Need a great read for post-Civil War America

[Janice in NJ]

I'm doing a bit of pre-reading for next year. (Can ya tell? :001_smile:)

I've lined up some good biographies etc for the early part of the 19th century. A couple of Pulitzer winners, etc.

But I would like some input for 1865 - 1900. Any great reads?

History topics.
Not super-heavy but worthwhile with good writing.
Barnes-n-Noble type books - nothing lofty. Accessible for a high schooler.

Titles like:
1776
Founding Brothers
Battle Cry of Freedom
Mayflower - Philbrick
Albert Marrin titles
....only for the 1865 - 1900 time period.

THANKS!
Janice

[Maverick]

I haven't read this book yet but it's in my amazon cart--A Fool's Errand by Tourgee. This is a reprint of a novel originally published in 1879 of a fictional carpetbagger's experiences in the south following the war. It sounds very interesting to me as a rare firsthand look at that strange era in our nation's history. http://www.amazon.com/Fools-Errand-Novel-During-Reconstruction/dp/1596055995/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240600852&sr=1-1

[Janice in NJ]

...sorry posted in the wrong place. :001_smile:

[Liza Q]

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt is marvelous, but maybe too long? I enjoyed it but I am not planning on assigning it next year - too many books, not enough time.

[Carol in Cal.]

...but "An Old Fashioned Girl" is a good fictional novel that I always recommend for this period. I think that it may have originally been written as two distinct books. The first one is more childish and kind of moralistic, but presents values of the time well. The second one is quite sophisticated, and considers women's rights, the value of classical vs. practical education, response to reversals of fortune, and what constitutes good character; all within the backdrop of New England society of the 1880's.

[LibrarianMom]

I really enjoyed Jubilee by Margaret Walker. The story is told from the perspective of a former slave. It's a bit rough as she deals with reconstruction and KKK, but it is very good in that it gives you a different perspective.