Lens of War grew out of an invitation to leading historians of the Civil War to select and reflect upon a single photograph. Each could choose any image and interpret it in personal and scholarly terms. The result is a remarkable set of essays by twenty-seven scholars whose numerous volumes on the Civil War have explored military, cultural, political, African American, women’s, and environmental history.

The essays describe a wide array of photographs and present an eclectic approach to the assignment, organized by topic: Leaders, Soldiers, Civilians, Victims, and Places. Readers will rediscover familiar photographs and figures examined in unfamiliar ways, as well as discover little-known photographs that afford intriguing perspectives. All the images are reproduced with exquisite care. Readers fascinated by the Civil War will want this unique book on their shelves, and lovers of photography will value the images and the creative, evocative reflections offered in these essays.

Contributions by: James Robertson, Thavolia Glymph, Daniel E. Sutherland, Kathryn "KT" J. Shively, Stephen Cushman, Elizabeth R. Varon, Judith A. Giesberg, James Marten, T. Michael Parrish, William Blair, Joseph Glatthaar, Jane E. Schultz, Stephen Berry, Steven E. Woodworth, Caroline E. Janney, Joan Waugh, Earl Hess, Aaron Sheehan-Dean, Megan Kate Nelson, Susan Eva O'Donovan, Emory Thomas, Harold Holzer, Brooks D. Simpson, Ethan S. Rafuse, Carol Reardon