The Valley of the Shadows: The Coming of the Civil War in Lincoln's Midwest, A Contemporary Account

By Francis Grierson

Book Overview

""The Valley of the Shadows: The Coming of the Civil War in Lincoln's Midwest"" is a historical account written by Francis Grierson that explores the events leading up to the Civil War in the Midwest region of the United States. The book provides a contemporary perspective on the political and social climate of the time, as well as the key figures and events that shaped the region's role in the conflict. Grierson's account is based on extensive research, including primary sources such as letters, diaries, and newspapers, and offers a detailed and engaging narrative of this pivotal period in American history. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the Civil War, the Midwest, or American history in general.1909. Introduction by Theodore Spencer. From the Preface: This book is not a novel, but the recollections of scenes and episodes of my early life in Illinois and Missouri, the writing of which has been a labour of love. A cosmopolitan life in the different capitals of Europe during a period of forty years has not sufficed to alienate the romance and memory of those wonderful times. In looking back I have come to the conclusion that the power displayed by the most influential preachers and politicians of the ante-bellum days in Illinois was a power emanating from the spiritual side of life, and I have done my best to depict the silences that belonged to the prairies, for out of those silences came the voices of preacher and prophet and a host of workers and heroes in the great War of Secession. In 1863 President Lincoln issued his famous proclamation for the emancipation of the slaves, and with it the old order passed away never to return.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1417903805
• ISBN13: 9781417903801
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

I swore I was back in 1858

Francis Grierson gives a vivid account of his days in central Illinois near the Sangamon river. The characters and their earthy wisdom, the folks on the underground railroad and the camp meeting were told so well, I swear that I was there. I recommend it highly to those readers who enjoy nineteenth century pioneer days reading

Forgotten Masterpiece

Herbert Agar, in his seminal work THE PRICE OF UNION, touts Grierson's little book. Fifteen years after reading Agar, I finally found THE VALLEY OF SHADOWS at a used bookstore in Denver. I had begun work on a screenplay about General Nathaniel Lyon (who held Missouri for the Union during the Civil War). Grierson's book and A BORDER CITY DURING THE CIVIL WAR by Galusha Anderson were priceless sources describing St. Louis as the city began to split apart in 1861. Both books were published more than four decades after the War, but the events are described vividly.

No book quite like it

I had never heard of Francis Grierson's "The Valley of Shadows" until I read Edmund Wilson's enthusiastic praise of it in "Patriotic Gore." Still, I was unprepared for the book's enormous effect. I have never read anything like "The Valley of Shadows." It has some of the most evocative writing I have ever encountered, and, in this edition, ranks as one of the best short novels of 19th century America. (Prof. Bray has wisely excised the latter chapters of Francis Grierson's "memoir," and what remains is a compelling and very memorable work.) Grierson's descriptions of pre-Civil-War-Sangamon County, Illinois, the omens of war and suffering preceding Lincoln's election in 1860, and the religious hysteria of the times are unforgettable. His prose style is, to put it mildly, lyrical, but it is not in the least mannered or fussy. I think this book, more than any other except "Huckleberry Finn," shows what the American Midwest was like in mid-19th century. Like "Huck Finn," "The Valley of Shadows" is told from a child's point of view, and the feeling of wonder and confusion that comes from this choice of narrator is central to the book's charm. Perhaps best of all, the novel's characters, all beautifully differentiated and running a huge range from the comic to the deeply spiritual, are as unforgettable as any characters I have encountered. New readers of "The Valley of Shadows" are in for a big treat.