What are the best books on the Civil War?

Question

Early answers were books by Foote adn Mcpherson, with other fascinating suggestions for more "theme specific" study. Terrific ideas are expessed but I wonder too about Bruce Catton's work? (I have read his and love them for readability as well as interesting study of persons.) And about Sandburg's Lincoln biograhy? Comments on these AND OTHER C.W. history MOST WELCOME!

Answer 1

Shelby Foote wrote a comprehensive three volume, 3000-page history of the American Civil War, together entitled The Civil War: A Narrative, which is considered by many to be a classic. The individual volumes include Fort Sumter to Perryville (1958), Fredericksburg to Meridian (1963), and Red River to Appomattox (1974).

Foote appeared in Ken Burns' PBS documentary The Civil War. .The exposure made him a minor celebrity, and generated renewed popular interest in his books.

Despite his Southern upbringing, Foote deliberately avoided Lost Cause mythologizing in his work. He considered Abraham Lincoln and Nathan Bedford Forrest to be the only two authentic geniuses of the war. He also believed that the cause of the South was lost from the minute they declared war.

Answer 2

If you are interested in what lead up to the Civil war, I suggest the following:

Abraham Lincoln: A History Volume 1
John G. Nicolay and John Hay, (private secretaries and assistants to Abraham Lincoln).
(Volume 1 Soft copy) http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/6812

I'm just finishing this book and was impressed at how much information is covered about the political landscape of the 1840's and 1850's that were pivotal events on the way to civil war.

The Approaching Fury
Steven B. Oates

This book is unusual in that it speaks in the first person, (I don't think I've ever read a first person history book before). The book starts around 1820 and goes to 1861 covering many of the important events from Thomas Jefferson to Lincoln's handling of Fort Sumter. The events are covered, (in turn), by the people who participated in the event, telling you their story, their perspective. I was disappointed that Mr. Oates left out John Quincy Adams from the book, but you can't have everything.

The Causes of the Civil War
Edited by Kenneth M. Stampp

The book breaks the American conflict into seven sections, then covers each by quoting both 1861-1865 points of view, (southern & northern), and what modern historians have written.

The sections are:

1. The "Slave Power" and the "Black Republicans"
2. State Rights and Nationalism
3. Economic Sectionalism
4. Blundering Politicians and Irresponsible Agitators
5. The Right and Wrong of Slavery
6. Majority Rule and Minority Rights
7. The Conflict of Cultures

Answer 3

As others have said, Shelby Foote is one of the best. You might also like:
"Divided Waters" by Ivan Miscant about the naval battles of the Civil War, wonderfully informative.
"Don't Much About the Civil War" by Kenneth C. Davis ought to be a textbook for students, it's clearly and interestingly written.
"The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara & "Gods and Generlas" & ""The Last Full Measure" by Jeff Shaara are some great Civil War historical novels.

Answer 4

For popular histories I would recommend:
"Battle Cry of Freedom" by James McPherson
"The Civil War", three volumes by Shelby Foote
For more military histories, that are in depth":
"Fighting for the Confederacy" by Porter Alexander
" Gettysburg" by James McPherson
"Chancellorsville" by Stephen Sears
Happy reading
jim

Answer 5

The series written by Shelby Foote

Answer 6

Check out the Time Life Series. you can buy used copies on ebay or take them out from the library. there are 28 books in the series. they are pretty good.