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The Civil War: A Narrative (3 Vol. Set)
written by Shelby Foote
Studio : Vintage
by Vintage
Release Date : 1986-11-12
Publisher : Vintage
Released : 1986-11-12
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 3
EAN : 9780394749136
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 145 reviews)
List Price : $78.00
Our Price : $47.64
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Product Description |
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Foote's comprehensive history of the Civil War includes three compelling volumes: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, and Red River to Appomattox. |
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Americancivilwar.com Review |
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This beautifully written trilogy of books on the American Civil War is not only a piece of first-rate history, but also a marvelous work of literature. Shelby Foote brings a skilled novelist's narrative power to this great epic. Many know Foote for his prominent role as a commentator on Ken Burns's PBS series about the Civil War. These three books, however, are his legacy. His southern sympathies are apparent: the first volume opens by introducing Confederate President Jefferson Davis, rather than Abraham Lincoln. But they hardly get in the way of the great story Foote tells. This hefty three volume set should be on the bookshelf of any Civil War buff. --John Miller |
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Talk about comprehensive |
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Three HUGE books and it seems not a detail of the War was left out. |
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Well written, comprehensive book |
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If you are a civil war history fan then this is the book for you. This book is full of vivid description and characterization of major players in the civil war. I found this a wonderful asset for my study on the civil war. If you are a history fan, and want a book that does not leave out important events and details then this is the book for you! |
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Little to add but I did have a physical binding problem |
Some of the above reviewers tried to read the author's mind for biases. I think he was focused on the players' characters and abilities more than showing excessive sympathy North or South. I did find myself with a better understanding on both intellectual and emotional levels of the South's problems.
Just to state again, this is a truly excellent work of history. It reminds me of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" except that I couldn't finish all of Gibbon's!
I would warn other purchasers that in my hard-bound set, the one with the green, red, and blue slipcovers, the middle volume was missing pages around page 416. About twenty pages were included twice. So be sure you can exchange a volume if you find a similar problem. Note that this is first time I've ever come across such a problem and I'm a very big reader!
I would also note that around Cold Harbor in volume 3, I too experienced "war weariness." "Dear God, when will the bloodshed end?"
Grant's move to Petersburg fixed that!
One question I still have is, just how many cities did Sherman really burn - I lost count!
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Great Stories |
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Extremely well written! Reads like a story instead of history, and Shelby Foote is a great story teller. |
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The Civil War from 360 Degrees |
Bottome line: READ THIS! It is entirely worth the time.
The volumes will become close friends. You will miss them when they are gone. From early in volume 3 I found myself rationing myself.
You will find yourself easily following complex battles as though you were viewing them on TV.
You will not be bored or overwhelmed by detail - which is there in abundance because just when you have had a bit too much military action he will take you to the politics of the moment, the personal thoughts of the protagonists. When you've been in the South too long he will bring you North and vice versa - with occasional side trips to Europe.....And along the way, you may find you have learned a great deal.
Were the author working on Volume Four, I would anticipate with great interest his treatment of the issue of slavery North and South, and Re-Construction. This will not be forthcoming since sadly Mr. Foote is no longer with us - but we can fondly dream!
Foote positions himself as a southerner trying to understand this war and deals with biases front and central, as a result he deals evenhandedly with malfeasance, cruelty, injustice, atrocity from whatever source. This stands in stark contrast to those texts that position themselves as "objective" or "unbiased" - I'm thinking of Mc Pherson especially. In comparison to Foote's text, McPherson's comes accross as preachy, a bit self righteous, as history as written by the victors...... |
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