Europe Looks at the Civil War (review)

100 civil war history the incident is Chamberlain's own account written some fifty years later. To this reviewer the elderly general's story sounds like the tale of a reminiscing buck private who explains how he "told off the second lieutenant. Certainly it is advisable to discount old soldiers' battle memories in direct ratio to the time which has elapsed since the fight. However, this in no way mars the thorough research and vivid—sometimes moving—descriptions in these two books. Soul of the Lion contains much on Chamberlain's life which cannot be found in Pullen's book, material which is state history rather than military. This includes the General's career as governor of Maine and as president of Bowdoin College. Wallace's book also uses a better method of footnoting than Pullen's, his bibliography is much larger, but he includes fewer maps. Does one excel the other in literary style? That depends on the consumer 's taste. Is apple pie better à la mode or with a slice of cheese? Jay Monaghan Santa Barbara, California Europe Looks at the Civil War. Edited by Belle Becker Sideman and Lillian Friedman. (New York: The Orion Press, 1960. Pp. xx, 323. $6.00.) It was to be expected that this centennial would bring forth a multitude of books on the Civil War—an expectation amply justified. Not the least interesting of that plethora of books is this volume, a compilation of comments by Europeans. Research has not been spared in seeking all available sources, which include a large number of histories, diplomatic documents, newspapers, and periodicals, in addition to the writings of many literary figures of the period. Europeans did not write much about the war while it was in progress, but many articles, pamphlets, letters, and speeches are available. The editors' search has ranged over most of Europe. Anyone familiar with Civil War literature will recognize many names of European participants in actual combat—including the Prussian giant, Heros von Boreke; FitzGerald Ross, a professional English soldier in the Austrian Hussars; the Comte de Paris; Prince de Joinville; and others. The selections come from all ranks of society, but notably from government leaders such as Prime Minister Palmerston, Lord John Russell of the British Foreign Office, and William Gladstone, who was rebuked by Russell for declaring that President Davis had created a "nation." Likewise Prince Gortchakov of Russia is represented, as is Emperor Napoleon III, who informed his councilors that "if the South is victorious, I shall be enchanted." The book reflects the reactions of monarchs, warriors, clergymen , writers, and revolutionaries. All segments of opinion are recorded: from those who sympathized with the North to those who hoped for our permanent dismemberment. Book Reviews101 Finally, there is hardly an aspect of the war which does not receive at least a passing nod. Lord Russell did not see how the United States "could be cobbled together again." A French poet is noted who excoriated the North because a former mistress had to flee her Southern home. Monsignor Doupanloup, Bishop of Orléans, spoke out to his clergy against slavery. Richard Cobden would "walk barefoot to the end of the earth" to end the war. Karl Marx, a correspondent for the Vienna Press during the war, assigns Lincoln a place beside Washington. After Lincoln's assassination, condolences poured into Washington. Especially touching is Queen Victoria's personally written note from one widow to another, and the poem by Henrik Ibsen. It is regrettable that an index was omitted. The greatest value of the compilation, in this reviewer's judgment, is the clear picture it leaves of the reason England in the main favored the Confederacy. In a word, it was jealousy of America's growing stature. EllaLonn St. Petersburg, Florida Canada and the United States: The Civil War Years. By Robin W. Winks. (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1960. Pp. xv, 430. $6.50.) Since World War II, historians have expressed an increasing interest in Canadian-American relations. The concept of a century of peace between the United States and Canada has had particular appeal to a society which has been forced to live in a perpetual cold war. Recently...