Phillips' book brings a comprehensive perspective to the chaotic conditions dominating the Border South before, during, and after the war.

Civil War Times

Phillips has taken on a difficult task, describing the border South during the Civil War. . . . He does a very good job. . . . Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.

Choice

With a host of publications dealing with Civil War era Border State cultural history and biography under his belt, Phillips is an excellent authorial candidate for this contribution to the Reflections on the Civil War Era series of concise introductory volumes written by subject experts….Possessing scholarly depth while remaining accessible to new readers, The Civil War in the Border South is a matchless subject primer.

Civil War Books and Authors

[T]this work stands out as the only one to tackle the daunting challenge of providing much needed interpretive coherence for the Civil War Border State experience on the whole. . . . The Civil War in the Border South will make excellent reading for Civil War historians, lay readers interested in the Civil War, and for students in the college classroom and seminar room.

Civil War Book Review

This book is highly recommended for all Civil War enthusiasts, but it will be of particular interest for those who want to understand Missouri's internal struggle within a wider context.

Missouri Historical Review

Philips's new look at the border South contributes to the historiography of this important Civil War topic in significant ways. His analysis and compelling evidence challenge much of the previous thinking about these states.

Journal of Southern History