Sing Not War

“A first-rate scholarly model of historical research and elegant writing that is sure to reshape studies of veteran culture, social welfare, Civil War memory, and the Gilded Age.”—Journal of the Civil War Era

“A worthy addition to the growing body of scholarship on Civil War veterans. For readers new to the topic, it represents a well-written introduction to the world of the men that served in and survived the Civil War. For scholars knowledgeable on this topic, Marten’s study pulls together many familiar threads and adds some new ones, thoughtfully weaving both.”—Civil War Book Review

“Elegantly written . . . . Sing Not War has given admirable shape and definition to an anemic subfield of Civil War history.”—Civil War Monitor

“A carefully crafted volume that weaves together a complex variety of evidence and argument.”—Journal of Southern History

“An insightful work. . . . Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.”—CHOICE

“Deeply researched and vividly narrated, Marten’s book counters the romanticized vision of the lives of Civil War veterans, bringing forth new information about how white veterans were treated and how they lived out their lives.”—McCormick Messenger

“Adds much to a growing literature on the Civil War soldier as veteran.”—Journal of Illinois History

“[Marten’s] scholarship is wide ranging, and his prose is excellent . . . . For anyone interested in the postwar lives of Civil War soldiers, Sing Not War is highly recommended.”—Annals of Iowa

“A remarkable book with significance far beyond the post-Civil War era.”—Kansas History

“Engaging, well written, and exhaustive. . . . A timely and relevant account of the consequences of war on soldiers and civilians alike.”—Southwestern Historical Quarterly