"THE FIRST POPULAR HISTORY OF THE WAR FROM THE CONFEDERATE POINT OF VIEW": EXPANDED SECOND EDITION OF POLLARD'S FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR, 1862, PUBLISHED IN RICHMOND IN THE MIDST OF THE CIVIL WAR

(CIVIL WAR) POLLARD, Edward A. The First Year of the War. Richmond: West & Johnston, 1862. Octavo, modern three-quarter navy morocco, raised bands, red morocco spine label, original blue printed paper wrappers bound in; pp. xvi, (17)-406.

Second edition, "corrected and improved," of Pollard's important Confederate history, popular for its "convincing proof of Southern mettle and Southern freedom," a major Confederate imprint issued by "the most important press of the Confederacy," handsomely bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe retaining the original paper wrappers.

As editor of the Richmond Examiner, Pollard had unique access to "a mass of authentic material which was not accessible to any other Southern writer" (Wright II:495), and "was the ablest and most prolific Southern writer of his day" (ANB). "His writings constantly emphasized the legitimacy of the Confederate nation and the righteousness of its cause… Pollard's love for the southern nation, however, did not extend to its chief executive. In his mind and in his books, the Confederacy had two enemies threatening to destroy it: the hated Yankees and the nearly as hated Jefferson Davis… Not surprisingly, Pollard's books provoked a great deal of controversy." Those sharing his disdain for Davis believed "First Year of the War was 'more convincing proof of Southern mettle and Southern freedom than any victory we have achieved'" (Bernath, Confederate Minds, 186-7). "The first popular history of the war from the Confederate point of view" (Nevins II:175), First Year of the War won early praise as evidence of "the fixed and solemn resolution of the people of the Confederacy" (Harwell, Confederate 100:67). Includes sections on "Delusive Ideas of the Union," "Mr. Lincoln's Journey to Washington," "Affair of Bull Run," "Battle of Leesburg," "Organization of the Permanent Government of the South" and "Promises of the Future." This "corrected and improved" second edition was published the same year as the first, also in Richmond by West & Johnston, "the most important press of the Confederacy" (Burns, Curiosities of the Confederate Capital). Pollard's popular history went through several printings in both North and South. Rear wrapper with publisher's advertisement of "Valuable Military Publications." Sabin 63855. Dornbusch III:235. Parrish & Willingham 4992. Howes P449. Nevins II, 175.

Foxing and toning to text, still quite legible, light soiling to wrappers. Handsome binding fine.