41 pages • 1 hour read
Drew Gilpin FaustThis Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
This Republic of Suffering by Drew Gilpin Faust examines how the unprecedented scale of death during the Civil War affected survivors, detailing struggles with logistical, spiritual, medicinal, and legal challenges. Faust explores soldiers' willingness to face death, new wartime killing attitudes, difficulties in proper burials, the anonymity of many deceased soldiers, civilian hardships, evolving religious beliefs, recovery of the dead, and how counting the dead became a coping mechanism. References to mass death, battle, and disease.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
This Republic of Suffering by Drew Gilpin Faust offers a profound exploration of the Civil War's impact on American attitudes toward death. Critics praise its meticulous research and emotional depth, though some find its prose dense. While the narrative is compelling, occasional repetitiveness may deter some readers. Overall, it's a seminal yet challenging read.
Who Should Read This Republic of Suffering?
A reader who enjoys exploring the profound human impact of war, particularly the Civil War, will find Drew Gilpin Faust's This Republic of Suffering compelling. Fans of McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom and Burns' The Civil War documentary will appreciate the detailed social history and emotional depth Faust provides.