I received a press release today from the Civil War Round Table of Atlanta. They have presented their 2010 Richard B. Harwell Book Award to Dr. Earl J. Hess. Hess received the award for his recent book, “In the Trenches of Petersburg.” I have added the press release below.
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ATLANTA CWRT’s 2010 HARWELL BOOK AWARD
The Civil War Round Table of Atlanta Georgia has awarded its 22nd annual Richard B. Harwell Book Award to Dr. Earl J. Hess for his book, In the Trenches at Petersburg: Field Fortifications and Confederate Defeat. The Atlanta Round Table has presented the Harwell Award annually since 1988 for the best book on a Civil War topic published in the preceding year.
Dr. Hess (Ph.D., Purdue University, 1986) is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History at Lincoln Memorial University. He has authored a number of books on the Civil War, including: Lee’s Tar Heels; Pickett’s Charge: The Last Attack at Gettysburg (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2002); and The Rifled Musket in Civil War Combat.
Published by The University of North Carolina Press, In the Trenches at Petersburg, completes Dr. Hess’ trilogy on trench warfare in the Eastern Theater. As in the previous two volumes, the author conducted extensive original research in primary sources and careful examination of surviving trench remains. This well-written text, supplemented with excellent diagrams, maps and photographs, contributes new thinking to the role of civil war field fortifications as well as the actions at Petersburg.
The Harwell Award honors the late Richard B. Harwell, a nationally recognized librarian, bibliographer, historian and first president of the Atlanta Civil War Round Table. The Award consists of a cash prize of $2,500 plus an engraved plaque recognizing the event. Professor Hess is the 22nd Harwell Award winner. Previous winners include James I. “Bud” Robertson, James McPherson, Gary Gallagher, Emory Thomas, Gordon Rhea and William C. “Jack” Davis.
Dr. Hess will speak at the November 2010 meeting of the Atlanta Civil War Round Table. At that time he will be presented the Harwell Award.
Other finalists for the 2010 Harwell Award included: Russell Bond’s, War Like a Thunderbolt (Westholme Pub); David Powell’s, The Maps of Chickamauga (Savas-Beatie Pub); and Ed Longacre’s, Cavalry of the Heartland (Westholme Pub).
Point of Contact for additional information on the Richard B. Harwell Book Award is Gary Barnes, glb5282017@aol.com.
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I interviewed Dr. Hess in July 2009. To listen to his interview click HERE.
I also interviewed Russell Bonds, a runner up in this year’s Harwell award, about his book, “War Like a Thunderbolt. To listen to this interview click HERE.
These are both excellent books that I highly recommend.
