Bruce Chadwick is a former journalist and author of eight works of history, including The First American Army, George Washington's War, The General and Mrs. Washington, Brother Against Brother, Two American Presidents, Traveling the Underground Railroad and The Reel Civil War. He lectures in American history at Rutgers University and also teaches writing at New Jersey City University.
"Praise for The Cannons Roar “Mr. Chadwick has achieved the effect of a living—and momentous—dialogye with history by carefully selecting quotes from dozens of participants in that fraught time and skillfully binding them together. His swift, absorbing, wholly coherent narrative gives a sense of immediacy to the travails of those who thirsted for a fight, and those who groped after peace, as the nation moved toward a terrible test of arms.” * <B><I>The Wall Street Journal</I></B> * “The genius of Bruce Chadwick’s oral history of the road to Ft. Sumter is that it reveals the emotions, the uncertainties, the fears, the rumors, the excitement, the hopes, the pride, the courage, and the animosities of the men and women involved in the Civil War.” -- <I><B>New York Journal of Books</B></I> “Readers interested in Civil War and American history should find something new in this title to enjoy.” -- <I><B>Library Journal</B></I> Praise for Bruce Chadwick ""Highly recommended?a gripping narrative of the critical year of 1858 and the nation's slide toward disunion and war...Readers seeking to understand how individuals are agents of historical change will find Chadwick's account of the failed leadership of President James Buchanan especially compelling."" -- G. Kurt Piehler, author of Remembering War the American Way ""Chadwick's excellent history shows how the issue of slavery came crashing into the professional, public, and private lives of many Americans...Chadwick offers a fascinating premise: that James Buchanan, far from being a passive spectator, played a major role in the drama of his time. 1858 is a welcome addition to scholarship of the most volatile period of American history."" -- Frank Cucurullo, Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial ""Washington has not been praised as a military genius; troops under his direct command won only two major battles against the British, and his greatest tactical skill seems to have been in organizing retreats. Yet he is given--and deserves--the lion's share of credit for winning the military struggle. Chadwick effectively utilizing primary sources [and] provides highly readable accounts of key battles. He is at his best, however, in tracking Washington's development as a military and political leader. This is a fine addition to our understanding of the 'indispensable man.'"" -- Jay Freeman * Booklist * ""Chadwick puts a more human face on Washington by creating a very detailed portrait of how he and the outgoing Martha lived."" * USA Today *"