The Library of America has released *George Templeton Strong: Civil War Diaries*, a 701‑page volume that concentrates on Strong’s entries from November 1860 through 1865. About 45 percent of the material is newly published, offering fresh insight into a Manhattan lawyer’s daily life, his work with the Sanitary Commission, and his evolving stance on slavery. Strong’s meticulous chronicling of news, social prejudice, and personal doubts provides a vivid portrait of a conservative elite confronting national crisis. The book bridges literary diary tradition with rigorous historical documentation, making it a valuable primary source for Civil War scholarship.
Darcey Steinke’s 2026 memoir *This Is the Door: The Body, Pain, and Faith* examines how chronic physical ailments, especially debilitating back pain, shape spiritual and existential outlooks. Drawing on personal anecdotes, interviews with artists, writers, and scholars, the book maps...