It was a great read considering all the battles minutely analyzed, and the many actors depicted and portrayed. Shelby foote brings a skilled novelists narrative power to this great epic. He was a wonderful writer who brought the civil war alive for many people, but he was not a scholar of the war in any sense of the word. In 1954, with the centennial of the end of the civil war approaching, bennett cerf, the president of random house, wrote the novelist shelby foote to propose a short history of the conflict. Sweeping changes were being made in the scholarship and the field, known as revisionism and later postrevisionism, which got away from the older, myopic, incorrect, and frankly racist works on the civil war from the early. Selected by the modern library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the civil war, the modern library publishes shelby foote s threevolume masterpiece in a new boxed set including three hardcovers and a new trade paperback, american homer.
His understanding of key aspects of it is fundamentally flawed. See all books authored by shelby foote, including the civil war. I needed this volume to have the complete set of shelby footes civil war trilogy and couldnt find it locally. He was a journalistnovelist and never considered himself an historian, which is why he subtitled his trilogy a narrative. A narrative, a threevolume history of the american civil war.
A narrative, a massive, threevolume history of the war. Shelby foote was a very dear and engaging man, and im not at all surprised that so many people got excited about the civil war because of his appearance in the ken burns series. Shelby footes flawed understanding of slavery and the civil war. Foote edited the pica, the student newspaper of greenville high school, and frequently used the paper to lampoon the schools principal. As soon as the ink was dry on the contract with random house, foote made a detailed outline of the project, concluding that to cover the war without just skittering along the surface, he would need well over 200,000 words. Although i love american history, i must confess that i didnt see burns celebrated documentary until about 2 years ago. Reporters and admirers have besieged him both at his home in. Fame besieges shelby foote, voice of the civil war.
Grant against lee in virginia and sherman pressing johnston in north georgia. How a memphis novelists history of the civil war made history itself. Sep 02, 2001 also in 1998, shelby foote wrote a 10,000 word introduction to a new modern library edition of stephen cranes red badge of courage, the 19thcentury classic civil war novel. Shelby footes appearance as the principal talking head on ken burns influential pbs documentary made him one of the most widely read civil war historians of the past 20 years. In 1935, foote applied to the university of north carolina at chapel hill, hoping to join the older percy boys who were already enrolled. Exhaustively researched and masterfully written, foote s epic account of the civil war unfolds like a classic novel. The successive films will expand upon kubricks original. Over the course of his writing career, foote was also awarded three guggenheim fellowships.
November 17, 1916 june 27, 2005 was an american writer and journalist who wrote the civil war. The book opens with the beginning of the two final, major confrontations of the war. Understanding the civil war was a luxury his whiteness could illafford. A narrative 19581974 is a three volume, 2,968page, 1. The only negative i can find in shelby footes work is the fact that i will never find anything as satisfying to. The civil war trilogy box set by shelby foote penguin random. A narrative, edited by and with an introduction from pulitzer prize winner. He is best remembered for his 3volume history the civil war.
Asked to name the writer whose work had the greatest influence on their early love for the civil war, most lay students of the conflict would offer one of two responses. Foote was initially denied acceptance to unc because of a negative recommendation from the principal, but after taking. Also in 1998, shelby foote wrote a 10,000 word introduction to a new modern library edition of stephen cranes red badge of courage, the 19thcentury classic civil war novel. Many know foote for his prominent role as a commentator on ken burnss pbs series about the civil war. The story focuses on a series of american civil war battles in the shenandoah valley between union general george armstrong custer and confederate colonel john singleton mosby, known as the gray ghost. Shelby foote, the historian whose incisive, seasoned commentary delivered in a drawl so mellifluous that one critic called it molasses over hominy evoked the civil war for millions in. Sep 19, 2015 easton press later issued a full leather edition of the civil war trilogy in 1991 after ken burns the civil war documentary featured foote and he became widely known. Footes comprehensive history of the civil war includes three compel. This beautifully written trilogy of books on the american civil war is not only a piece of firstrate history, but also a marvelous work of literature.
This first volume of shelby foote s classic narrative of the civil war opens with jefferson daviss farewell to the united senate and ends on the bloody battlefields of antietam and perryville, as the full, horrible scope of americas great war becomes clear. It is not clear from the title whether this work represents the entire trilogy, or just a single volume. The convenient suspension of disbelief the atlantic. Recently, ive been wanting to read books on the civil war ones i didnt read in college and wondered if i should eventually give foote s books a go. Charge across burnside bridge at antietam, 3 days of thunder at gettysburg. Although previously known as a novelist, foote is most famous for this nonfictional narrative history. Footes 89 cameo appearances in ken burnss series the civil war were informed by his own threevolume history of the war, two decades in. Also known as a historian, shelby establishing himself as a novelist, and. The series turned foote into a reluctant celebrity, but it also made him a millionaire with his civil war trilogy reaching a whole new audience. With geographic and cultural roots in the mississippi delta, foote s life and writing paralleled the radical shift from the agrarian planter system of the old. Shelby footes civil war trilogy is a work of brilliance. This boxed set of his magnus opus on the civil war reads in the same way. Shelby foote s magnificently orchestrated novel anticipates much of the subject matter of his monumental civil war trilogy, rendering the clash between north and south with a violence 2 out of 5 stars. Many will remember shelby foote from the famous documentary series on the civil war.
Reflections on shelby foote and his classic the civil war. In midsummer the author traveled from his home in memphis to meet with the publisher in. Jul 26, 2015 the series turned foote into a reluctant celebrity, but it also made him a millionaire with his civil war trilogy reaching a whole new audience. A narrative, is our window into the daybyday unfolding of our nations defining event. See more ideas about shelby foote, civil war books and american civil war. Kubrick initially developed the story with the civil war historian shelby foote.
Reflections on shelby foote and his classic civil war. Shelby foote audio books, best sellers, author bio. I got the box set of shelby footes the civil war for my birthday about 45 years ago and never got around to reading them. Foote seemed to know just where and when to bounce, and when he bounced in he knew what to illuminate, whether it be the background and foolhearty arrogance of a general, or the fears and. Gettysburgthe second day civil war america harry w. November 17, 1916 june 27, 2005 was an american novelist and a noted historian of the american civil war, who wrote the civil war. Shelby foote the civil war takes you on the historic journey where he explains the politics and changes that bring us to the first shots on ft. It was meant to be the southern viewpoint of the civil war. Footes civil way trilogy available for download dead. Jun, 2011 shelby foote wrote the civil war, but he never understood it. These are a great set of books for someone wanting to capture the magnitude of this horrific event in. For one, civil war scholarship was by no means, by no means, in a downturn around the time foote was writing this work. The civil war trilogy 3book boxset gods and generals, the killer angels, and the last full measure jeff shaara. Im sure others much more informed will be along shortly but imho shelby foote is fairly accurate.
Each wrote as if they owned the civil war, and for millions of readers they brought americas greatest conflict to life in a way that few historians, however gifted. Shelby foote s monumental historical trilogy, the civil war. Shelby foote wrote the civil war, but he never understood it. The final text is the foundation for the television series of the same name, themed with the incomparable and haunting ashokan farewell. Now foote reveals the deeper human truth behind the battles and speeches through the fiction he has chosen for this vivid, moving collection. It is the accumulation of such atmospheric detail that lends the trilogy much. A narrative is most often published in three volumes. Footes comprehensive history of the civil war includes three compelling volumes. In midsummer the author traveled from his home in memphis to meet with the publisher in new york, and the two came to terms. Focusing on the pivotal year of 1863, the second volume in shelby footes masterful narrative history brings to life some of the most dramatic and important moments in the civil war, including the battle of gettysburg and grants vicksburg. Also known as a historian, shelby establishing himself as a novelist, and spent about 20 years writing the civil war. Recently, ive been wanting to read books on the civil war ones i didnt read in college and wondered if i should eventually give footes books a go.
Foote wrote six novels but is best remembered for his threevolume, 3,000page history of the civil war and his appearance on the pbs series. With geographic and cultural roots in the mississippi delta, foote s life and writing paralleled the radical shift from the agrarian planter system of the old south to the civil rights era of the new south. A mississippi native and longtime memphis resident, mr. Footes trilogy because it was a wellknown trilogy about the american civil war. Hes writing in a manner that follows in the ancient tradition of telling oral history.
A narrative, which took twenty years to complete and resulted in his being a featured expert in ken burns acclaimed pbs documentary, the civil war. A narrative modern library posted in shelby foote tagged shelby foote, shelby foote the civil war, the civil war permalink. These are a great set of books for someone wanting to capture the magnitude of this horrific event in our history. I took me three months to read the almost one thousand pages of the civil war, vol. Jun 29, 2005 shelby foote, the historian whose incisive, seasoned commentary delivered in a drawl so mellifluous that one critic called it molasses over hominy evoked the civil war for millions in. Twenty years ago, in 1954, novelist shelby foote began this monumental work with these words. First 800 pages of civil war trilogy by shelby foote events of the civil war bounced all over, from norfolk to new orleans to washington to kentucky, etc. His background as novelist, in the southern tradition, is evident in the flow of this definitive civil war trilogy. With geographic and cultural roots in the mississippi delta, footes life and writing paralleled the radical shift from the agrarian planter system of the. But he really shouldnt have gotten the air time he did. Mcphersons work is certainly worthwhile and restricted to a single volume.
Selected by the modern library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the civil war, the modern library publishes shelby footes threevolume masterpiece in a new boxed set including three hardcovers and a new trade paperback, american homer. Shelby foote s civil war trilogy the length was intentional. Shelby foote s civil war trilogy is a work of brilliance. Is shelby footes the civil war trilogy worth reading. The only negative i can find in shelby foote s work is the fact that i will never find anything as satisfying to read, not just on the civil war, but on any topic. Easton press later issued a full leather edition of the civil war trilogy in 1991 after ken burns the civil war documentary featured foote and he became widely known. Civil war a narrative three volumes by foote shelby abebooks. A narrative, published by random house in three volumes between 1958 and 1974 and later repackaged in many forms, has earned a large audience of. With geographic and cultural roots in the mississippi delta, footes life and writing paralleled the radical shift from the agrarian planter system of the old. I got the box set of shelby foote s the civil war for my birthday about 45 years ago and never got around to reading them. Shelby footes monumental historical trilogy, the civil war.
The civil war trilogy has been referred to as an excellent addition to american historical collections. Fredericksburg to meridian, the second volume in shelby footes trilogy. Shelby foote civil war books relive the civil war through the eyes of an old mississippi boy the great author shelby foote. While it touches on political and social themes, the main thrust of the work is military history. Fort sumter to perryville, fredericksburg to meridian, and red river to. A native of greenville, mississippi, foote left college early to enlist in the us army in 1940. Shelby foote wrote this magisterial history of the american civil war over a 19 year period beginning in 1954. A narrative, before the authors 100th birthday on november 17, 2017. I needed this volume to have the complete set of shelby foote s civil war trilogy and couldnt find it locally. Shelby footes magnificently orchestrated novel anticipates much of the subject matter of his monumental civil war trilogy, rendering the clash between north and south with a. Aug 08, 2017 shelby foote is far from one of the greatest experts on the civil war. I have read and loved civil war history for over 45 years.
He writes with such command and vivid clarity that i felt like i was right in the thick of it, witnessing events as they unfolded. Foote is, of course, the author of his own celebrated civil war masterpiece, a threevolume narrative history of the war, each about a thousand pages long, that stands as a triumph of american. He spoke then with the authority of someone fully versed in his subject, compassionate and with his beautiful voice. Shelby foote books list of books by author shelby foote.
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