David Horton, Exposing America

Exposing America: Photographs from Aug. 1, 1864 through July 31, 1866

David Horton

Soundhole Publishing Company, 2006, $55.00 ISBN: 097687606X

This is a fascinating way to look back at two critical years in American history; during a period in which the Union had to pay its war debt and did so by taxing items, including the relatively new photograph. Thus this interesting reference showcases pictures taken during the two-year period of the photograph tax. The inclusions will have armchair historians relooking whole chapters as readers will find the individual entries are a lucid light on a bygone era when taking a picture was new. Chapter One, Photography: Processes, Formats and Pioneers will stun fans of digital photography as it seems so primitive yet in fact was a gigantic leap forward in the art. Chapter Two: The Images speaks for itself whereas Chapter Three: Photography, The Stamp Law and the Stamps bring home the cost of the Civil War in economic terms but through pictures. Finally, the last chapter, The Photographer's Art, provides the differing types of picture taking. Exposing America is a winner that predominantly uses pictures to tell the story of the United States circa 1864-1866 though the accompanying text enhances the photos of a terrific historical glimpse into Americana.

Harriet Klausner