THESE HONORED DEAD How the Story of Gettysburg Shaped American Memory

Another work about Gettysburg? Yes, but with a twist. In this title the emphasis is on how the story of the battle has come down to us. The author examines how many of the stories about the battle, such as the belief that the Confederates were looking for shoes, just are not true. (There was not a shoe factory there at the time of the battle.) We find many instances of how participants in the post-war years fabricated incidents to make their own actions more laudable. (For example, Jubal Early's account of the order that was given to Longstreet by Lee early on the morning of July 2--no such order was given.) We find that these myths even change from era to era, but all have made the battle into, as the author notes, our "Valhalla." Lewis Grenville reads this fascinating work with an easy-going style. His voice is comfortable with the text and his delivery clear. M.T.F. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 04]