Customer Reviews

The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. 1 : Fort Sumter to Perryville (Part 1 of 2 parts) [Library Binding]

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I originally read Volume 1 and its sequels about 9 years ago, my interest having being sparked by Mr. Foote's memorable appearance in the classic PBS series "The Civil War". My honest opinion back then was that the trilogy was a literary gem. Having just reread Volume 1, I hold this opinion even more strongly, jaded cynic though I am. The author combines a diligent and scholarly search for the truth--employing to this end, the methods of both the historian and novelist--with a majestic prose which elegantly and vividly brings back to life events and characters from "a world now gone to dust". The narrative paints a broad panorama of the American Civil War during 1861-1862, but I would like to comment on just one aspect of the work. Volume 1 introduces us to the two main protagonists, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, and their struggles to keep their respective nations intact. Now I have heard and read yappings that the narrative is slanted toward a pro-South point of view, and suspect that this ill-founded charge is due in part to Mr. Foote's temerity in putting Davis (throughout the trilogy, in fact) on equal footing with the now sainted Lincoln. Jefferson Davis will probably always remain the most controversial of American historical figures (along with Aaron Burr), owing to the ugly principles--namely, aristocracy and slavery--for which his Confederacy fought de facto. As Mr. Foote put it, Lincoln had "tarred" Davis by masterfully characterizing his idea of self-government as anathema to democracy and freedom. "The tar would never wear off", and to this day, Davis remains to many a villain of the first rank. However, Mr. Foote implicitly makes a compelling case that there is much to admire in Jefferson Davis, who, like Lincoln, personifies the great American dream of achievement through hard work and merit, rising, before the War, from backwater obscurity to the Mississippi planter class and high Federal office (although admittedly with his older brother's help). His simple, western background stands in stark contrast to that of the "cream" of Virginian society; as President of the Confederacy, he is painfully aware of the condescension of the Virginian elites, as they "had become accustomed to looking down their noses at what they called the middle-class atmosphere of official Richmond". Moreover, notwithstanding his renowned inflexibility in dealing with subordinates, Davis' public and private behavior was utterly beyond reproach. In short, if one reads this book while keeping a view of Lincoln and Davis as truly "the men of the hour" during the Civil War, albeit with their inevitable flaws, he or she will be rewarded with a memorable and enduring experience. A final note: the book is best suited for an energetic reader. Aside from the great length of the book, the prose, while representing the best the English language has to offer, does require some effort to master (at least it did for me). The rewards, however, are well-worth the reader's commitment.

The PBS series "The Civil War" and Tony Horwitz's book "Confederates In the Attic" opened the door to my Civil War interest, and Shelby Foote's first volume of his narrative clinched it. I've heard many who've criticized his narrative style and some inaccuracies in the history, but I believe Foote does what brings history to life, he weaves a story and makes the characters live. I enjoyed all parts of this first volume, but especially two sections. The first was the battle of Pea Ridge, which I had never heard of, yet was analyzed brilliantly. The second was the Peninsula Campaign; I couldn't put the book down reading about that part. Stonewall Jackson sleeping under a tree when he was needed most, the "best men of the Confederacy" being sacrificed in frontal counter-attacks, McClellan's dilemmas (he was often painted here and by others as over-cautious and a brilliant retreater, yet Foote makes us sympathetic to his problems too), and the emergence of Robert E. Lee and the subsequent retreat of the federal troops. There is so much more to read in this book, Sharpsburg, Shiloh, and also the political situations in both capitals. I thank Shelby Foote for bringing this era to life for me, and I am halfway through volume 3 and I have not been disappointed with any of this massive undertaking.

How can one man possibly know so much about such a large and complex historical event? The research required, the understanding of the political issues, and the insight into the motivations of the many key players involved boggles the mind. Foote somehow manages to get his hands completely around the enigmatic thing we know as the Civil War and deliver it to us in clear, complete and compelling fashion. This is the Ring Trilogy of historical military literature. Other worthy efforts such as The Killer Angels or, more recently, The Last Full Measure may delve deeper into one particular battle or limited campaign, but no other work provides such a comprehensive and detailed picture of the entire conflict.

The scope is so impressive. Foote does not focus solely on the battles, but rather drills down to the core political and moral issues so that we see the whole chess match. And his rendering of the characters? Words fail me. We follow Stonewall Jackson, or Robert E. Lee, or McClellan, or U.S. Grant for a hundred pages, mesmerized, and then cry out as he swings the scene to another theatre. But two pages later we don't care; we're sucked in again.

Foote captures the emotion of the time. His love of the subject is apparent. It is amazing to read the details of such a divisive and horrific event, to taste Lincoln's frustration over McClellan's waffling, to cheer the audacious achievements of Lee and Jackson, to wonder at Lee's tragic march toward Appomattox, and to empathize with both sides along the way. Shelby Foote has done justice to a defining moment in the history of our great union, leaving readers north and south proud to be Americans. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

Shelby Foote presents the Civil War and the events of the time in a highly readable format resembling a novel rather than a history book. The inclusion of numerous private exchanges between officers and soldiers help to bring the characters to life. The book does an excellent job of mixing infomation on the battles, with a look at how event transpired from the perspectives of both the North and the South, and the social transformations and political maneuvering that was taking place in the background.

The book begins with a strong background first of Lincoln, then of Davis, and proceeds to explain the state of the nnation early in 1861. Once the first shot at Sumter is described, however, the tone changes and the emphasis is more on the millitary campaigns. However, Foote continues to tie everything together by bringing the reader back to why the war was being fought from the perspectives of both sides.

While not for everyone (the three volumes together are more than 3000 pages), these volumes provide an excellent source for a perspective of event during the war. The only downside is an insufficient number of battle maps which, at times, makes it hard to picture events as they unfolded during certain campaigns.

I had always assumed that the publisher's blurbs comparing Foote to Edward Gibbon were overblown.But now, having a good part of the 3 volume _Civil War_ under my belt, I'm not so sure. Foote is impossible to put down for all of the reasons that are usually mentioned-- his novelist's skill at unpacking the concealed drama in events, his sympathetic but measured assessment of the Southern cause. But I find his voice unique in yet another respect. Above all else, he is able to paint a convincing picture of the ambiguities of genius without lapsing into the typical smugness with which famous heroes are often cut down to size. Under Foote's guidance, we witness countless screw-ups and unsympathetic careerist maneuvers by the likes of Lincoln, Grant, Lee, and Stonewall Jackson. Nonetheless, something truly great about each of these figures emerges in a convincing way. The portrayal of Lincoln is especially remarkable: with the goody-goody storybook facade of Honest Abe stripp! ! ed away, the picture emerges of a more complicated risk-taker and a statesman equal to anyone in ancient Greece or Rome. Finally, Foote does an excellent job with transitions. There is a well-timed oscillation between the fronts of the East and West, and a nice balance between geopolitical events and the tiniest details of forgotten minor battles. His account of the Merrimack-Monitor ironclad battle turns a well-known piece of schoolchild trivia into one of the most chilling anecdotes in world history. The net result of reading these volumes is that I am far more fascinated than ever before by the idea of being an American.

Okay, Shelby is great. No question. And his knowledge and grasp aren't just encyclopedic, they're unsurpassed. That having been said (deep breath) if you're coming to this from the PBS series because you fell in love with his voice and insight there, you're probably going to be disappointed. Ken Burns turned to Shelby for insight, for color commentary, for a sense of the soldier on the ground. And he supplied it, in spades, with that slow southern drawn and his dead-on sense of events. This books is strictly a "great man" summary of the war. You won't find much of the common soldier, and beyond body counts and the odd quote you won't learn much about how the man-in-the-field felt or experienced events. For that matter. you won't find much about what Shelby thinks or feels about it to. While he is encyclopedic, in a strange way, it actually crowds out his voice and sensitivity, so you learn a lot about events -- in great detail -- but very little Shelby's own evaluation or perspective about them. Which for this reader, was the real reason to pay the price of admission. I doubt I will move on to the other books in the series as I'd planned -- it's incredibly informative without having any particular narrative drive or being in any way really gripping. Think of it as the Encyclopedia Britannia coverage (rather than a book by one man whose mind and erudition you love) and you'll get some idea. Oh, and for those of you tempted to get the audio version, again, I'd think twice. I was looking forward to Shelby's quite, authoritative drawl in my ear, but they chose a Northerner (award-winning, actually, but nonetheless!) who to my ear has an annoying drawl and stopped his mic every few pages so he's continually coming back in slightly different sound and register. Sorry to write this, really, wanted to love this book and the whole series.

This trilogy of the American Civil War is daunting to most people due to it's sheer size; right at three-thousand pages. Despite this "The Civil War: A Narrative" is THE book series to read if you want a detailed knowledge of the Civil War. Shelby Foote first came to my attention through Ken Burns' "The Civil War" on PBS. I loved Foote's unashamed southern drawl and his gift of telling a great story. That's when I decided to read his life's work. Foote has a talent for bringing the characters alive-they seem to jump off the page at you. He has that rare ability to make readers feel as if they are part of the story, looking on or even participating in events. The books are written in a way that makes it easy reading for anyone. Do not let the number of pages intimidate you. A book this well written is hard to put down, making a quicker read than you think. I think all Americans should read this trilogy-in order to understand the horror of that war and its consequences.

If I were reviewing the books, which I adore, I would be giving this work a far higher rating. I am, however, reviewing the audio version, and unfortunately Amazon hasn't bothered to seperate the book and audio versions of various written works, so this review will end up in with the reviews about the actual work. I like to read and listen to books at the same time when they are especially long and invovled, as Mr. Foote's books are. However, the narrator is anything but pleasant to listen to. Imagine the nasally twang of a early radio reporter's voice, the sort of voice which might have been talking about baseball scores, quick and harsh, and you've got it pretty close. This is not at all the right voice to hear about the trials and horrors of the Civil War. Why this voice was used I can't begin to imagine. It is just so disappointing. I hope with all my heart that someone rereads this at some point.

I have had the 3-volume set for about 30 years and never undertook the challenge of reading the entire series. Well, I am undertaking this challenge now and wonder why I did not earlier!

The first volume covers the period just before the outbreak of the war to just after the battle of Perryville Kentucky in October 1862. In between, Shelby Foote covers the following events:

1. Lincoln assuming the presidency.
2. Battles of Bull Run, Seven Days, Corinth, Iuka, Shiloh, Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, New Orleans, North Carolina Outer Banks, Mill Springs, Jackson's Shenandoah Campaign, and other engagements.
3. Relationships between various generals, North and South.
4. Political challenges faced by Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.

In my opinion, Shelby Foote's writing style is engaging and flows freely. Bear in mind that he was more of a novelist instead of an historian (such as Stephen Sears, Peter Cozzens, Gordon Rhea, etc.) who includes numerous footnotes. While some readers may have a problem with this, this was not really an issue with me as he seemed to be rather accurate and consistent with other authors on particular aspects of the Civil War.

My major complaint was the lack of maps - would have liked to have seen several more and with more detail.

Complaint aside, the title was a good read and I look forward to reading (and completing!!!) the other two titles later this year.

Recommended.

As military / political narratives go, this book is first rate. Foote explains the battles as well in a comprehensible way (something that many military history books don't do). The book is interesting and moves along (something that most 800 page books don't do either). Overall, it is a vivid picture of the people and the history.

That being said, here is my critique: reading this book is a major undertaking. The book is 800 pages and is only the first book in a triology. According to Amazon, the entire triology is about 3000 pages. While I do not consider myself a civil war buff, I guess I am one now -- at least for a third of the war. While well written, its not the kind of prose that you can race through. This is a major reading commitment.

A reading marathon like this raises a unique issue. Noone wants to read 3000 pages and conclude they could have spent their time better. While I have labored through inaccurate and ridiculous history books, these books were a lot shorter and I knew they were inaccurate / ridiculous when I read them. Worrisome to me, two reviewers say the book is inaccurate and I should read McPherson. I don't take that to heart though; reviewers of McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom say you should read Foote.

Overall, a great book and recommended. Now I'm off {sigh} to read volume II.