History fascinates me. I have enjoyed reading US history for years. The Revolutionary War through the Civil War, particularly the period between about 1810 and 1860, is the period I study most. There are innumerable volumes written about US history with many covering the same periods and events. Why is this? How many books are needed to describe the winter at Valley Forge or the siege at Vicksburg?
Sometimes there is new scholarship that changes the narrative, but often the purpose of a new volume is to tell the story in a new way. History is more than a simple chronology and atlas of
happenings. Who and why are the reasons I revisit these events.
Of particular interest to me are biographies of historical political figures in US history. Through these, I can see the perspectives of many different sides of major points in our nation’s story. Stories can unite or divide us, teach us, entertain us, evoke powerful feelings, and bring us to tears (though hopefully not of boredom.) Not every storyteller has an agenda or
ulterior motive, but they do all have perspectives. It is important to remember that.
Understanding the interplay between our perspective and that of the storyteller can lead
to a deeper connection between speaker and listener. Be generous in your interpretation of other people’s stories. Seek to empathize rather than criticize. Try to share your story, too. These steps will help forge stronger bonds rather than push us apart.
~Ian Van Sice
