Men of Fire: Grant, Forrest, and the Campaign That Decided the Civil War (Review)

There were a number of elements I enjoyed from Men of Fire The content that focused on Grant and Forrest was insightful and interesting. I took from the description that there would be more comparing and contrasting of the two generals, but it was probably a 3:1 ratio of Grant content to Forrest content with plenty in between. It almost felt as if there was a tug-of-war contest between the author and the editor/publisher on what the book should be. The descriptions of the battles and the solider movement at times hit the theme of the book’s extended title and did so with the richness so often found in David McCullough’s books (which I view as the pinnacle for historical books). At other times, it felt closer to the bottom paragraphs of an AP news release—important details yet a bit prosaic.

Still, I gained a far better understanding of the Civil War’s western front and how it fit into the larger campaign and the war’s outcome. I would recommend this book for Civil War buffs, but I would steer new explorers of the Civil War to other books. Team of Rivals and Killer Angels are two that come to mind for a novice. Or it may be wise to start with one of Hurst’s earlier books, which I have not yet read.