Because the Civil War is one of the most examined and least understood periods of American history, the Jesse Stuart Foundation now offers a revised and expanded second edition of "An American Iliad: The Story of the Civil War," the best overview of our greatest national trauma.

Written by Charles P. Roland, professor emeritus of history at the University of Kentucky and past president of the Southern Historical Association, "An American Iliad" is the best single-volume short history (less than 300 pages) of the war. The book’s detail and fluid style make it interesting as a textbook and appealing to general readers.

The Civil War created conquerors, victims, vanquished obstacles, and realized dreams that live in our national consciousness and shape our national character. The story of the Civil War is an American epic, and Charles Roland tells it in a moving and informative way.

Of great interest are the contrasts he draws between the opposing presidents and generals. What traits, he asks, made Lincoln superior to Davis as a war leader? How were Union military leaders able to forge a more effective fighting force and a more comprehensive strategy than their opponents?

Roland’s thoughtful answers and his recognition of the contradictions of human nature and the interplay of intention and chance raise this book far above a mere recounting of military events.

Through increased coverage of the homefront, soldiers’ lives, the contributions of African American soldiers, and the experiences of women, Roland has broadened the scope of this new edition while maintaining his original focus on the war’s military aspects.

Additional modifications include an opening chapter that elucidates the historical context of the Civil War, more photographs and maps, and a timeline that enables readers to more easily identify the temporal relationships among critical events in the conflict.

A new final chapter discusses the Reconstruction era that followed the war, which had its own significant impact on the nation.

"An American Iliad" is an excellent companion to James Lee McDonough’s "War In Kentucky: From Shiloh To Perryville," an account of the brief, but significant, period of war in the west.

This book explores the strategic importance of Kentucky to both sides during the Civil War and recounts the Confederate’s bold attempt to capture the Bluegrass state.

McDonough describes the ill-fated Union advance through Alabama, the Confederate march across Tennessee, and the subsequent two-pronged invasion of Kentucky. He vividly recounts the fighting at Richmond, Munfordville, and Perryville, where the Confederate dream of controlling Kentucky finally ended.

These books and many other books on the American Civil War are available at the Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore, 1645 Winchester Avenue in downtown Ashland.

For more information, call (606) 326-1667 or visit our ever expanding website: JSFBOOKS.com.