Why read Crossing the Deadlines?

Book cover of Crossing the Deadlines: Civil War Prisons Reconsidered

Book description

The "deadlines" were boundaries prisoners had to stay within or risk being shot. Just as a prisoner would take the daring challenge in "crossing the deadline" to attempt escape, Crossing the Deadlines crosses those boundaries of old scholarship by taking on bold initiatives with new methodologies, filling a void in…

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American history

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Why read it?

1 author picked Crossing the Deadlines as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Derek D. Maxfield

Author

This intriguing collection of essays explores the dark reaches of Civil War prison scholarship from a variety of viewpoints and professions—including historians, anthropologists and public historians. The eclectic mix of topics includes environment, race, material culture, memory, and more. One of the more interesting aspects explored here is the phenomenon of prison camps which became tourist attractions—such as Johnson’s Island off Sandusky, Ohio—where steamboats would ply the waters around the island so guests might be able to spot an actual Rebel officer.

From Derek's list on The best books on Civil War P.O.W. camps.