This concise yet comprehensive narrative history of the War places the main emphasis on military action, weaving into its narrative accounts of the major political, economic, social and cultural developments of the epoch. The work offers biographical and character sketches of the leading figures of the war, stressing contrasts between Lincoln and Davis, Grant and Lee, Sherman and Jackson; coverage of the civilian side - showing how the social and cultural resources of the North and South were mobilised to support the war; and coverage of the suffering and struggles of the former slaves in the vicissitudes of early emancipation, including full discussion of emancipation measure by Lincoln administration. A contrast of social, economic and cultural developments and effects of the war on both Northern and Southern women and blacks is provided, and the diplomatic contest for the support or neutrality of the major European powers, including the failure of the Confederacy's "King Cotton Diplomacy", is also covered.