Tarnished Victory - A Book Review

There are many books on the Civil War. Thousands could fill your shelves, and this would not include the ones that are now out of print. Having another one demands that it needs to bring about a new perspective. That was the goal of William Marvel’s Tarnished Victory.

This is the final volume in a four volume series of the American Civil War. In it, Marvel looks at the cost of winning the war and what was lost in the process. He dives into the various decisions made by the President and military commanders and what it brought about to not only the South but to the country at large. Decisions did not just affect one group of people. It affected everyone including those in the upper elite of the North.


How did Marvel go about doing this?

Inch by Inch - Marvel does not do an overview of the last year of the war. He goes through each inch carefully. Every decision that is made is dissected and reported. Every military movement is discussed.

Intimate Primary Sources - One of the biggest pluses in reading this book is the amount of primary sources Marvel pulls in. He doesn’t just bring in government reports or newspaper clippings which he does use. He goes beyond that. He uses the personal diaries and letters of those that were directly involved. Letters from the wives are quotes. Diaries of those on the front are used. Marvel uses the voices of the ones that had the most to lose in the war. This truly is the best part of the whole book.

Marvel is able to bring about a summarized look at the last year of the war while diving into the details through intimate sources. This is what makes his book a great resource for anyone looking for sources for their own research and to learn more about the Civil War than what has been presented before.


What do you get with this book?

- Intimate look at those on the front lines of the war
- A detailed look at the last year of the war
- A great resource for any Civil War student or history buff


What you won’t find in this book?

- A thorough look at how the victory was tarnished. That was the one drawback with this book. From the title and description, I had expected to find a book written on how much the victory really cost the country and how it was not as glorious. This only came out in a few paragraphs throughout the book with more discussed at the very end. Most of the book was a review of the war from the perspective of those directly and indirectly involved. This was slightly disappointing.

Do you like the Civil War? Do you enjoy history? Do you like to read about what others wrote in their diaries and personal letters about historical events? Then is William Marvel’s Tarnished Victory is for you. It is a good read for anyone who enjoys reading on the War Between the States.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher upon my request.