Reconstruction

America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877

By: Eric Foner

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

Length: 30 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

The period following the Civil War was one of the most controversial eras in American history. This comprehensive account of the period captures the drama of those turbulent years that played such an important role in shaping modern America.

Eric Foner brilliantly chronicles how Americans, Black and White, responded to the unprecedented changes unleashed by the Civil War and the end of slavery. He provides fresh insights on a host of other issues, including the ways in which the emancipated slave's quest for economic autonomy and equal citizenship shaped the political agenda of Reconstruction; the remodeling of Southern society and the place of planters, merchants, and small farmers within it; the evolution of racial attitudes and patterns of race relations; Abraham Lincoln's attitude toward Reconstruction; the role of "carpetbaggers" and "scalawags"; and the role of violence in the period.

This "smart book of enormous strengths" (Boston Globe) has become the classic work on the wrenching post-Civil War period, an era whose legacy reverberates in the United States to this day.

©1988 Eric Foner (P)1990 Blackstone Audio

required reading for any American

This is an extremely important book. the narrator is a bit much at times, but you will learn to understand America much better by reading this book.

An Amazing History

This book puts togather the historical context that has founds the last 150 years of american history. A must listen for those interested in sociatal structures and black rights

Informative!

The Reconstruction book provided me with the America history lesson that should have been taught in school. This book in an Informative and necessary read.

Excellent history that High School failed to teach

Realized that I didn't learn much about reconstruction in High School beyond carpet baggers & scalawags. Foner does a great job cover the whole of reconstruction & it's ultimate failure to extend universal suffrage to the new freedmen.

Great history - a bit of a slog for general reader

As others point out, this is a monumental work of history from which virtually any of us will learn. I won't focus on the content for this review; others have, and besides, I'm a chemist, not a historian.

I took this on as the first serious book I read about Reconstruction, because why not start at the top, so to speak. In terms of really building a deep understanding of all the social pressures (and politics), it did not disappoint. However, as a general interest reader, I couldn't help at times thinking I could do with a version that was half or two-thirds the length. There are sections that a general interest reader like me might find to be a big of a slog. In retrospect, his "Short History of Reconstruction" might have been a better choice for me, in that I certainly won't retain all 30 hours worth of detail anyway.

Many have commented on the audio quality. I will add mine. To me, this sounds like a recording literally made in the late 1950s. I am comparing it to school movies I saw that seemed old in the early 70s or music recordings of the era. That is, it sounds muted and compressed with background white noise. It just sounds "old" and you'll know what I mean as soon as you listen. That is something that you can just get used to, even if it's a little disappointing. I wished it sounded brighter and cleaner, but it wasn't anything that was going to stop me from listening. It is also true that Dietz pronounces a certain number of words oddly (e.g., miscegenation as if it had a K where the c is), and yes that's a little distracting. However, I found his overall precision of speech to be a plus. There are large sections of the text where you need to know the difference between "freed men" and "free men," and the words are used frequently and near one another. Dietz's diction is such that that distinction (and others) is clear. I am les clear why he or his editor/director didn't catch all the odd pronunciations....but again, he is consistent with them. (And yes, it's a bit slow and didactic, but I think some listeners exaggerate here.) Overalll, the audio is serviceable and clear enough, but it does lend itself to giving the impression that this is a textbook that is being read to you.

Gain a New Understanding

The prevailing understanding of the Reconstruction period is still based on myths and outright lies. As a country we are starting to deal with the truth. However, those who would prefer a myth based version of history are resisting. Anyone who wants to gain a fact based new understanding of this period in the history of our country should read this book.

Very Thorough and Eye-Opening

It ought to be required reading for everyone in high school since racism is so rampant in our society .

Too much

If you could sum up Reconstruction in three words, what would they be?

Way too much to listen to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Reconstruction?

The treatment of Andrew Johnson's presidency

What about Norman Dietz’s performance did you like?

Very clear.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Pick a section of it; try not to do the whole thing.

A Complete Study of Reconstruction

This Audible book was like taking an in depth course on the missed opportunity of Reconstruction for America. We suffer the consequences of not living up to our promises stated in our Constitution and expanded in our amendments. I am glad I finished this long detailed “textbook”.
My one complaint was that chapter numbers in this unabridged Audible book did not match the unabridged hard copy book I had in hand. This made it difficult to pick up and put down as I listened .

Very clear description of Reconstruction

I really enjoyed the personal quotes of individuals who lived through this period. It was very thorough and I learned a lot.