Description: "A contribution of prime importance to the reviving study of the Reconstruction period. Among its merits are its originality in reshaping old problems, its imaginative use of analogy and comparative history, and its disciplined respect for the chronological order of events, ideas, hopes, and despairs....These merits along with others should win a warm reception for this book."--C. Vann Woodward, The New York Times Book Review"Unusual, creative, provocative, and provoking...[A] work of major importance. It makes a fine, solid contribution to Reconstruction historiography, and by its approach raises hard, insistent questions about the drift of historical study in our day....It is a brave book...and does enormous credit to the author."--American Historical Review"It is gratifying to find a book which makes no concessions to popular prejudices. McKitrick has spent years in research; he has come to unorthodox conclusions; and he has documented his text....A thoughtful and important book. May the reading public still comprise a sizable number of persons who prefer solidity and scholarship to meretricious appeal!"--Chicago Sunday Tribune"The most important work on Reconstruction to appear in a generation."--Canadian Historical Review

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