the battle rages on during sporting events where Civil War-inspired mascots carry on old traditions. The war erupts on tabletops and computer screens as gamers fight the old fights. Elsewhere, men and women dress in uniforms and homespun clothes to don the mantle of people long gone. Central to “history” is the idea of “story.” Civil War history remains full of stories. They inspire us, they inform us, they educate us, and they entertain us. We all have our favorite books, movies, and songs. We all marvel at the spectacle of a reenactment and flinch with startled delight when the cannons fire. But those stories can fool us, too. Entertain