I need help with my American History research, please ...

[non sociopath skin]

.. my Summer reading project this year is to re-read Gore Vidal's wonderful "Narratives of Empire" series alongside appropriate non-fiction background stuff.

Could any DUers help me by recommending a good book on the postbellum "Reconstruction" era and good biographies of Presidents Grant, Garfield and McKinley?

I've also just read William Lee Miller's "Lincoln's Virtues" and would be interested in other DUers' views of it.

Finally, recommendations of good American History websites would be useful.

Thanks in anticipation.

The Skin

[bluestateguy]

1. I'm on the run right now, but

Try Eric Foner's book on Reconstruction, google it.

Grant's autobiography is good, but it says little about his presidency. Try the "American Presidents" series for the others. They are short books. Arthur Schlesinger Jr. is the editor of the series.

Have to go, so I don't have time to search for links.

[non sociopath skin]

2. Thanks, bluestateguy...

I'd be grateful for any further info when you have more time.

Is Grant's autobiography currently in print?

The Skin

[Bridget Burke]

3. Yes. Although it's probably available used.

Here's the Amazon listing for one edition of Personal Memoirs: Ulysses S. Grant

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375752285/ref=dp_item-information_0/102-4192198-1147342?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155&v=glance

It's apparently a classic, although it ends with the end of the war. And Grant's life ended a few days after he finished the book.

[bluestateguy]

6. More information

Grant

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=zg62e6q9ua&isbn=0760749906&itm=1

McKinely

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=zg62e6q9ua&isbn=0805069534&itm=1

Arthur

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=7I0if6q9so&isbn=0805069518&itm=1

Foner's book on Reconstrcution

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=7I0Fg6q9Qp&isbn=0060964316&itm=2

[WoodrowFan]

8. agreed

I'm an historian (in American history) and I want to second bluestateguy's suggestions. Foner is especially good!

The University of Kansas Press has perhaps the BEST series of biographies on American Presidents. You can find their titles at..

http://www.kansaspress.ku.edu/newbyseries.html

[non sociopath skin]

9. Much thanks, WoodrowFan..

.. I hadn't come across this series before.

Are there any you'd particularly recommend?

The Skin

[WoodrowFan]

11. not off the top of my head

but everyone I've read has been good, and they get good reviews in the history journals.

[sir_captain]

4. Foner's book

on reconstruction is considered to be the definitive take.

For more on Lincoln, I'd recommend Viking's Portable Lincoln which includes full-text documents and excellent essays and introductions.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by American history websites? Are you looking for document resources? If so, I'd recommend J-Stor and America, History and Life. You'll need to access those through an educational institution as they are hardly free.

[non sociopath skin]

5. Thanks, captain...

... both the Foner and the Portable Lincoln seem like good investments.

Sorry I wasn't terribly helpful about the websites. I guess I'm after Dummies' Guides rather than more academic stuff at the moment. :)

The Skin

[sir_captain]

7. No problem

so you're looking for a site with general advice on how to do research? I'm not sure that any such thing exists, and frankly, even if it did, I'm not sure I'd really pay any attention to it! ;-)

In any case, PM me if you want any more help. I majored in American History and miss doing it, so I'd be glad to give you any advice you might want!

[Maddy McCall]

10. Check out Goodwyn's book on Populism, too.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0195024176/104-7631730-9385551?v=glance

[MrScorpio]

12. I'll make easy on you

Grant: Corrupt admin and drunk. Eventually buried in Grant's Tomb
Garfield: Target practice
McKinley: Imperialist Target Practice

That should get you an "A"

[non sociopath skin]

13. Shucks ...

... I hadn't realised American History was so easy!

Maybe I can move on to Practical Math with Chuck Berry?
:)

The Skin

[MrScorpio]

14. Glad to be of service

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