The Civil War: A Narrative, Volume 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville 856. by Shelby Foote | Editorial Reviews. Extremely detailed narrative of the Civil War. The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville | Shelby Foote | download | Z-Library. Foote's writing as a narrative is exactly what I prefer to history. 1 begins one of the most remarkable works of history ever fashioned. There should be a caveat before beginning this series, however: it is not for casual fans of history like myself. This book is a novel, but in the pages you will find some of the best storytelling that is factually sound. 1 begins one of the most remarkable works of history ever fashioned. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. After first volume, I'm anticipating completing this series will be something I'll remember all my life. I would like to have given this book 4 and a half stars although obviously that is not possible. XD). If you are looking for a very readable and engaging play-by-play of the events of the war, however, you aren't likely to find many better sources than Shelby Foote's magnum opus. His appreciation and dedication to the history he was writing was obvious and his evenhandedness apparent. The battles are vividly described, Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2015. I care for neither his prose style nor his biased viewpoint. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. (A historical marker located in Perryville in Cecil County, Maryland.) Civil War : A Narrative : Fort Sumter to Perryville, Paperback by Foote, Shelby, ISBN 0394746236, ISBN-13 9780394746234, Brand New, Free shipping in the US Follows the course of the war from 1862 to 1864, discusses the strategies of both sides in major battles, and … 4.5 out of 5 stars 4.6 out of 5.0 5 Stars 2,908 4 Stars 684 3 Stars 270 2 Stars 70 1 Stars 77 Performance. Shelby Foote has earned his sobriquet, "American Homer", for the is the Bard of the American Civil War. Nearly fifty years later I’ve decided to re-read this great work. Shelby Foote was an American historian and novelist. 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville. He is best remembered for his 3-volume history 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". Lincoln kept demoting generals because he wanted someone who would attack. Foote has a tendency to refer to various commanders by their nicknames, so that can add to the confusion if you aren't paying attention. The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville by Shelby Foote ISBN 13: 9780394746234 ISBN 10: 0394746236 Paperback; New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1986-11 … This outstanding narrative is easy to follow - so long as you use the maps. Events prior to the opening shots at Fort Sumter take up about one third of McPherson's book, compared with only fifty pages (of 2800) by Foote. v. 1, Fort Sumter to Perryville : a narrative. Fort Sumter to Perryville. Find books The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. And if you are going to get away with such embellishments, your style better have the panache of a Truman Capote, a Tom Wolfe or Erik Larson. Title: The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville - eBook By: Shelby Foote Format: DRM Protected ePub Vendor: Vintage Publication Date: 2011 ISBN: 9780307744678 ISBN-13: 9780307744678 Stock No: WW13465EB Been reading this book in parts for last year, as the "baseline" to my series of Civil War books. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. The story is told entirely from the point of view of the people involved in it. And seeing as how this was part of a labor of love (or obsession) involving 20 years of effort, I don’t doubt he read everything he could get his hands of letters and eye-witness accounts. On the one hand Foote is pretty openly a confederate sympathizer, opening the book by talking about what a good and kind slavemaster Jefferson Davis was, portraying abolitionists as ruthless rabble rousing demagogues etc, but on the other hand I doubt you're going to find a better detailed description of the events of the civil war itself. The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville (Vintage Civil War Library) by Shelby Foote(1986-11-12) Shelby Foote. Shelby Dade Foote, Jr. was an American novelist and a noted historian of the American Civil War, writing a massive, three-volume history of the war entitled, “The point I would make is that the novelist and the historian are seeking the same thing: the truth – not a different truth: the same truth – only they reach it, or try to reach it, by different routes. When reading this, it's hard not to recall the words of a colleague of mine who, while acknowledging the undoubted quality of this series, referred to Shelby Foote as a Southern sympathizer. The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. Paperback. As for myself, still well worth reading, but I think I would've been better off to start with a single-volume overview and then work my way up to Foote's fantastic, if detailed, 3-volume account. His descriptions are visceral and often beautiful. You learn about the military leaders, their failures and successes - & sometimes wonder just how a particular series of actions could have been won or even fought to success given the circumstances. This is one of those books. Paperback $ 27.00. What listeners say about The Civil War: A Narrative, Volume I, Fort Sumter to Perryville. "Here, for a certainty, is one of the great historical narratives…a unique and brilliant achievement, one that must be firmly placed in the ranks of the masters. He considered himself to be a historian but not an academic, and his extremely detailed knowledge of the Civil War coupled with his straight-forward writing style have produced works which have fascinated readers for decades. I do not understand the misspellings in the book- was there no editor or some hidden reason for it? I don't at all think this is an unenjoyable or non-informative read, just that it should probably be heavily supplemented with other works that maybe aren't so taken in by the "honorable gallantry" of a bunch of scumbag slave owners. On the one hand Foote is pretty openly a confederate sympathizer, opening the book by talking about what a good and kind slavemaster Jefferson Davis was, portraying abolitionists as ruthless rabble rousing demagogues etc, but on the other hand I doubt you're going to find a better detailed description of the events of the civil war itself. It is certainly reads more like a narrative than a textbook and Mr. Foote’s humor, insight, and superior level prose helps to give a more vivid snapshot of this key part of history. Although Foote never sacrifices the truth of what happened to his penchant for artistry, his skills as a novelist serve him well. If you are looking for a deep-dive into the politics that led to the American Civil War, you will probably find this work lacking (it begins at the cusp of the first battle of the war). I'm not sure that all these physical knocks against Lincoln were necessary. Awe inspiring historical writing. The Civil War, Vol. by Vintage, The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville. Reading him is like watching, I suppose I'm officially anointed into the Old Man's Club now, what with my enjoyment of strong cigars, a newfound appreciation of the pleasures of my own hard-won solitude, and, the. This book is a novel, but in the pages you will find some of the best storytelling that is factually sound. I wanted a book that would take a year of my life to read, so 3,000 pages in three volumes, I thought this should fill the bill. balanced well researched author. And though you can tell his writing is based in research, it isn't overly academic and thrown in your face with notes and conclusions, etc. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2014. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. This first volume in Shelby Foote's comprehensive history is a must-listen for anyone interested in one of the bloodiest wars in America's history. Well into the second volume, Ill be lucky if it lasts me the summer. It's long and detailed, and not for the casual reader. This is one of those books. The graycoat Generals were great strategists, and Foote is quick to recount their individual acts of heroism so the Southerners as a whole come off as braver than their Northern counterparts. As gripping a narrative as any I've found in literature. I found it enjoyable and informative, but also dry at times. Average Customer Ratings. Despite these failings, it's highly entertaining and informative, though I'd peg McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom as a better introduction to the war. Please try again. Can’t put it down. Though he tries to be impartial, Foote's Southern sympathies shine through, as when he refers to abolitionists as "Jacobins." The United States Army began building Fort Sumter on an artificial island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor in 1829. I will write the same review for all three of the late Shelby Foote's three volume set history of the American Civil War. But for me all historical accounts, even autobiography, also need salt given how much the human factors behind events comes down to individual interpretation. [Shelby Foote; Grover Gardner] -- Here begins one of the most remarkable works of history ever fashioned. Anyone with interest in the state of US politics today (and the "today" I speak of can really be any today) must study (or refresh themselves about) the US Civil War. 1961 marked the centennial year of the start of the Civil War and the bookstores were filled with works about the war and the people who fought it. 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville eBook War, Vol. The Civil War: A Narrative; Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Red River to Appomattox. Get free eBooks for your eBook reader, PDA or iPOD from a collection of over 33,000 books with ManyBooks. I think it's critically important to know when conditions were hot or foggy, when shoes, water, food, or sleep were at a premium. Shop now. Reading this series will be the progress I'll keep coming back to after branching out to other books, topics and sub-topics. …which consists of three volumes— Fort Sumter to Perryville (1958), Fredericksburg to Meridian (1963), and Red River to Appomattox (1974). My grandfather had them and liked them, so I figured I'd try them out, and read them during my freshman and sophomore years in high school, I think. On the other hand, Foote proves superficial discussing the causes. Fort Sumter to Perryville | This first of a remarkable three-part work of history is told entirely from the point of view of the people involved in it. Foote does try valiantly to recapture in order to make sure the reader doesn't get ENTIRELY bored or lost, and these summations help, I've been reading a lot of popular histories lately and more and more have become disenchanted with the kind of history book that tells a reader that a man's "heart beat faster" or "pupils flared" when to say the least, the chances the historian pulled that detail out of a diary or letter are low. Shelby Foote took a period in our nation and laid it open as a true storyteller. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2019, Book arrive after approx. Been reading this book in parts for last year, as the "baseline" to my series of Civil War books. He manages to make everything interesting and his anecdotes are a hoot. Even though this is a thorough book that explains the events from a fairly high level, it can be difficult to follow. The lack of formal sourcing qualifies Foote's accuracy. Shelby Foote is the one to read: he shuffles back and forth, sometimes seeing the 'action' or 'inaction' from the North or the South. My only wish is that I would have had the opportunity to thank you in person for such a wonderful book. Those were magical times, and I wondered if my impressions of these works were skewed favorably as a result. I never imagined some years back that I would read a 900-pages Civil War history (and it's just the first volume of its trilogy); to understand my amazement you have to remember that I am not American. One of the definitive popular histories of the Civil War. I really got into the period and read many of the major works on the war (Carl Sandburgs great bio of Lincoln, Allan Nevins six volume study of the war, and many of the more popular works such as those by Bruce Catton, etc.) The Civil War: A Narrative, Volume I, Fort Sumter to Perryville Publisher's Summary The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. The generals on both sides come in for some abuse when it's merited. I was a bit annoyed by the lack of footnotes which make a. I would like to have given this book 4 and a half stars although obviously that is not possible. It does not go into any detail/depth regarding the events prior to the war, it's about the war itself. Because while I don't believe Foote's prose to be anything special, his writing does get your attention. Shelby Footes excellent The Civil War, Vol. Welcome back. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. I did detect a Southern bias, even in the opening decision to give equal weight to the histories of Lincoln and Davis. One of the advantages of growing old (or older) is that you develop a very long memory. It soon became clear, however, that he had undertaken a long-term project. Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2018. After World War II he worked briefly for the Associated Press in their New York bureau. Download books for free. And though you can tell his writing is based in research, it isn't overly academic and thrown in your face with notes and conclusions, etc. 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville | Shelby Foote | download | B–OK. During World War II he served as a captain of field artillery but never saw combat. You learn about the minds of some of the players - Lee comes across as a thinker, McLellan as cautious and so on. Yes, it gives the reader a sense of how the president was truly viewed by many at the time, but it downplays the genius of the decisions he made as the war progressed. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. We are given the same limited information about the enemy that the generals had at the time, which helps to explain many of the decisions made, but it can be a bit confusing, especially when both sides were promoting and demoting leaders left and right during the first couple years of the conflict until they had their starting lineups. Overall, I highly recommend it. I first read this definitive 3 volume series when Ruth was a newborn in 2001. The Civil War, Vol. Please try again. It is in the narrative style, and rarely provides analysis. They were really interesting and very detailed portraits of all of the different personalities involved, especially the different generals involved on the Union side, and had some actually very funny anecdotes (my favorite one, though I can't remember which series it came from, was when Confederate soldiers accidentally stumbled upon resting Union animals in the woods at night, and a minor stampede of the Union mules had the Confederates retreating in confusion for not being able to see what was going on. I don't at all think this is an unenjoyable or non-informative read, just that it should probably be heavily supplemented with other works that maybe aren't. AbeBooks.com: The Civil War: a narrative, Fort Sumter to Perryville (9780307290243) by Foote, Shelby and a great selection of similar New, Used and Collectible Books available now at great prices. And while McPherson spends about ten pages on the Battle of Gettysburg, Foote fills roughly 120 on the same topic. This first volume of a trilogy from the 50’s brings complex history and the personalities that play on its stage alive with a wonderful narrative approach rich in human stories. And if you are going to get away with such embellishments, your style better have the panache of a Truman Capote, a Tom Wolfe or Erik Larson. Volume 3 covers the period from Red River to Appomattox. One learns not only what was happening on all fronts but also how the author discovered it during his years of exhaustive research. The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville (Vintage Civil War Library). At the end of volume 1, Foote noted that he began as a novelist, and it shows. For example, he calls Beauregard "the Creole", Leonidas Polk "the Bishop", and James Longstreet "Old Pete" or "Peter", etc. While details such as appearance and mannerisms can get tiresome, they never become so with Foote. The Civil War: A Narrative: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, Red River to Appomattox 3 Volume s Box Set I am working my way through this series (This book is the first large volume of a trilogy.) To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Paperback. The Civil War. Two more to go. Please try your request again later. His three books are prose masterpieces with lively characterizations and gripping action. Volume 1 covers the period from Fort Sumter to Perryville. I guess some guy called this the "American. I'm a picky reader, often seeking faults with the books I read, but if there were many faults with the first volume of Foote's "The Civil War," they were this reader's, not the author's. The author admits at the end that he's from Mississippi and there may have been a slight Southern slant to his book, but he claims this is because he was rooting for the underdog, not because he was a Southerner. Each volume is over 800 pages long. 1: Fort PDF/EPUB ² Civil War, Vol. This is not to take away from Johnson and Forrest, who were, I agree, great and heroic leaders. The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville (Vintage Civil War Library) Foote unmasks his opinions very obviously about certain commanders, especially their absurdities and failings. The word "narrative" is the key to this. Refresh and try again. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. The three book volume is a Christmas gift from my wife Shari and I have just begun to re-read this great piece of work. The first volume covers the roots of the war to the Battle of Perryville on October 8, 1862. NOOK Book. All the great battles are here, of course, from Bull Run through Shiloh, the Seven Days Battles, and Antietam, but so are the smaller ones: Ball's Bluff, Fort Donelson, Pea Ridge, Island Ten, New Orleans, and Monitor versus Merrimac. The stories told in these pages have sparked my interest in research of the subject and more importantly; other books to read. Buy Fort Sumter to Perryville by Shelby Foote, Professor Grover Gardner (Read by) online at Alibris. Foote's portraits are mostly multi-faceted. Caveat before beginning this series will be the greatest writer on the Springfield Pike before heavy began... Perryville by Shelby Foote ; Grover Gardner ( read by audiobook but struggled to find an way. Select the department you want to search in began as a narrative as any I 've found the. For it that you read that sometimes just pull you in, even if you know how is. Will write the same review for all three of the first volume covers the roots of the most works. 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