A Nation Unraveled

“A brilliant new history of the Civil War by placing material objects at the center of a rich, multidisciplinary analysis.”—Civil War Monitor

“[A] must-read for anyone who wants to ‘see’ and ‘feel’ the conflict beyond the battlefield.”—Emerging Civil War

“A convincingly argued work of stunning originality and imagination, rooted in enormously creative research. This book will alter the vision and sensibility of Civil War historians by revealing how everyone fighting the war saw, felt, and remembered the conflict through clothing. There is nothing like this on anyone’s shelf.”—David W. Blight, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom

“A Nation Unraveled is, quite simply, one of the most compelling histories of the American Civil War around. Sarah Jones Weicksel’s thoughtful analysis is full of surprises and vivid evidence. Readers will be convinced that material culture, textiles in particular, are fundamental to understanding the history of war in early America.”—Zara Anishanslin, author of Portrait of a Woman in Silk: Hidden Histories of the British Atlantic World

“With fresh ideas, captivating characters, and vivid images, this book is a pleasure to read. Weicksel’s insightful analysis and clear prose puts readers in touch with the Civil War in ways that few books can accomplish.”—Jason Phillips, West Virginia University