William G. Thomas

“A revelatory and fluidly written chronicle. . . . An essential account of an overlooked chapter in the history of American slavery."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A work of remarkable honesty and humanity that should inform any conversation on the legacy of slavery. Please read it."—Lauret Savoy, author of Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the America Landscape and a descendant of freedom petitioners

"A tour-de-force, and offers a series of bracing insights about the origins, shape and outcome of the Civil War...Because it integrates military and social history so imaginatively, The Iron Way is a must-read for students, scholars and enthusiasts alike."—Civil War Monitor

“William Thomas has written a remarkably nuanced and brilliant interpretation of railroads and the Civil War. . . . The Iron Way is truly path-breaking.”—Vernon Burton, author of The Age of Lincoln

"In this provocative and deeply researched book, William G. Thomas follows the railroad into virtually every aspect of Civil War history, showing how it influenced everything from slavery's antebellum expansion to emancipation and segregation—from guerrilla warfare to grand strategy. At every step, Thomas challenges old assumptions and finds new connections on this much-traveled historical landscape."—T.J. Stiles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt

“At once bold and elegant, this powerful book sweeps across slavery and secession, the Civil War and its aftermath. Thomas masterfully integrates one of the most complicated eras in American history, making familiar subjects new and compelling.”—Edward Ayers, Bancroft Prize-winning author of In the Presence of Mine Enemies: Civil War in the Heart of America