Chirp Book Review: 1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History by Charles Bracelen Flood

 

As a lover of early American history and a Civil War buff, I downloaded 1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History by Charles Bracelen Flood. This is an account of the last year of Lincoln's presidency as the war dragged on, he faced a re-election campaign challenged by a member of his cabinet seeking the Republican nomination, peace talks appeared to be on the horizon that would leave the Confederacy a separate slave-holding American nation, and threats to his life increased. 

Originally published in 2009, this well-written and thoroughly researched account clocks in at just under 20 hours of audio. Flood dives deep into this last year of Lincoln's presidency, exposing his challenges, exploring his triumphs, sharing thoughts and concerns from Mary Lincoln and members of his cabinet, and accounts from the battlefield. Thanks to Flood's in-depth look into Lincoln as president and person, along with narrator Mel Foster's superb delivery, readers come to know Lincoln during that time on a deeper level. 

I found myself going back to re-listen to certain passages, because I didn't want to miss a minute of what was being said. 1864 is definitely a book I would like to add in hardcover to my collection. 

Lovers of early American history, Civil War and Lincoln buffs, and those who appreciate military and political accounts will want to read 1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History. 

Listening Length	19 hours and 56 minutes
Author	Charles Bracelen Flood
Narrator	Mel Foster
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	February 23, 2009
Publisher	Tantor Audio

I downloaded this book from Chirp. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Shelf Control - Feb 12

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves sponsored by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up!

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. Here's how to jump on board:

• Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
• Add your link in the comments!
• Link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your own post.
• Check out other posts, and…

I love remembering the books I've bought and why I bought them. That's why this is such a great meme.

BLURB:  In this book, Rosalie Rymarski guides you through dozens of letters from the Nahum Daniels Day family correspondence circa 1857-1872. It is an innovative experience of what is happening on the home front during the Civil War. She accompanies the letters with citations of what is happening in history, during the Civil War, making the time period much more realistic. Discovery in the Attic: A Family's Shared Past Revealed is a smooth read, even if you don't prefer historical literature, because of the relatability developed within the family's dynamic. This book commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War in a distinctively unique way!

DATE BOUGHT: 4/29/17

WHY I BOUGHT IT: I participated in an authors fair at our local library and this author was there, too. We each had a chance to present about our work. Her presentation sounded fascinating, and I love reading anything about the Civil War, so I picked up a copy.

I have skimmed through it, but haven't read it yet. I need to do that this year.