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