Civil War memoirs and war correspondence form a distinct literary tradition blending personal witness with national history. These works grapple with trauma, duty, and the meaning of the Union, offering ground-level perspectives that challenge official narratives and reveal the war's human cost.
About Our Editorial Process
This guide is prepared using historical bibliographic research,
literary references, and structured analysis of recognized works.
Our editorial team reviews book selection based on historical
importance, cultural influence, and literary significance.
About This Literary Category
The literature of the American Civil War emerged from a unique convergence of mass literacy, rapid journalism, and unprecedented scale of conflict. Unlike earlier wars, the Civil War was documented by soldiers, nurses, and correspondents who wrote with an immediacy that shaped public perception. The genre spans from Louisa May Alcott's domestic nursing sketches to Ulysses S. Grant's strategic memoirs, from Richard Harding Davis's vivid war correspondence to John McElroy's harrowing prison narratives. These works belong to the broader tradition of war literature, but they are distinct in their focus on the American experience of nation-building through conflict. The genre's development reflects the shift from romanticized notions of war to a more brutal realism, influenced by the rise of journalism and the personal narrative. Internationally, these works contributed to the global understanding of modern warfare, influencing later war correspondents and memoirists. Today, they remain relevant as primary sources for understanding how individuals processed the war's trauma and as models of witness literature that continue to inform debates about national identity and historical memory.
Publication Chronology & Historical Span of Modern Nations
Our Modern Nations digital archive encompasses 35 cataloged masterworks, spanning a chronological range from 2002 (Notes of a War Correspondent — Story, Setting & Ideas by Davis, Richard Harding, 1864-1916, Remington, Frederic, 1861-1909 [Illustrator]) to 2020 (With Lawrence in Arabia — Story, Setting & Ideas by Thomas, Lowell, 1892-1981). The following verified timeline details the sequential release of core literary milestones within this domain:
- 2002: Notes of a War Correspondent — Story, Setting & Ideas — Davis, Richard Harding, 1864-1916, Remington, Frederic, 1861-1909 [Illustrator]
- 2003: Hospital Sketches — Reading Companion — Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888
- 2004: Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant — Volume 1 — A Reader’s Guide — Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
- 2004: Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Volume 1 — A Reader’s Guide — Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891
- 2004: Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons — Volume 2 — Reading Notes — McElroy, John, 1846-1929
- 2004: Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons — Volume 3 — Reading Companion — McElroy, John, 1846-1929
- 2004: Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume I., Part 2 — Inside the Classic — Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891
- 2004: Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Complete — Text and Context — Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891
- 2004: Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Part 6. — Text and Context — Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
- 2004: Abraham Lincoln, a History — Volume 02 — Text and Context — Hay, John, 1838-1905, Nicolay, John G. (John George), 1832-1901
- 2004: Great Britain and the American Civil War — Key Ideas to Explore — Adams, Ephraim Douglass, 1865-1930
- 2005: Thirteen months in the Rebel Army — Background and Themes — Stevenson, William G.
- 2006: Winning a Cause: World War Stories — Inside the Classic — Bigwood, Inez, Thompson, John G. (John Gilbert), 1862-1940
- 2007: The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914 - 1919 History of the 1/8th Battalion — Reading Companion — Weetman, W. C. C.
- 2007: Woman's Work in the Civil War: A Record of Heroism, Patriotism, and Patience — Text and Context — Bellows, Henry W. (Henry Whitney), 1814-1882 [Commentator], Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893, Vaughan, Mary C.
- 2007: The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner — Reading Companion — Wilkinson, J. (John), 1821-1891
- 2007: The Doings of the Fifteenth Infantry Brigade: August 1914 to March 1915 — Edition Insights — Gleichen, Edward, Lord, 1863-1937
- 2007: Destruction and Reconstruction: Personal Experiences of the Late War — Context and Discussion — Taylor, Richard, 1826-1879
- 2008: Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro (North Carolina) expedition, December, 1862 — Edition Insights — Howe, W. W. [Editor]
- 2008: The Incomparable 29th and the "River Clyde" — Inside the Classic — Davidson, George, 1863-1947
Author Bibliographical Footprint
A breakdown of primary literary contributors and their recorded volume within this collection:
| Author Name | Cataloged Works | Representative Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891 | 3 | Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Volume 1 — A Reader’s Guide, Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume I., Part 2 — Inside the Classic |
| Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 | 2 | Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant — Volume 1 — A Reader’s Guide, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Part 6. — Text and Context |
| McElroy, John, 1846-1929 | 2 | Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons — Volume 2 — Reading Notes, Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons — Volume 3 — Reading Companion |
| Gurowski, Adam, 1805-1866 | 2 | Diary from March 4, 1861, to November 12, 1862 — Reading Companion, Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863 — Key Ideas to Explore |
| Davis, Richard Harding, 1864-1916, Remington, Frederic, 1861-1909 [Illustrator] | 1 | Notes of a War Correspondent — Story, Setting & Ideas |
| Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888 | 1 | Hospital Sketches — Reading Companion |
| Hay, John, 1838-1905, Nicolay, John G. (John George), 1832-1901 | 1 | Abraham Lincoln, a History — Volume 02 — Text and Context |
| Stevenson, William G. | 1 | Thirteen months in the Rebel Army — Background and Themes |
| Adams, Ephraim Douglass, 1865-1930 | 1 | Great Britain and the American Civil War — Key Ideas to Explore |
| Bigwood, Inez, Thompson, John G. (John Gilbert), 1862-1940 | 1 | Winning a Cause: World War Stories — Inside the Classic |
| Weetman, W. C. C. | 1 | The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914 - 1919 History of the 1/8th Battalion — Reading Companion |
| Bellows, Henry W. (Henry Whitney), 1814-1882 [Commentator], Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893, Vaughan, Mary C. | 1 | Woman's Work in the Civil War: A Record of Heroism, Patriotism, and Patience — Text and Context |
Century Distribution of Modern Nations Literature
Distribution of published texts categorized by historical centuries:
| Century Span | Volume of Masterpieces |
|---|---|
| 2001 - 2100 | 35 books |
- Oldest publication: 2002
- Newest publication: 2020
- Average publication year: 2008
- Most represented author: Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891 (3 books)
Critical Analysis of Core Masterpieces
Notes of a War Correspondent — Story, Setting & Ideas
by Davis, Richard Harding, 1864-1916, Remington, Frederic, 1861-1909 [Illustrator]
Historical Significance
One of the earliest collections of war correspondence by a major American journalist, setting standards for embedded reporting.
Historical Context
Covers the Cuban-Spanish War, the South African War, and other late 19th-century conflicts, reflecting the rise of American imperialism.
Literary Style
Vivid, sensory prose with a focus on light and landscape; uses understatement and abrupt transitions between calm and violence.
Writing Style
Economical, direct, with dry humor; first-person observer who acknowledges his own limitations.
Major Themes
The role of the witness, the contrast between ordinary and extraordinary, the landscape as active force.
Critical Reception
Praised for its vivid detail and restraint; considered a model of war journalism.
Legacy
Influenced later war correspondents like Ernest Hemingway; remains a classic of American journalism.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Readers interested in war journalism, American imperialism, and narrative nonfiction.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible prose but requires familiarity with the conflicts.
Main Characters
Richard Harding Davis (narrator), Adolfo Rodriguez (executed insurgent).
Setting
Cuba, South Africa, and other late 19th-century war zones.
Literary Movement
Realism; late 19th-century American journalism.
Similar Books
Hospital Sketches by Louisa May Alcott, The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Hospital Sketches — Reading Companion
by Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888
Historical Significance
One of the first firsthand accounts of Civil War nursing by a woman, challenging gender norms.
Historical Context
Written during the Civil War, based on Alcott's six weeks as a nurse in Georgetown.
Literary Style
Episodic, with a shift from comic to somber tone; uses dialogue and temporal structure.
Writing Style
Playful early voice gives way to spare, precise prose; uses dialect and understatement.
Major Themes
Compassion, the education in suffering, the contrast between domestic and wartime life.
Critical Reception
Well-received for its realism and emotional depth; helped establish Alcott's literary reputation.
Legacy
Influenced later nursing memoirs and women's war writing; a precursor to Little Women.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Readers interested in Civil War home front, women's history, and medical humanities.
Reading Difficulty
Easy to moderate; accessible prose with some period dialect.
Main Characters
Tribulation Periwinkle (narrator), John (dying soldier).
Setting
Union Hotel Hospital, Georgetown, Washington D.C., 1862-1863.
Literary Movement
Realism; domestic fiction; war literature.
Similar Books
Notes of a War Correspondent by Richard Harding Davis, A Diary from Dixie by Mary Chesnut.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant — Volume 1 — A Reader’s Guide
by Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Historical Significance
Considered one of the greatest military memoirs in American literature, praised for its clarity and honesty.
Historical Context
Written by Grant as he was dying of throat cancer, partly to secure his family's finances.
Literary Style
Direct, unadorned prose; chronological structure with tactical detail and understatement.
Writing Style
Plain-spoken, factual, with short sentences; avoids rhetorical flourishes.
Major Themes
Duty, leadership, the nature of command, the importance of logistics.
Critical Reception
Widely acclaimed by critics like Matthew Arnold and Mark Twain; considered a masterpiece.
Legacy
Set the standard for military memoirs; influenced later generals' writings.
Adaptations
Adapted into the TV miniseries 'Grant' (2020).
Recommended Audience
Military history enthusiasts, students of leadership, readers of autobiography.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; dense with military terminology but clear prose.
Main Characters
Ulysses S. Grant (author/narrator), various Union generals.
Setting
Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and other Western Theater locations, 1822-1862.
Literary Movement
Realism; military memoir; 19th-century American autobiography.
Similar Books
Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, The Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Volume 1 — A Reader’s Guide
by Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891
Historical Significance
A key primary source for understanding Sherman's controversial campaigns and his defensive self-justification.
Historical Context
Written after the war, partly in response to criticism of his tactics and his role in the March to the Sea.
Literary Style
Defensive, legalistic; alternates between personal narrative and documentary quotation.
Writing Style
Indignant, precise, with inserted letters; shifts between aggrieved personal reflection and cool analysis.
Major Themes
Self-justification, reputation, the gap between stated intent and rhetorical effect.
Critical Reception
Mixed; praised for detail but criticized for bias; essential for scholars.
Legacy
Shaped public perception of Sherman; remains controversial.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Civil War historians, readers interested in military leadership and memory.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate to difficult; dense with documents and defensive asides.
Main Characters
William T. Sherman (author/narrator), General Halleck.
Setting
Missouri, Kentucky, and other Western Theater locations, 1861-1862.
Literary Movement
Realism; military memoir; apologia.
Similar Books
Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman (Complete).
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons — Volume 2 — Reading Notes
by McElroy, John, 1846-1929
Historical Significance
One of the most detailed firsthand accounts of the infamous Confederate prison, documenting prisoner society.
Historical Context
Written by a Union soldier who survived Andersonville, published in 1879.
Literary Style
Personal narrative with ethnographic detail; focuses on internal dynamics and criminal gangs.
Writing Style
Observational, sometimes clinical; uses specific examples and contrasts between prisoner groups.
Major Themes
Survival, social breakdown, the brutality of captivity, organized crime within the prison.
Critical Reception
Valued for its detail; criticized for potential bias; essential for prison studies.
Legacy
Influenced later prison literature and historical studies of Andersonville.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Civil War historians, readers interested in prison experience and survival narratives.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; straightforward prose but harrowing content.
Main Characters
John McElroy (author/narrator), various prisoners and Raiders.
Setting
Andersonville Prison, Georgia, 1864-1865.
Literary Movement
Realism; prisoner-of-war narrative; memoir.
Similar Books
Andersonville: Volume 3 by John McElroy, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons — Volume 3 — Reading Companion
by McElroy, John, 1846-1929
Historical Significance
Continues the detailed chronicle of Andersonville, focusing on the final desperate months.
Historical Context
Covers the period of increasing starvation and disease before the prison's closure.
Literary Style
Fragmented, alternating between terse inventories and novelistic set pieces.
Writing Style
Clinical yet bitter; uses specific material details (clothing, food) to convey degradation.
Major Themes
Starvation, material collapse, secret societies, the limits of language to convey horror.
Critical Reception
Praised for its unflinching detail; considered a key document of Civil War suffering.
Legacy
Part of the essential trilogy on Andersonville; used by historians.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Scholars of Civil War prisons, readers interested in extreme human experience.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; fragmented structure may require careful reading.
Main Characters
John McElroy (author/narrator), various prisoners, the 'Royal Reubens'.
Setting
Andersonville Prison, Georgia, 1864-1865.
Literary Movement
Realism; prisoner-of-war narrative; memoir.
Similar Books
Andersonville: Volume 2 by John McElroy, The Gulag Archipelago by Solzhenitsyn.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume I., Part 2 — Inside the Classic
by Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891
Historical Significance
Covers Sherman's campaigns in the Mississippi Delta, showing his logistical genius and defensive tone.
Historical Context
Focuses on the Deer Creek campaign and the Vicksburg operations, 1863.
Literary Style
Alternates between bureaucratic detail and visceral action; uses landscape as antagonist.
Writing Style
Dense with names and dates; moments of dry humor; shifts between tedium and urgency.
Major Themes
Logistics, the landscape as obstacle, the tension between preparation and crisis.
Critical Reception
Valued for tactical detail; some critics note defensive tone.
Legacy
Essential for understanding Sherman's command style and the Western Theater.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Military historians, readers interested in campaign narratives.
Reading Difficulty
Difficult; dense with military terminology and place names.
Main Characters
William T. Sherman (author/narrator), Admiral Porter.
Setting
Mississippi Delta, Deer Creek, 1863.
Literary Movement
Realism; military memoir; campaign narrative.
Similar Books
Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Memoirs of General William T. Sherman (Complete).
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Complete — Text and Context
by Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891
Historical Significance
The definitive edition of Sherman's memoirs, including later corrections and responses to critics.
Historical Context
Includes a second edition preface and appended correspondence, showing Sherman's engagement with critics.
Literary Style
Combines personal narrative with documentary evidence; structured as a legal brief.
Writing Style
Direct, blunt, defensive; includes verbatim letters and corrections.
Major Themes
Self-justification, historical memory, the contested nature of military history.
Critical Reception
Essential primary source; praised for transparency but noted for bias.
Legacy
Remains a key text for understanding Sherman's legacy and the war's memory.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Civil War scholars, readers interested in historical controversy.
Reading Difficulty
Difficult; includes dense correspondence and multiple layers of narrative.
Main Characters
William T. Sherman (author/narrator), General W. Sooy Smith.
Setting
Various theaters, 1861-1865; includes Meridian campaign.
Literary Movement
Realism; military memoir; apologia.
Similar Books
Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman Volume 1.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Part 6. — Text and Context
by Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Historical Significance
Covers the final months of the war, including the surrender at Appomattox and Lincoln's assassination.
Historical Context
Written by Grant after the war, focusing on strategic coordination across theaters.
Literary Style
Strategic overview; matter-of-fact reporting of command decisions; documentary approach.
Writing Style
Understated, factual; includes maps and facsimiles of documents.
Major Themes
Strategic coordination, the mechanics of command, the war's end and aftermath.
Critical Reception
Praised for clarity and restraint; considered a model of military history.
Legacy
Essential for understanding Grant's role in the final campaigns.
Adaptations
Part of the larger Grant memoirs; adapted in documentaries.
Recommended Audience
Military historians, readers interested in the war's conclusion.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; clear prose but assumes knowledge of the war.
Main Characters
Ulysses S. Grant (author/narrator), Sherman, Lee, Lincoln.
Setting
Virginia, Carolinas, Washington D.C., 1864-1865.
Literary Movement
Realism; military memoir; strategic history.
Similar Books
Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant Volume 1, Memoirs of General William T. Sherman.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Abraham Lincoln, a History — Volume 02 — Text and Context
by Hay, John, 1838-1905, Nicolay, John G. (John George), 1832-1901
Historical Significance
A comprehensive biography by Lincoln's private secretaries, blending history and memoir.
Historical Context
Covers the period from the Kansas conflict to Lincoln's Cooper Union speech, 1854-1860.
Literary Style
Alternates between detached chronicle and engaged commentary; uses newspaper accounts and documents.
Writing Style
Formal, authoritative; includes long quotations and evaluative adjectives.
Major Themes
Political crisis, Lincoln's rise, the power of oratory, the sectional conflict.
Critical Reception
Valued for insider perspective; criticized for bias; essential for Lincoln studies.
Legacy
A foundational text in Lincoln historiography.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Lincoln scholars, readers interested in antebellum politics.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate to difficult; dense with political detail.
Main Characters
Abraham Lincoln, John Hay, John Nicolay (authors), Stephen Douglas.
Setting
Washington D.C., Kansas, Illinois, 1854-1860.
Literary Movement
Historical biography; political history; 19th-century historiography.
Similar Books
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Lincoln by David Herbert Donald.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Great Britain and the American Civil War — Key Ideas to Explore
by Adams, Ephraim Douglass, 1865-1930
Historical Significance
A seminal study of British policy and public opinion during the Civil War.
Historical Context
Written after WWI, using newly opened Foreign Office archives and private papers.
Literary Style
Restrained, documentary; juxtaposes official and private correspondence.
Writing Style
Academic but accessible; lets documents speak with minimal editorializing.
Major Themes
Neutrality, cotton diplomacy, the gap between official and popular sentiment.
Critical Reception
Praised for thorough research; considered a standard work on the topic.
Legacy
Influenced later studies of Anglo-American relations and diplomatic history.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Diplomatic historians, readers interested in international dimensions of the Civil War.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; academic prose but clear argument.
Main Characters
Ephraim Douglass Adams (author), Lord Lyons, Charles Francis Adams.
Setting
Great Britain and the United States, 1861-1865.
Literary Movement
Diplomatic history; international relations; 20th-century historiography.
Similar Books
The Trent Affair by Norman Ferris, Britain and the American Civil War by D. P. Crook.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Thirteen months in the Rebel Army — Background and Themes
by Stevenson, William G.
Historical Significance
A rare account of the Confederate army from a forcibly conscripted Northerner.
Historical Context
Covers 1861-1862, focusing on the Western Theater and the fall of Fort Henry.
Literary Style
Episodic, ground-level; uses specific details of patrols, retreats, and material conditions.
Writing Style
Direct, observational; critical of Confederate despotism and demoralization.
Major Themes
Coercion, survival, the internal dynamics of the Confederate army, civilian impact.
Critical Reception
Valued for its unique perspective; considered a valuable primary source.
Legacy
Used by historians to understand the Confederate experience from a dissenting view.
Adaptations
None known.
Recommended Audience
Civil War historians, readers interested in soldier experience and coercion.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; straightforward prose but requires context.
Main Characters
William G. Stevenson (author/narrator), various Confederate officers.
Setting
Kentucky, Tennessee, and other Western Theater locations, 1861-1862.
Literary Movement
Realism; prisoner-of-war narrative; memoir.
Similar Books
Andersonville by John McElroy, The Life of Johnny Reb by Bell Irvin Wiley.
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Civil War memoirs differ from official military histories in their treatment of trauma?
Civil War memoirs often foreground personal trauma and emotional experience, whereas official histories focus on strategy and outcomes. For example, John McElroy's Andersonville volumes detail the psychological and physical degradation of prison life, while Grant's memoirs emphasize command decisions. Memoirs like Alcott's Hospital Sketches use narrative shifts to convey the shock of war, offering a subjective lens that official histories lack.
What role does the landscape play in shaping the narrative of war in these memoirs?
Landscape is often an active force in these narratives. Richard Harding Davis uses light and terrain to set mood and foreshadow events, while Sherman describes bayous and swamps as obstacles that dictate tactics. In Grant's memoirs, geography is a strategic factor. This treatment of setting reflects the Realist movement's emphasis on environment as a determinant of human action.
How do these works reflect the tension between personal witness and historical objectivity?
Many authors explicitly acknowledge their limited perspective. Davis admits to missing battles; Sherman frames himself as a witness, not a historian; Grant writes with understated authority. This self-awareness creates a tension between the desire for objective record and the inevitable subjectivity of memory. The inclusion of documents and letters in Sherman's memoirs further highlights this tension.
In what ways do these memoirs challenge or reinforce gender norms of the 19th century?
Alcott's Hospital Sketches challenges gender norms by placing a woman in a public, professional role as a nurse, yet her narrative initially adopts a comic, self-deprecating tone that conforms to feminine stereotypes. The shift to a more serious voice as she witnesses suffering subverts expectations. Other memoirs, like those by Grant and Sherman, reinforce masculine ideals of command and stoicism.
How do the Andersonville volumes contribute to our understanding of social organization under extreme duress?
McElroy's detailed accounts of the Raiders and secret societies like the 'Royal Reubens' show how prisoners formed hierarchies and alliances to survive. The breakdown of normal social structures and the emergence of criminal gangs illustrate how extreme conditions can reshape human behavior. These volumes are a microcosm of society under pressure, offering insights into cooperation and conflict.
Conclusion & Scholarly Summary
These Civil War memoirs and war correspondence collectively form a rich tapestry of personal witness that challenges monolithic historical narratives. From the strategic clarity of Grant to the defensive self-justification of Sherman, from Alcott's compassionate nursing to McElroy's harrowing prison chronicles, each work offers a distinct lens on the conflict. Together, they reveal the war's profound impact on individual consciousness and national identity, reminding us that history is not a single story but a chorus of voices, each with its own truth.
