Just what war is
Subtitle: the Civil War writings of De Forest and Bierce
By: Michael W. Schaefer.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: University of Tennessee Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Knoxville
Language: eng
Number of pages: 172
Subjects: De Forest, John William, 1826-1906 -- Criticism and interpretation.; Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914? -- Criticism and interpretation.; American fiction -- 19th century -- History and criticism.; War stories, American -- History and criticism.; Realism in literature.; Combat in literature.; War in literature.; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Literature and the war.; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Historiography.
Description: A stimulating study of two of the finest soldier-authors in American literature, Just What War Is explores the Civil War writings of John William De Forest and Ambrose Bierce. Michael W. Schaefer argues that, among the many Civil War veterans who wrote memoirs, novels, and stories based on their own experiences in combat, De Forest and Bierce stand alone in their efforts to create an unromanticized portrayal of war in literature.

While exploring issues of literary realism in general, Schaefer examines the struggle of these two major writers to represent the moral and human dimensions of combat.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [159]-165) and index.