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Hallowed Ground (Abridged): A Walk at Gettysburg Audiobook
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(4.00) - 434 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
James M. McPherson, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom, and arguably the finest Civil War historian in the world, walks us through the site of the bloodiest and perhaps most consequential battle ever fought by Americans: the Battle of Gettysburg. The events that occurred at Gettysburg are etched into our collective memory, as they served to change the course of the Civil War and with it the course of history. More than any other place in the United States, Gettysburg is indeed hallowed ground. It’s no surprise that it is one of the nation’s most visited sites (nearly two million annual visitors), attracting tourists, military buffs, and students of American history. McPherson, who has led countless tours of Gettysburg over the years, makes stops at Seminary Ridge, the Peach Orchard, Cemetery Hill, and Little Round Top, among other key locations. He reflects on the meaning of the battle, describes the events of those terrible three days in July 1863, and places the struggle in the greater context of American and world history. Along the way, he intersperses stories of his own encounters with the place over several decades, as well as debunking several popular myths about the battle itself. What brought those 165,000 soldiers—75,000 Confederate, 90,000 Union—to Gettysburg? Why did they lock themselves in such a death grip across these once bucolic fields until 11,000 of them were killed or mortally wounded, another 29,000 were wounded and survived, and about 10,000 were “missing”—mostly captured? What was accomplished by all of this carnage? Join James M. McPherson on a walk across this hallowed ground as he be encompasses the depth of meaning and historical impact of a place that helped define the nation’s character. “[I]n a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our power to add or detract.” —President Abraham Lincoln
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"Excellent read easily done before a battlefield visit. I hirely recommend reading this book before visiting the battlefield. It covers the highlights and does some serious mythbusting.Also recommended: Universe of Battle episode of Ken Burns' Civil War documentary. "
— Ian (5 out of 5 stars)
Hallowed Ground Listener Reviews
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" Great background for this weekend's trip to Gettysburg. "
— Ken, 2/18/2014 -
" Hard to go wrong with McPherson. "
— Jim, 1/20/2014 -
" Concise expert walk-through of the Gettysburg battlefield, presented in chronological order - by day of the battle. Great insight and little-known facts also included. Not too militarily technical, as Civil War battle books oftentimes are. This made the book much more readable. "
— Ben, 1/13/2014 -
" I am going to Segway tour the shit out of Gettysburg one day soon.... "
— Corey, 12/29/2013 -
" This was an interesting book. It was read like one was taking a guided tour of Gettysburg but it was interesting to learn where all the monuments and statues, etc are located on the battlefield and what they represent. It made me very excited to go there and see this hallowed ground in person. "
— Camille, 10/23/2013 -
" Great quick read recounting the major elements of the Battle of Gettysburg against the backdrop of the modern town / battlefield memorial....Would definitely be a nice addition for a visit / self tour... "
— Michael, 10/9/2013 -
" If you're going to visit Gettysburg, get this book first. It will reward you with a wonderful connection to interesting or out-of-the-way parts of the battlefield. "
— Scott, 10/2/2013 -
" I've read quite a lot on the Battle of Gettysburg and I will confess I learned some interesting tidbits in this book. Written as a tour, you get an interesting perspective on the battle and the key players. "
— Nicole, 9/20/2013 -
" A short but richly detailed walk through the Gettysburgh battlefield and the three days that changed the course of the Civil War. Especially good at questioning some of the myths of the conflict. "
— Robert, 9/19/2013 -
" Great account of Gettysburg - engaging, entertaining, and the perfect amount of information to read before heading to PA for a long weekend or just catching up on your Civil War knowledge. "
— Sally, 6/21/2013 -
" Excellent overview of the Battle of Gettysburg "
— Susan, 3/30/2013 -
" McPherson's approach is accessible and allows the reader to share his acute familiarity, even if they're not a Pulitzer prize-winning, history professor at Princeton. The story is told in three parts, detailing each day of the battle on a walk through the now National Park. "
— Leahkmo, 12/18/2012 -
" We had recently traveled to Gettysburg. When I returned I re-read this great little book. It is the best overview of the battle and of the Park. "
— Tom, 8/20/2012 -
" Reminded me of my visit to Gettysburg and that there is probably a lot of our guide's presentation that I don't remember! "
— Carolyn, 5/6/2012 -
" This tiny book walks through the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg. Worth the walk. "
— Scott, 2/28/2012 -
" This book is informative and provides the reader with a good perspective of the Battle of Gettysburg. If you plan to go to Gettysburg, I suggest reading this book before you go there. "
— Scott, 2/26/2012 -
" Audiobook... not the greatest narrator... seemed kinda rushed... but a pretty interesting, short tour of the battlefield and overview of the battle. "
— Matt, 11/1/2011 -
" I am going to Segway tour the shit out of Gettysburg one day soon.... "
— Corey, 1/5/2011 -
" I've read quite a lot on the Battle of Gettysburg and I will confess I learned some interesting tidbits in this book. Written as a tour, you get an interesting perspective on the battle and the key players. "
— Nicole, 5/9/2010 -
" This was an interesting book. It was read like one was taking a guided tour of Gettysburg but it was interesting to learn where all the monuments and statues, etc are located on the battlefield and what they represent. It made me very excited to go there and see this hallowed ground in person. "
— Camille, 2/3/2010 -
" Excellent overview of the Battle of Gettysburg "
— Susan, 5/30/2009 -
" We had recently traveled to Gettysburg. When I returned I re-read this great little book. It is the best overview of the battle and of the Park. "
— Tom, 2/17/2009 -
" Audiobook... not the greatest narrator... seemed kinda rushed... but a pretty interesting, short tour of the battlefield and overview of the battle. "
— Matt, 10/12/2008 -
" Hard to go wrong with McPherson. "
— Jim, 10/10/2007
About James M. McPherson
James M. McPherson is the George Henry Davis ‘86 Professor of History Emeritus at Princeton University. America’s leading historian of the Civil War, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom, which was a New York Times bestseller, and the Lincoln Prize for For Cause and Comrades.