Fire Within: A Civil War Narrative from Wisconsin

Having had the privilege of taking two college history courses taught by Dr. Trask, I have seen first hand the knowledge and passion he brings to the subject. I highly recommend Fire Within to anyone who wants to know more about the "home front" during the Civil War.

I can't be objective because much of the book uses the Civil War diaries and letters of my great-grandfather. Personal responses aside, A FIRE WITHIN gave me a perspective of the war from both the home front and the battlefields. I found having some knowledge of the Civil War helpful, because the battles are not put in perspective with the ongoing campaigns or the general war experiences, and I would have liked to see a little more of that in the book. That's a quibble; Dr. Trask does an excellent job of letting his subjects speak for themselves. I found the experiences of all the subjects of the book very moving and it deepened my understanding of at least the Northen experience of the war. It also helped to understand the impact of and on the western states. Many histories give the perspective of the Eastern states only.

I really enjoyed rading this book. For part of our final in history we had to read this book. Trask does an excellent job of discribing events from the past without boring everyone. Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. I encourage anyone to read it.

The author's use of journals and letters from the Civil War period, presented here in a readable, narrative format, paints a realistic view of the average people involved in one of the lowest points in this country's young history. Kerry Trask's stories and insights about the people portrayed in this book are every bit as entertaining as the primary texts themselves; in particular, the background information necessary in a book such as this is provided without overwhelming the reader with dry facts, figures, and dates. I found myself envisioning each season as it came and went, appreciating the contrasts depicted between life on the home front and that in the distant places where men and boys were waiting to confront an enemy no different from themselves. It is especially rewarding to know that Rosa Kellner's desire to become a published author has been fulfilled through the writing of this book. I would recommend it to any person with an interest in the human aspect of war, especially teachers who are looking for a book that students will enjoy reading.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It seems the author really has a grasp of the history of Manitowoc during the Civil War. It was interesting to read how the soldiers felt during their Civil War enlistment, and how the people back home felt about their loved ones going to war in the South. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Civil War history.