Pictorial History of the Great Rehelli071. By Alfred B. Guernsey
and Henry M. Alden. Part I. (Harper, New York ; Sampson Low, Son, and Marston.)—This is the first half of an interesting work which will be an especial boon to people who are not inclined to take much trouble in the pursuit of knowledge. They will pick up from it a decent acquaintance with the facts of the American)War by the agree- able process of turning over a number of vigorous wood engravings. The volume is by its size rather unwieldy for the reader, but looked at as a portfolio of maps and drawings:illustrative of a great historical period, it answers a very useful purpose, and is deserving of very high praise. We do not in the least intend to treat the letter-press with disrespect ; the narrative scorns to us simply, clearly, and impartially written ; but the raison d etre of the work is of course to be found in its five hundred maps, plans, representations of scenes and incidents, and portraits. These are executed with great spirit, are really interesting, and will certainly command the appreciation of the very large class which finds it so much easier and more agreeable to take in informa- tion by the eye thsn in any other way. We can:scarcely imagine, for example, a work that is better adapted for the purposes of reading- rooms and institutes ; as we heard the other day from the chaplain at „ Marseilles, in respect to the sailors, illustrated publications attract at- tention which is not vouchsafed to other kinds of literature, and both from the subject-matter and the execution, this Pictorial History of the Great Rebellion is amongst the most interesting of its class. The present volume commences with a short introductory sketch of events. previous to the war, and terminates with the battle of Malvern Hill, in, July, 1862; it is to be followed in a few months by Part IL, which is to complete the undertaking.
Previous page
