Allen Guelzo is well-known for his many contributions to Lincoln scholarship and related topics.

Fateful Lightning showcases Guelzo’s beautiful writing along with his keen eye for capturing the telling details. I have not read James McPherson’s survey of the Civil War, so I am not able to compare it with Guelzo’s. Allen Guelzo has certainly produced a fine a piece of work which those wanting an authoritative overview will get by reading Fateful Lightning.