"The best brief military history of the Civil War available. Wonderfully clear and
concise."George Rable

"Well organized and well-written.offers asides that may surprise even seasoned Civil War
buffs."Publishers Weekly

"Those searching for a clear, persuasive introduction to the way in which battle shaped new
strategies and a new idea of war could find no better or more compelling guide."
Kirkus Reviews

An introductory military history of the American Civil War, Shades of Blue and Gray
places the 1861-1865 conflict within the broad context of evolving warfare. Emphasizing technology and
its significant impact, Hattaway includes valuable material on land and sea mines, minesweepers, hand
grenades, automatic weapons, the Confederate submarine, and balloons. The evolution of professionalism
in the American military serves as an important connective theme throughout. Hattaway extrapolates from
recent works by revisionists William Skelton and Roy Roberts to illustrate convincingly that the development
of military professionalism is not entirely a post-Civil War phenomenon.

Informative and clearly written, enhanced by graceful prose and colorful anecdotes, Shades of Blue
and Gray will appeal to all listeners.

Herman Hattaway is professor of history at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He is the author or co-author of numerous books, including Why the South Lost the Civil War, How the North Won, and General Stephen D. Lee, all past selections of the History Book Club.

Lloyd James hails from the Midwest. He received a B.A. in theater from a small liberal-arts college in New Mexico. He acts in the theater when his schedule permits and spends much of his free time working in his garden. He lives in Virginia with his wife and son.