Ric Burns Books

This companion volume to the PBS television series features over 500 full-color and black-and-white illustrations, capturing the beauty and complexity of New York City, a symbol of ambition and modern life. It chronicles the city's evolution from a Dutch trading post in 1624 to its status as a global powerhouse, weaving a narrative that encompasses nearly four centuries of growth and change. The book explores significant events, including the Revolutionary War, the rise of industrialization in the 19th century, and the transformative waves of early 20th-century immigration. It highlights New York's emergence as the world's first modern city, showcasing pioneering skyscrapers, subways, and its cultural impact on American society. Readers will discover the stories of notable figures such as Peter Stuyvesant, Alexander Hamilton, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, alongside vibrant illustrations including rare photographs and period maps. The narrative is enriched by interviews with prominent historians and essays from distinguished critics who provide insights into the city's rich history. With a new preface and two additional chapters addressing the city's transformation in the 21st century, this volume offers a comprehensive exploration of New York's past and its ongoing evolution.

"The Civil War defined us as what we are & it opened us to being what we became, good & bad things...It was the crossroads of our being, & it was a hell of a crossroads: the suffering, the enormous tragedy of the whole thing."- Shelby FooteWhen the illustrated edition of The Civil War was published, The NY Time hailed it as "a treasure for the eye & mind." Ward's history interweaves the author's narrative with the voices of those who lived thru the cataclysmic trial of nationhood: not just Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass & Robert E. Lee, but genteel Southern ladies & escaped slaves, cavalry officers & common foot soldiers who fought in Yankee blue & Rebel gray. The Civil War also includes essays by historians of the era: Don E. Fehrenbacher, on the war's origins; Barbara J. Fields, on the freeing of slaves; Shelby Foote, on the soldiers & commanders; James M. McPherson, on the political dimensions; & C. Vann Woodward, assessing the America that emerged from the war's ashes.Introduction: The crossroads of our being1861: A house divided Why the war came/ Don E. Fehrenbacher1862: Forever freeWho freeds the slaves?/ Barbara J. Fields1863: The universe of battleMen at war: an interview with Shelby Foote1864: Most hallowed groundWar & politics/ James M. McPherson1865: The better angels of our natureWhat the war made us/ C. Vann Woodward