Belligerent Muse

“Offers a new way to understand histories of the war as complex literary expressions in their own right.” — Journal of Southern History

“Recommended.” — CHOICE

“Ranges the narration of military events on a spectrum from the mundane or utilitarian to a higher ‘yearning for dignity, strength, and grandeur.’” — American Literature

“Gorgeous and penetrating, Stephen Cushman’s Belligerent Muse gives us five exquisite lessons in the anatomy of style. From the lilt of Lincoln’s language to the barbs of Bierce and the pageantry of Chamberlain, Belligerent Muse takes readers into the complicated literary history of how the war was spun and how a national bloodletting transformed the writing of history and the history of writing in the United States.” — Stephen Berry, University of Georgia

“Stephen Cushman presents an excellent and thoroughly researched overview of a timely topic — the relation of the Civil War to the writings of men whose engagement both with fighting the war and with writing the war resonates with nineteenth-century American culture.” — Shirley Samuels, Cornell University

“Belligerent Muse is a beautifully written, rich, and engaging work that convincingly argues we should pay attention to the aesthetics of war writing, including military history. Offering fresh insight on every page, this is not only a great pleasure to read but also a major addition to the literature of the Civil War.” — Alice Fahs, University of California, Irvine