Reviews
"Well researched, readable, and highly interpretative. Recommended for both academic and larger public libraries."--Library Journal, "This Book Should Find a Receptive Audience Far Beyond the Boundaries of Virginia."--News and Record, "Bill Blair has made an important addition to the growing literature on the home front in the Civil War, which adds a crucial dimension to our understanding of that conflict. He demonstrates that, whatever their opinion of the Confederate government and its measures, most Virginians remained loyal to the cause of Southern independence to the bitter end. Instead of sapping the will to win, as some scholars have maintained, white civilians helped to sustain armymorale. In Virginia the Confederate cause did not collapse internally; it was crushed externally by a determined enemy."--James M. McPherson, Princeton University"Well researched, readable, and highly interpretative. Recommended for both academic and larger public libraries."--Library Journal"Virginia's Private War is a work of creative research, brilliant analysis, and breathtaking originality. Blair has explored the forging of Confederate identity at the local and state levels more thoroughly and perceptively than any previous scholar. There is fresh information and insight on nearly every page. Facile generalizations about such familiar topics as 'loss of will' fall right and left. This is far and away the best study ever done of asouthern state during the Civil War."--George C. Rable, University of Alabama"Engagingly written, meticulously researched, and thoughtfully argued, Virginia's Private War offers an important and fresh contribution to our understanding of the Civil War. Bill Blair's thorough and sensitive account of the ways in which different groups of Virginians responded to secession, war, and defeat develops a complex and nuanced argument that simultaneously acknowledges the issues that divided Virginians and those that unified them.Virginia's Private War will appeal to all who are interested in the Civil War, whether general readers or specialists, and will reward its readers with a compelling picture of the ways in which a diverse--and ofteninternally divided--society responded to the social, political, and military challenges that the war provoked."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Emory University"Well-researched and lucidly written, this is a valuable study of the Virginia home front with implications that reach beyond the Old Dominion state. Offering an articulate, nuanced challenge to the common picture of a Confederate South riven by internal division, it portrays instead the remarkable resilience of Virginians in the face of a harsh struggle for survival."--Mark Grimsley, The Ohio State University"William Blair's book recasts our understanding of the Confederate home front. His innovative research and subtle interpretation reveal new meanings of the American Civil War."--Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia"Blair holds a mirror up to the grim realities Virginians faced as their state absorbed the shock of invading Union armies. He provides a solid and readable contribution to accounts of that troubled period in our history."--Virginian-Pilot"This book should find a receptive audience far beyond the boundaries of Virginia."--News and Record"[T]his is the best work on the Confederate home front to date. It should appeal to a wide readership, from scholars to the general public."--CHOICE"William Blair's Virginia's Private War must surely rank among the best studies of a Confederate state at war. He presents a complex and multifaceted picture of the stresses and strains of a society very much in the front line, and of the discontents, shortages and sufferings which many of its people endured."--Times Literary Supplement"...Blair has done a fine job of research and devoted careful thought to this book...Virginia's Private War is a detailed, highly sophisticated, and intellectually challenging work that sheds a new light on the Confederate home front and should spark much worthwhile thought, research, and debate in the years to come."--Columbiad, "Bill Blair has made an important addition to the growing literature on the home front in the Civil War, which adds a crucial dimension to our understanding of that conflict. He demonstrates that, whatever their opinion of the Confederate government and its measures, most Virginians remained loyal to the cause of Southern independence to the bitter end. Instead of sapping the will to win, as some scholars have maintained, white civilians helped to sustain army morale. In Virginia the Confederate cause did not collapse internally; it was crushed externally by a determined enemy."--James M. McPherson, Princeton University"Well researched, readable, and highly interpretative. Recommended for both academic and larger public libraries."--Library Journal"Virginia's Private War is a work of creative research, brilliant analysis, and breathtaking originality. Blair has explored the forging of Confederate identity at the local and state levels more thoroughly and perceptively than any previous scholar. There is fresh information and insight on nearly every page. Facile generalizations about such familiar topics as 'loss of will' fall right and left. This is far and away the best study ever done of a southern state during the Civil War."--George C. Rable, University of Alabama"Engagingly written, meticulously researched, and thoughtfully argued, Virginia's Private War offers an important and fresh contribution to our understanding of the Civil War. Bill Blair's thorough and sensitive account of the ways in which different groups of Virginians responded to secession, war, and defeat develops a complex and nuanced argument that simultaneously acknowledges the issues that divided Virginians and those that unified them. Virginia's Private War will appeal to all who are interested in the Civil War, whether general readers or specialists, and will reward its readers with a compelling picture of the ways in which a diverse--and often internally divided--society responded to the social, political, and military challenges that the war provoked."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Emory University"Well-researched and lucidly written, this is a valuable study of the Virginia home front with implications that reach beyond the Old Dominion state. Offering an articulate, nuanced challenge to the common picture of a Confederate South riven by internal division, it portrays instead the remarkable resilience of Virginians in the face of a harsh struggle for survival."--Mark Grimsley, The Ohio State University"William Blair's book recasts our understanding of the Confederate home front. His innovative research and subtle interpretation reveal new meanings of the American Civil War."--Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia"Blair holds a mirror up to the grim realities Virginians faced as their state absorbed the shock of invading Union armies. He provides a solid and readable contribution to accounts of that troubled period in our history."--Virginian-Pilot"This book should find a receptive audience far beyond the boundaries of Virginia."--News and Record"[T]his is the best work on the Confederate home front to date. It should appeal to a wide readership, from scholars to the general public."--CHOICE"William Blair's Virginia's Private War must surely rank among the best studies of a Confederate state at war. He presents a complex and multifaceted picture of the stresses and strains of a society very much in the front line, and of the discontents, shortages and sufferings which many of its people endured."--Times Literary Supplement"...Blair has done a fine job of research and devoted careful thought to this book...Virginia's Private War is a detailed, highly sophisticated, and intellectually challenging work that sheds a new light on the Confederate home front and should spark much worthwhile thought, research, and debate in the years to come."--Columbiad, "Engagingly written, meticulously researched, and thoughtfully argued, Virginia's Private War offers an important and fresh contribution to our understanding of the Civil War. Bill Blair's thorough and sensitive account of the ways in which different groups of Virginians responded tosecession, war, and defeat develops a complex and nuanced argument that simultaneously acknowledges the issues that divided Virginians and those that unified them. Virginia's Private War will appeal to all who are interested in the Civil War, whether general readers or specialists, and will rewardits readers with a compelling picture of the ways in which a diverse--and often internally divided--society responded to the social, political, and military challenges that the war provoked."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Emory University, "Well-researched and lucidly written, this is a valuable study of theVirginia home front with implications that reach beyond the Old Dominion state.Offering an articulate, nuanced challenge to the common picture of a ConfederateSouth riven by internal division, it portrays instead the remarkable resilienceof Virginians in the face of a harsh struggle for survival."--Mark Grimsley, TheOhio State University, "Engagingly written, meticulously researched, and thoughtfully argued,Virginia's Private War offers an important and fresh contribution to ourunderstanding of the Civil War. Bill Blair's thorough and sensitive account ofthe ways in which different groups of Virginians responded to secession, war,and defeat develops a complex and nuanced argument that simultaneouslyacknowledges the issues that divided Virginians and those that unified them.Virginia's Private War will appeal to all who are interested in the Civil War,whether general readers or specialists, and will reward its readers with acompelling picture of the ways in which a diverse--and often internallydivided--society responded to the social, political, and military challengesthat the war provoked."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Emory University, "Bill Blair has made an important addition to the growing literature on the home front in the Civil War, which adds a crucial dimension to our understanding of that conflict. He demonstrates that, whatever their opinion of the Confederate government and its measures, most Virginians remained loyal to the cause of Southern independence to the bitter end. Instead of sapping the will to win, as some scholars have maintained, white civilians helped to sustain army morale. In Virginia the Confederate cause did not collapse internally; it was crushed externally by a determined enemy."--James M. McPherson, Princeton University, "Well-researched and lucidly written, this is a valuable study of the Virginia home front with implications that reach beyond the Old Dominion state. Offering an articulate, nuanced challenge to the common picture of a Confederate South riven by internal division, it portrays instead theremarkable resilience of Virginians in the face of a harsh struggle for survival."--Mark Grimsley, The Ohio State University, "William Blair's book recasts our understanding of the Confederate home front. His innovative research and subtle interpretation reveal new meanings of the American Civil War."--Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia, "Bill Blair has made an important addition to the growing literature on the home front in the Civil War, which adds a crucial dimension to our understanding of that conflict. He demonstrates that, whatever their opinion of the Confederate government and its measures, most Virginians remainedloyal to the cause of Southern independence to the bitter end. Instead of sapping the will to win, as some scholars have maintained, white civilians helped to sustain army morale. In Virginia the Confederate cause did not collapse internally; it was crushed externally by a determined enemy."--JamesM. McPherson, Princeton University, "Blair holds a mirror up to the grim realities Virginians faced as theirstate absorbed the shock of invading Unionn armies. He provides a solid andreadable contribution to accounts of that troubled period in ourhistory."--Virginian-Pilot, "Bill Blair has made an important addition to the growing literature on the home front in the Civil War, which adds a crucial dimension to our understanding of that conflict. He demonstrates that, whatever their opinion of the Confederate government and its measures, most Virginians remained loyal to the cause of Southern independence to the bitter end. Instead of sapping the will to win, as some scholars have maintained, white civilians helped to sustain army morale. In Virginia the Confederate cause did not collapse internally; it was crushed externally by a determined enemy."--James M. McPherson, Princeton University "Well researched, readable, and highly interpretative. Recommended for both academic and larger public libraries."--Library Journal "Virginia's Private War is a work of creative research, brilliant analysis, and breathtaking originality. Blair has explored the forging of Confederate identity at the local and state levels more thoroughly and perceptively than any previous scholar. There is fresh information and insight on nearly every page. Facile generalizations about such familiar topics as 'loss of will' fall right and left. This is far and away the best study ever done of a southern state during the Civil War."--George C. Rable, University of Alabama "Engagingly written, meticulously researched, and thoughtfully argued, Virginia's Private War offers an important and fresh contribution to our understanding of the Civil War. Bill Blair's thorough and sensitive account of the ways in which different groups of Virginians responded to secession, war, and defeat develops a complex and nuanced argument that simultaneously acknowledges the issues that divided Virginians and those that unified them. Virginia's Private War will appeal to all who are interested in the Civil War, whether general readers or specialists, and will reward its readers with a compelling picture of the ways in which a diverse--and often internally divided--society responded to the social, political, and military challenges that the war provoked."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Emory University "Well-researched and lucidly written, this is a valuable study of the Virginia home front with implications that reach beyond the Old Dominion state. Offering an articulate, nuanced challenge to the common picture of a Confederate South riven by internal division, it portrays instead the remarkable resilience of Virginians in the face of a harsh struggle for survival."--Mark Grimsley, The Ohio State University "William Blair's book recasts our understanding of the Confederate home front. His innovative research and subtle interpretation reveal new meanings of the American Civil War."--Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia "Blair holds a mirror up to the grim realities Virginians faced as their state absorbed the shock of invading Union armies. He provides a solid and readable contribution to accounts of that troubled period in our history."--Virginian-Pilot "This book should find a receptive audience far beyond the boundaries of Virginia."--News and Record "[T]his is the best work on the Confederate home front to date. It should appeal to a wide readership, from scholars to the general public."--CHOICE "William Blair's Virginia's Private War must surely rank among the best studies of a Confederate state at war. He presents a complex and multifaceted picture of the stresses and strains of a society very much in the front line, and of the discontents, shortages and sufferings which many of its people endured."--Times Literary Supplement "...Blair has done a fine job of research and devoted careful thought to this book...Virginia's Private War is a detailed, highly sophisticated, and intellectually challenging work that sheds a new light on the Confederate home front and should spark much worthwhile thought, research, and debate in the years to come."--Columbiad, "...this is the best work on the Confederate home front to date. It should appeal to a wide readership, from scholars to the general public."--Choice, "Blair holds a mirror up to the grim realities Virginians faced as their state absorbed the shock of invading Union armies. He provides a solid and readable contribution to accounts of that troubled period in our history."--Virginian-Pilot, "Virginia's Private War is a work of creative research, brilliant analysis, and breathtaking originality. Blair has explored the forging of Confederate identity at the local and state levels more thoroughly and perceptively than any previous scholar. There is fresh information and insight onnearly every page. Facile generalizations about such familiar topics as 'loss of will' fall right and left. This is far and away the best study ever done of a southern state during the Civil War."--George C. Rable, University of Alabama, "Bill Blair has made an important addition to the growing literature on the home front in the Civil War, which adds a crucial dimension to our understanding of that conflict. He demonstrates that, whatever their opinion of the Confederate government and its measures, most Virginians remained loyal to the cause of Southern independence to the bitter end. Instead of sapping the will to win, as some scholars have maintained, white civilians helped to sustain army morale. In Virginia the Confederate cause did not collapse internally; it was crushed externally by a determined enemy."--James M. McPherson, Princeton University "Well researched, readable, and highly interpretative. Recommended for both academic and larger public libraries."--Library Journal "Virginia''s Private War is a work of creative research, brilliant analysis, and breathtaking originality. Blair has explored the forging of Confederate identity at the local and state levels more thoroughly and perceptively than any previous scholar. There is fresh information and insight on nearly every page. Facile generalizations about such familiar topics as ''loss of will'' fall right and left. This is far and away the best study ever done of a southern state during the Civil War."--George C. Rable, University of Alabama "Engagingly written, meticulously researched, and thoughtfully argued, Virginia''s Private War offers an important and fresh contribution to our understanding of the Civil War. Bill Blair''s thorough and sensitive account of the ways in which different groups of Virginians responded to secession, war, and defeat develops a complex and nuanced argument that simultaneously acknowledges the issues that divided Virginians and those that unified them. Virginia''s Private War will appeal to all who are interested in the Civil War, whether general readers or specialists, and will reward its readers with a compelling picture of the ways in which a diverse--and often internally divided--society responded to the social, political, and military challenges that the war provoked."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Emory University "Well-researched and lucidly written, this is a valuable study of the Virginia home front with implications that reach beyond the Old Dominion state. Offering an articulate, nuanced challenge to the common picture of a Confederate South riven by internal division, it portrays instead the remarkable resilience of Virginians in the face of a harsh struggle for survival."--Mark Grimsley, The Ohio State University "William Blair''s book recasts our understanding of the Confederate home front. His innovative research and subtle interpretation reveal new meanings of the American Civil War."--Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia "Blair holds a mirror up to the grim realities Virginians faced as their state absorbed the shock of invading Union armies. He provides a solid and readable contribution to accounts of that troubled period in our history."--Virginian-Pilot "This book should find a receptive audience far beyond the boundaries of Virginia."--News and Record "[T]his is the best work on the Confederate home front to date. It should appeal to a wide readership, from scholars to the general public."--CHOICE "William Blair''s Virginia''s Private War must surely rank among the best studies of a Confederate state at war. He presents a complex and multifaceted picture of the stresses and strains of a society very much in the front line, and of the discontents, shortages and sufferings which many of its people endured."--Times Literary Supplement "...Blair has done a fine job of research and devoted careful thought to this book...Virginia''s Private War is a detailed, highly sophisticated, and intellectually challenging work that sheds a new light on the Confederate home front and should spark much worthwhile thought, research, and debate in the years to come."--Columbiad, "William Blair's book recasts our understanding of the Confederate homefront. His innovative research and subtle interpretation reveal new meanings ofthe American Civil War."--Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia, "William Blair's Virginia's Private War must surely rank among the best studies of a Confederate state at war. He presents a complex and multifaceted picture of the stresses and strains of a society very much in the front line, and of the discontents, shortages and sufferings which many ofits people endured."--Times Literary Supplement, "Bill Blair has made an important addition to the growing literature onthe home front in the Civil War, which adds a crucial dimension to ourunderstanding of that conflict. He demonstrates that, whatever their opinion ofthe Confederate governemnt and its measures, most Virginians remained loyal tothe cause of Southern independence to the bitter end. Instead of sapping thewill to win, as some scholars have maintained, white civilians helped to sustainarmy morale. In Virginia the Confederate cuase did not collapse internally; itwas crushed externally by a determined enemy."--James M. McPherson, PrincetonUniversity, "Well researched, readable, and highly interpretative. Recommended forboth academic and larger public libraries."--Library Journal, "Blair holds a mirror up to the grim realities Virginians faced as theirstate absorbed the shock of invading Union armies. He provides a solid andreadable contribution to accounts of that troubled period in ourhistory."--Virginian-Pilot, "Virginia's Private War is a work of creative research, brilliantanalysis, and breathtaking originality. Blair has explored the forging ofConfederate identity at the local and state levels more thoroughly andperceptively than any previous scholar. There is fresh information and insighton nearly every page. Facile generalizations about such familiar topics as 'lossof will' fall right and left. This is far and away the best study ever done of asouthern state during the Civil War."--George C. Rable, University ofAlabama
