A World on Fire: A Saga of the Civil War, at Home and Abroad

An award-winning author presents a history of the role of British citizens in the American Civil War that offers insight into the interdependencies of both nations and how the Union worked to block diplomatic relations between England and the Confederacy, tracing the military service of British volunteers on both sides of the conflict.

The bestselling author of "Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire" delves into the fascinating story of the American Civil War, told through the dramatic and poignant firsthand accounts of some of the colorful Englishmen and women who volunteered to join the conflict.

\Amanda Foreman is a Visiting Research Fellow at Queen Mary, University of London. She won the Whitbread Prize for Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire, which was adapted for the screen as The Duchess. Educated as an undergraduate at Sarah Lawrence College and withmaster’s and doctorate degrees in history from Oxford University, she is now married with five children and lives in New York.

Cotton is king — The uneasy cousins — On the best of terms — "The cards are in our hands!" — Expectations are dashed — The Rebel yell — War by other means — "It takes two to make a quarrel" — The lion roars back — The war moves to England — The first blow against slavery — Five miles from Richmond — The South is rising — Is blood thicker than water? — A fateful decision — Fire all around them — Bloodbath at Fredericksburg — The missing key to victory — "The tinsel has worn off" — Faltering steps of a counterrevolution — Prophecies of blood and suffering — The key is in the lock — The eve of battle — Crossroads at Gettysburg — Pressure rising — Devouring the young — River of death — Can the nation endure? — If only we are spared — Buckling under pressure — A great slaughter — "Defiance to her enemies" — "Can we hold out?" — The crisis comes — The tyranny of hope — "Come retribution" — "War is cruelty" — "The British mark on every battle-field" — "Richmond tomorrow" — Fire, fire — "A true-born king of men."