Tratar vs tratarse (de, sobre)

[fglorca]

Are the following three correct:

1. El libro trata de la guerra civil.
• The book is about the civil war.

2. El libro trata sobre la guerra civil.
• The book deals with (addresses) the civil war.

3. En el libro se trata la guerra civil.
• In the book the civil war is dealt with (addressed). [Passive]

I think the two below are grammatically incorrect, but would appreciate confirmation of this:
1. El libro se trata de la guerra civil
2. El libro se trata sobre la guerra civil.
• The book deals with the civil war.

But I think we can say:
1. Se trata de la guerra civil.
2. Se trata sobre guerra civil.

However, I’m not sure why the above two are correct, or how to translate them.
Many thanks in advance.

[aleCcowaN]

All of them are OK, but that doesn't mean everybody finds each of them nice for any occasion.

El libro trata la guerra civil (transitivo)
El libro trata de la guerra civil (intransitivo)
El libro trata sobre la guerra civil (intransitivo)
El libro trata acerca de la guerra civil (intransitivo)
En el libro se trata la guerra civil (transitivo)

What are the nuances? In a transitive form it communicates the notion that the subject is sistematically, scholarly or thoroughly covered. In an intrasitive form the subject is included and it even can be its main subject, but that's not clear. With "de" it may be just the context. With "acerca de" it's clearly its main subject. For instance:

El libro trata de la guerra civil y de como una familia se ve enfrentada en ambos bandos (The book tells the story of a family whose members fight in opposite sides in the context of the civil war)

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Maybe you'll also find useful this other discussion (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=6399). :)