Coming up on the 150th anniversary of the end of that conflict, few americans can articulate why it was fought. It soon became clear, however, that he had undertaken a. This first volume of shelby footes classic narrative of the civil war opens with jefferson daviss farewell to the united senate and ends on the. Shelby foote the civil war a narrat ive set volumes 114 time life books time life books foote shelby on. This first of three volumes of shelby foote s renowned history of the civil war is 811 page and it reads like every bit of that length.
Shelby foote is indeed a master storyteller to have recounted personal accounts of war so diligently that as a reader you could forget youre reading a nonfiction story. A narrative, a massive, threevolume history of the war. A narrative 19581974 is a three volume, 2,968page, 1. The background material imparted in this work makes the reading a pleasure. Now foote reveals the deeper human truth behind the battles and speeches through the fiction he has chosen for this vivid, moving collection. Selected by the modern library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time a stunning literary and historical achievement, the three volumes of shelby foote s the civil war vividly bring to life the four years of torment and strife that altered american life forever. Foote has the novelists feeling for character and situation, without losing the historians scrupulous regard for recorded fact. In 1954, shelby foote was a young novelist with a contract to write a short history of the civil war. Although previously known as a novelist, foote is most famous for this nonfictional narrative history. The lengthy chapter on gettysburg has also been published as a separate book, stars in their. An unparalleled achievement, an american iliad, a unique work uniting the scholarship of. He is best remembered for his 3volume history the civil war. A narrative volume 2, fredericksburg to meridian, and more on. This is a masterpiece and although it is a lengthy history book it is enjoyable all the way through.
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 foote s most popular book is the civil war, vol. Shelby foote has 60 books on goodreads with 77882 ratings. Civil war a narrative three volumes by foote shelby abebooks. The individual volumes include fort sumter to perryville. This final volume of shelby footes masterful narrative history of the civil war brings to life the military endgame, the surrender at appomattox. Grant against lee in virginia and sherman pressing johnston in north georgia. Let the seasoned southern writer shelby foote take you on his dramatic journey through the civil war with his 3 volumes in one package entitled the civil war. Shelby foote civil war books relive the civil war through the eyes of an old mississippi boy the great author shelby foote. This first volume of shelby footes classic narrative of the civil war opens.
November 17, 1916 june 27, 2005 was an american novelist and a noted historian of the american civil war, who wrote the civil war. Focused on the pivotal year of 1863, the second volume of shelby foote s masterful narrative history brings to life the battle of gettysburg and grants vicksburg campaign and covers some of the most dramatic and important moments in the civil war. November 17, 1916 june 27, 2005 was an american writer and journalist who wrote the civil war. 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.
Exhaustively researched and masterfully written, foote s epic account of the civil war unfolds like a classic novel. Shelby foote books list of books by author shelby foote. While it touches on political and social themes, the main thrust of the work is military history. Shelby foote has created perhaps the most readable, flowing, knowledgeable,researched tomb about the civil war that i have read. Shelby foote the civil war a narrat ive set volumes 114 time life books time life books. Over the course of his writing career, foote was also awarded three guggenheim fellowships. I can only say that it is the best book i have ever read. Shelby foote s monumental historical trilogy, the civil war. Three volumes of intensively researched and beautifully written narrative from shelby foote. Shelby foote 19162005 was a american novelist and military historian. Shelby foote audio books, best sellers, author bio.
The first edition of the novel was published in october 12th 1963, and was written by shelby foote. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. A narrative, a threevolume history of the american civil war. Selected by the modern library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all timethe first volume. Books by shelby foote author of the civil war, vol. The civil war a narrative by shelby foote the civil war a narrative by shelby foote. I have never read a book that leaps out of the page and grabs you and pulls you in quite like the american civil war a narrative by shelby foote. Shelby foote the civil war a narrative set volumes 114. A narrative, is our window into the daybyday unfolding of our nations defining event. 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. The effort and skill that went into the writing pays off in the reading. Fort sumter to perryville, fredericksburg to meridian, and red river to appomattoxall 3 books are in this pack all can appreciate. Footes comprehensive history of the civil war includes three compel.
Fifty years on shelby foote s 3volume narrative history of the civil war is still a magnificent achievement, containing insights that newer studies still have not properly incorporated. This, then, is narrative history a kind of history that goes back to an older literary tradition the writing is. Focusing on the pivotal year of 1863, the second volume in shelby foote s 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 campaign. He is best known for his threevolume history of the civil war entitled the civil war. See all books authored by shelby foote, including the civil war. 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. I bought it at a used book store after seeing him foote on a dvd of the pbs series, the civil war. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 2934 pages and is available in hardcover format.
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