North against South. Grant versus Lee. Brother against brother. The Civil War split the nation into two warring parties and shaped American history and culture dramatically. This book provides a complete survey of the war's major events, including:

• Profiles of the Civil War's great leaders
• The struggle for African-American freedom
• Military strategy and weaponry
• Landmark historical documents like the Gettysburg Address
• A detailed Civil War timeline

The heroic—and tragic—stories of the Civil War come alive in this extraordinary retelling, combining a compelling historical commentary with fascinating insights into the most prominent characters of that era.

Brooke C. Stoddard (Alexandria, VA) served as the editor of Military Heritage magazine, writing feature stories and editorials on the Civil War. Mr. Stoddard, the son of a southern mother and a northern father, has visited most of the major Civil War battlefields in Virginia and has toured Gettysburg three times, once with Pulitzer Prize winner James McPherson.

Daniel P. Murphy, PhD (Louisville, KY), is a history professor at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana, and the author of numerous articles and book reviews. He is the author of The Everything American Revolution Book, coauthor of The Everything World War II Book, and was a contributing author for The American Presidents.