AN INSIDER'S LIVELY BEHIND-THE-SCENESLOOK AT THE FASCINATING WORLD OF CIVIL WAR REENACTING
Real people. Real life. Real history. Real experiences. Mark Brian Swart knows that reenacting is not just what you see on TV. It's a reality all its own; a combination of high emotions, glowing triumphs, tremendous satisfaction, robust humor, always unbeatable camaraderie, and occasionally even a heartache or two. Most reenactors are superb historians, good friends, and excellent "Pards" - even though every once in a while there's a moron or a bonehead in the crowd. Just like real life. "Once More Into The Breach" lays out - with no strings pulled - the Full Monty of Civil War reenacting so that the reader can find out the actual real-life story behind today's reenacting of the War of the Rebellion. Becoming a Civil War reenactor begins with a little money, a love for history and a calling to preserve it, and finding a club that will take a "Fresh Fish" into its fold. After that, those that do all the "right stuff" are very successful and have one helluva great time. Those that do the "wrong stuff" get awfully lonely out there. "Once More Into The Breach" takes the reader through the whole chronicle of how Civil War reenactors keep history alive, how they learn and teach the lessons of the Past (and why ), how they have so much fun with some of the finest folks in the world, and the cherished memories that they acquire in the pursuit of preserving one of the most incredible events in American History. And it's a whole lot better than what you sometimes get out there in the other "real life."
Mark Brian Swart has always enjoyed history. He discovered reenacting back in 1998 when he began to explore "living history" as a Civil War soldier. He began keeping a diary in his second year of re-enacting and his thoughtful, amusing and candid comments were the catalyst for "Once More into the Breach." Mark has realized that too little is known about re-enacting or about those who work so hard to preserve history and to honor those who died to create it. His book has been written to fill that gap.