The "Dark Turn" in Civil War History with Sarah Handley-Cousins, Jonathan S. Jones, and Diane Miller Sommerville (part II)



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HI all - in this episode I pick up with Rogue Historian veterans Drs. Sarah Handley-Cousins, Jonathan S. Jones, and Diane Miller Sommerville to discuss the so-called “dark turn” in Civil War history I hope you have all had a chance to listen to part I of this episode...part II is just as engaging! We discuss:

  • The gender questions that inform much of this genre of scholarship

  • Rethinking “common” soldiers and questioning whether or not there is indeed a common experience during the Civil War

  • How race fits into the scholarship

  • Trauma (physical and emotional) and a post-war crisis

  • The harsh criticism of the dark turn and accusation from within the field: presentism, politics, and the attempt to make too much of some not-so-prevalent issues

  • Social media

Have a listen…

You should for sure list to my past shows featuring Sarah, Jonathan, and Diane and also follow them on Twitter: Sarah’s Twitter, Jonathan’s Twitter, and Diane’s Twitter. AND…don’t forget to subscribe to The Rogue Historian Podcast and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or your favorite app so you never ever ever ever miss a show. That would be dumb.

And…here’s the links to some of the books we discuss on this episode - you really need to read these :)

Aberration of Mind by Diane Miller Sommerville

Bodies in Blue by Sarah Handley-Cousins

Sick from Freedom by Jim Downs

Nature’s Civil War by Kathryn Shivley

Ruin Nation by Megan Kate Nelson

Shook Over Hell by Eric Dean

With compliments,

Keith