41 pages 1 hour read

Drew Gilpin Faust

This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

This Republic of Suffering by Drew Gilpin Faust examines how the unprecedented scale of death during the Civil War affected survivors, detailing struggles with logistical, spiritual, medicinal, and legal challenges. Faust explores soldiers' willingness to face death, new wartime killing attitudes, difficulties in proper burials, the anonymity of many deceased soldiers, civilian hardships, evolving religious beliefs, recovery of the dead, and how counting the dead became a coping mechanism. References to mass death, battle, and disease.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

This Republic of Suffering by Drew Gilpin Faust offers a profound exploration of the Civil War's impact on American attitudes toward death. Critics praise its meticulous research and emotional depth, though some find its prose dense. While the narrative is compelling, occasional repetitiveness may deter some readers. Overall, it's a seminal yet challenging read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read This Republic of Suffering?

A reader who enjoys exploring the profound human impact of war, particularly the Civil War, will find Drew Gilpin Faust's This Republic of Suffering compelling. Fans of McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom and Burns' The Civil War documentary will appreciate the detailed social history and emotional depth Faust provides.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Themes

Values/Ideas: Good & Evil