"Angevines work offers a valuable historical overview and a thoughtful interpretation of an industry linked to so much of American economic and business history."
CHOICE "This book is useful for students of military-industrial relations . . . The author presents a wealth of information clearly and enjoyably."
EH.NET "The Railroad and the State is an exemplary monograph. Combining prodigious research and crisp prose, historian Robert Angevine provides a cogent analysis of the complex relationship between domestic railroads and the U.S. Army in the nineteenth century."
Western Historical Quarterly "It whets our appetite for a fresh look at the relationship of the army and the railraods in the first half of the twentieth century."
History: Reviews of New Books "The Railroad and the State is a well-organized, impressively researched, and nicely written study that is sure to reward those interested in civil engineering, railroad history, and military tradition."
Arkansas Historical Quarterly "Angevines book deals with major historical issues that go beyond the formal scope of his essay, a primary indication of a book that is not only good but also important."
Civil War Book Review "Angevines book is a thought-provoking new look at how the railroads affected the United States....What makes this study doubly interesting is the authors analysis of how the railways changed the military....a well-written, finely wrought book..."
Great Plains Quarterly "Angevine's book is a careful and torough study of the professional and personal relationships that developed between military personel and railroad entrepreneurs."
North Carolina Historical Review
"As an institutional study, The Railroad and the State brims with insights....The research is thorough, the documentation full, and the writing clear. Readers interested in railroads, military history, or the social role of technology will find this study a rewarding experience."
Technology and Culture