On Great Fields: America's Civil War, 1861-1865 book cover

On Great Fields

America's Civil War, 1861-1865

Ronald C. White
4.83 (6 Reviews)

Panoramica di On Great Fields

Discover the stuttering boy who mastered nine languages and became Gettysburg's unlikely hero. Jon Meacham calls this bestseller "vital and vivid" - the definitive portrait of Joshua Chamberlain, whose battlefield brilliance and post-war leadership shaped modern America.

Temi chiave in On Great Fields

  • citizen soldier
  • moral courage
  • academic leadership
  • battle of gettysburg
  • principled leadership

Citazioni da On Great Fields

  • "Do it! That's how!"

  • Education became a source of family tension.

  • His stammering "one of the miseries of his life"

  • He later recalled these evenings as "the chief of privileges"

Personaggi di On Great Fields

  • Joshua Lawrence ChamberlainBowdoin professor turned Civil War hero
  • Harriet Beecher StoweAuthor and resident at Bowdoin College
  • Parker CleavelandBowdoin professor and mineralogy expert
  • Alpheus Spring PackardProfessor and mentor to Chamberlain
  • President WoodsPresident of Bowdoin College

Sull'autore

Sull'autore di On Great Fields

Ronald C. White, bestselling author of On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, is a renowned presidential biographer and historian specializing in 19th-century American leadership. A Princeton-trained scholar, White has written multiple acclaimed works, including A. Lincoln: A Biography—a New York Times bestseller and Christopher Award winner—and American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant, praised for redefining Grant’s legacy. His expertise in Civil War-era figures stems from decades of research, teaching at institutions like UCLA and Princeton Theological Seminary, and senior fellowships at the Trinity Forum.

White’s books, including Lincoln’s Greatest Speech and Lincoln in Private (winner of the Benjamin Barondess Award), blend rigorous scholarship with narrative depth, making complex historical themes accessible.

A frequent lecturer at the White House and PBS NewsHour contributor, his works have been featured in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and international media. On Great Fields continues his tradition of spotlighting underestimated heroes, with Chamberlain’s story reflecting White’s focus on moral courage in pivotal moments. His books are widely used in academic curricula and translated globally, solidifying his reputation as a definitive voice in American historical biography.

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FAQ su questo libro

Ronald C. White’s biography chronicles the extraordinary life of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a Bowdoin College professor turned Civil War hero. While best known for his pivotal role in the Union victory at Gettysburg’s Little Round Top, the book also explores Chamberlain’s post-war leadership as Maine’s governor and Bowdoin’s president, revealing his intellectual depth, moral courage, and struggle to transition from soldier to civilian.

This book appeals to Civil War enthusiasts, leadership scholars, and readers interested in 19th-century American history. White’s rigorous research and narrative flair make it accessible for casual history buffs and academics alike, particularly those drawn to underappreciated figures who shaped U.S. history.

Yes. White combines meticulous scholarship with vivid storytelling, offering fresh insights beyond Chamberlain’s military feats. The inclusion of nine detailed maps and rare illustrations enhances its value as both a historical resource and an engaging biography.

The book argues Chamberlain’s true heroism emerged not just at Gettysburg but during his 1880 defense of Maine’s government against election fraud. White contrasts Chamberlain’s spontaneous battlefield bravery with his calculated, principled leadership during this political crisis.

As a Lincoln and Grant biographer, White analyzes Chamberlain through the lens of leadership rhetoric and moral conviction. He highlights Chamberlain’s fluency in nine languages, his stuttering childhood, and his philosophical reflections on war’s psychological toll.

This is the first major Chamberlain biography in 30 years, incorporating newly accessible letters and diaries. Unlike earlier military-focused accounts, White emphasizes Chamberlain’s intellectual growth and post-war civic contributions.

Key lessons include:

  • Adapting to crises (e.g., the bayonet charge at Gettysburg)
  • Leading through empathy rather than authority
  • Maintaining integrity during Reconstruction-era political strife

White details Chamberlain’s struggle with PTSD-like symptoms and his quest for purpose through education reform and veterans’ advocacy, providing a nuanced portrait of Civil War veterans’ reintegration.

As a trained minister, Chamberlain viewed the Civil War through a moral lens, seeing preservation of the Union as a divine mandate. White traces how this worldview shaped his decisions in battle and governance.

Yes. The book includes nine battle maps, portraits, and photos of Chamberlain’s personal artifacts, helping readers visualize key moments like the Little Round Top defense.

Using Chamberlain’s 100+ surviving letters to his wife Fanny, White reveals marital tensions exacerbated by war trauma and political ambitions, adding emotional depth to the historical record.

His journey from scholar to soldier to statesman mirrors contemporary struggles with identity, duty, and moral leadership—particularly relevant in today’s polarized political climate.

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