Reconstruction

America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877

By: Eric Foner

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

The period following the Civil War was one of the most controversial eras in American history. This comprehensive account of the period captures the drama of those turbulent years that played such an important role in shaping modern America.

Eric Foner brilliantly chronicles how Americans, Black and White, responded to the unprecedented changes unleashed by the Civil War and the end of slavery. He provides fresh insights on a host of other issues, including the ways in which the emancipated slave's quest for economic autonomy and equal citizenship shaped the political agenda of Reconstruction; the remodeling of Southern society and the place of planters, merchants, and small farmers within it; the evolution of racial attitudes and patterns of race relations; Abraham Lincoln's attitude toward Reconstruction; the role of "carpetbaggers" and "scalawags"; and the role of violence in the period.

This "smart book of enormous strengths" (Boston Globe) has become the classic work on the wrenching post-Civil War period, an era whose legacy reverberates in the United States to this day.

©1988 Eric Foner (P)1990 Blackstone Audio

required reading for any American

This is an extremely important book. the narrator is a bit much at times, but you will learn to understand America much better by reading this book.

An Amazing History

This book puts togather the historical context that has founds the last 150 years of american history. A must listen for those interested in sociatal structures and black rights

The doctrine of unintended consequences writ large

Broad, through treatment of the complex political and social upheaval that continues to affect us today.

Detailed and comprehensive!

I really enjoyed reading this book after my studies of the civil war. It has inspired me to research other areas including the redemption of the south and the establishment of civil war monuments. Racism continues to be a significant challenge in understanding our history and how we can move forward. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand our current political climate

Informative!

The Reconstruction book provided me with the America history lesson that should have been taught in school. This book in an Informative and necessary read.

Excellent history that High School failed to teach

Realized that I didn't learn much about reconstruction in High School beyond carpet baggers & scalawags. Foner does a great job cover the whole of reconstruction & it's ultimate failure to extend universal suffrage to the new freedmen.

Reasonably good book, sometimes overly detailed

I like the details that the author provides, sometimes the endless political machinations get to be difficult to follow and redundant. This is probably true of the era, but for a historical tome it can be difficult to follow.

The reader is a huge detriment to this book. His is monotone and uses little voice variation even in his most emphatic moments. I turned the speed up to two times normal and found myself able to feel more interested in the performance.

All in all, a very interesting book about a very to tumultuous time.

Worth Every Minute!

Illuminating! Aids the understanding of our counrty's past as well as the present. I'd call it essential.

Phenomenal

I couldn’t stop listening!!! Never have I been so engaged in a book; absolutely loved it

Wow

This is a very important history book. A must read for every American.
This took me a long time to read, comprehend and take in, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This book was full of interesting things there were small facts like Jean Toomer , the Harlem renaissance author is related to Pinchback. And huge sweeping important historical facts about the Colfax massacre, the many black people who held important political offices and how it was all taken away from them by southerners who formed the KKK. These details are important to study as American history and understand.