Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 10 BEST BOOKS • THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW • 2011   NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • The New Yorker • Chicago Tribune • The Economist • Nancy Pearl, NPR • Bloomberg.com • Library Journal • Publishers Weekly   In this brilliant narrative, Amanda Foreman tells the fascinating story of the American Civil War—and the major role played by Britain and its citizens in that epic struggle. Between 1861 and 1865, thousands of British citizens volunteered for service on both sides of the Civil War. From the first cannon blasts on Fort Sumter to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, they served as officers and infantrymen, sailors and nurses, blockade runners and spies. Through personal letters, diaries, and journals, Foreman introduces characters both humble and grand, while crafting a panoramic yet intimate view of the war on the front lines, in the prison camps, and in the great cities of both the Union and the Confederacy. In the drawing rooms of London and the offices of Washington, on muddy fields and aboard packed ships, Foreman reveals the decisions made, the beliefs held and contested, and the personal triumphs and sacrifices that ultimately led to the reunification of America.   “Engrossing . . . a sprawling drama.”—The Washington Post   “Eye-opening . . . immensely ambitious and immensely accomplished.”—The New Yorker   WINNER OF THE FLETCHER PRATT AWARD FOR CIVIL WAR HISTORY

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Reviews

So expansive in its scope, and so well written, that to call it a masterpiece somehow doesn't seem to do it justice. . . . Foreman displays her exceptional gift for storytelling and for making history both fascinating and relevant. --The Christian Science Monitor <br> <br> History as a Cecil B. DeMille epic . . . One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. -- The Boston Globe <br> <br> Thrilling narrative on a grand scale. -- History Today <br> <br> [A] remarkable book . . . an extraordinary cast. --The New York Times Book Review <br> <br> [A] magisterial history. --Newsweek

So expansive in its scope, and so well written, that to call it a masterpiece somehow doesn t seem to do it justice. . . . Foreman displays her exceptional gift for storytelling and for making history both fascinating and relevant. The Christian Science Monitor History as a Cecil B. DeMille epic . . . One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. The Boston Globe Thrilling narrative on a grand scale. History Today [A] remarkable book . . . an extraordinary cast. The New York Times Book Review [A] magisterial history. Newsweek So expansive in its scope, and so well written, that to call it a masterpiece somehow doesn't seem to do it justice. . . . Foreman displays her exceptional gift for storytelling and for making history both fascinating and relevant. --The Christian Science Monitor History as a Cecil B. DeMille epic . . . One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. -- The Boston Globe Thrilling narrative on a grand scale. -- History Today [A] remarkable book . . . an extraordinary cast. --The New York Times Book Review [A] magisterial history. --Newsweek A New York Times Top Ten Book of the Year! The Economist , The New York Times , The New Yorker , The St Louis Post-Dispatch , Publishers Weekly and Library Journal all list A World on Fire as one of the best books of 2011! Ms. Foreman...is such an engaging writer that readers may find this 958-page volume too short. --Michael Burlingame, The Wall Street Journal Extraordinary cast....Thoroughly researched and well written...Remarkable. --Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New York Times Book Review One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. Foreman's skills as historian and writer are formidable. -- The Boston Globe Foreman's descriptive gifts show especially well in bringing vividly to life the political and diplomatic worlds of Washington and London...A brief review can only hint at the expansive scope, rich detail and pulsing energy of A World on Fire . -- The Washington Post [A] magisterial history. -- Newsweek So expansive in its scope, and so well written...to call it a masterpiece somehow doesn't seem to do it justice. -- Christian Science Monitor From the Hardcover edition. A New York Times Top Ten Book of the Year! The Economist, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The St Louis Post-Dispatch, Publishers Weekly and Library Journal all list A World on Fire as one of the best books of 2011! Ms. Foreman...is such an engaging writer that readers may find this 958-page volume too short. --Michael Burlingame, The Wall Street Journal Extraordinary cast....Thoroughly researched and well written...Remarkable. --Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New York Times Book Review One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. Foreman's skills as historian and writer are formidable. -- The Boston Globe Foreman's descriptive gifts show especially well in bringing vividly to life the political and diplomatic worlds of Washington and London...A brief review can only hint at the expansive scope, rich detail and pulsing energy of A World on Fire. -- The Washington Post [A] magisterial history. -- Newsweek

“So expansive in its scope, and so well written, that to call it a masterpiece somehow doesn’t seem to do it justice. . . . Foreman displays her exceptional gift for storytelling and for making history both fascinating and relevant.”—The Christian Science Monitor   “History as a Cecil B. DeMille epic . . . One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe.”—The Boston Globe    “Thrilling narrative on a grand scale.”—History Today   “[A] remarkable book . . . an extraordinary cast.”—The New York Times Book Review   “[A] magisterial history.”—Newsweek

So expansive in its scope, and so well written, that to call it a masterpiece somehow doesn't seem to do it justice. . . . Foreman displays her exceptional gift for storytelling and for making history both fascinating and relevant. --The Christian Science Monitor History as a Cecil B. DeMille epic . . . One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. --The Boston Globe Thrilling narrative on a grand scale. --History Today [A] remarkable book . . . an extraordinary cast. --The New York Times Book Review [A] magisterial history. --Newsweek So expansive in its scope, and so well written, that to call it a masterpiece somehow doesn t seem to do it justice. . . . Foreman displays her exceptional gift for storytelling and for making history both fascinating and relevant. The Christian Science Monitor History as a Cecil B. DeMille epic . . . One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. The Boston Globe Thrilling narrative on a grand scale. History Today [A] remarkable book . . . an extraordinary cast. The New York Times Book Review [A] magisterial history. Newsweek A New York Times Top Ten Book of the Year! The Economist , The New York Times , The New Yorker , The St Louis Post-Dispatch , Publishers Weekly and Library Journal all list A World on Fire as one of the best books of 2011! Ms. Foreman...is such an engaging writer that readers may find this 958-page volume too short. --Michael Burlingame, The Wall Street Journal Extraordinary cast....Thoroughly researched and well written...Remarkable. --Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New York Times Book Review One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. Foreman's skills as historian and writer are formidable. -- The Boston Globe Foreman's descriptive gifts show especially well in bringing vividly to life the political and diplomatic worlds of Washington and London...A brief review can only hint at the expansive scope, rich detail and pulsing energy of A World on Fire . -- The Washington Post [A] magisterial history. -- Newsweek So expansive in its scope, and so well written...to call it a masterpiece somehow doesn't seem to do it justice. -- Christian Science Monitor From the Hardcover edition. A New York Times Top Ten Book of the Year! The Economist, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The St Louis Post-Dispatch, Publishers Weekly and Library Journal all list A World on Fire as one of the best books of 2011! Ms. Foreman...is such an engaging writer that readers may find this 958-page volume too short. --Michael Burlingame, The Wall Street Journal Extraordinary cast....Thoroughly researched and well written...Remarkable. --Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New York Times Book Review One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. Foreman's skills as historian and writer are formidable. -- The Boston Globe Foreman's descriptive gifts show especially well in bringing vividly to life the political and diplomatic worlds of Washington and London...A brief review can only hint at the expansive scope, rich detail and pulsing energy of A World on Fire. -- The Washington Post [A] magisterial history. -- Newsweek

So expansive in its scope, and so well written, that to call it a masterpiece somehow doesn't seem to do it justice. . . . Foreman displays her exceptional gift for storytelling and for making history both fascinating and relevant. --The Christian Science Monitor History as a Cecil B. DeMille epic . . . One puts down A World on Fire with a sense of awe. -- The Boston Globe Thrilling narrative on a grand scale. -- History Today [A] remarkable book . . . an extraordinary cast. --The New York Times Book Review [A] magisterial history. --Newsweek

Author Information

Amanda Foreman is a Visiting Research Fellow at Queen Mary, University of London. She won the Whitbread Prize for Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire, which was adapted for the screen as The Duchess. Educated as an undergraduate at Sarah Lawrence College and with master’s and doctorate degrees in history from Oxford University, she is now married with five children and lives in New York.

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