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The Civil War: A Narrative, 40th Anniversary Edition #4
The Civil War: A Narrative, Volume 4: Second Manassas to Pocotaligo
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288 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1999
3 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Shelby Foote
119 books680 followersShelby 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 Civil War: A Narrative. 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. Foote was relatively unknown to the general public for most of his career until his appearance in Ken Burns's PBS documentary The Civil War in 1990, where he introduced a generation of Americans to a war that he believed was "central to all our lives."
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 24, 2020
Foote is a well-respected historian who has chosen to focus most of his writing career on the USA’s Civil War. I have read Foote before and The Civil War: A Narrative was published long ago.
The original text has been “augmented” with period photographs and maps of some of the battles and campaigns for the “40th Anniversary Edition.” Instead of 3 volumes, the series now numbers more than a dozen. This volume covers the period of the Confederate invasions of the Union and the events leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation.
The maps are helpful, the photographs less so. If you can do without the “padding,” stick with the original. If you want the more “plump” version, you might see if your library has it.
The original text has been “augmented” with period photographs and maps of some of the battles and campaigns for the “40th Anniversary Edition.” Instead of 3 volumes, the series now numbers more than a dozen. This volume covers the period of the Confederate invasions of the Union and the events leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation.
The maps are helpful, the photographs less so. If you can do without the “padding,” stick with the original. If you want the more “plump” version, you might see if your library has it.
April 10, 2019
These represent about half of the series. It is both excellent reading and very readable of around 270 pages . The well written narrative alternates between the Eastern and Western fronts providing lots of specifics.
November 14, 2021
Volume 4 of 40th Anniversary Edition 14 Book Set. Second Manassas, Richmond (Ky), Harpers Ferry, Antietam, Corinth, Perryville, Emancipation Proclamation and Dec 1862 Lincoln address.
January 6, 2011
9/14/2003 - 10/10
The Civil War is a very long (14 volumes, 4064 pages) but very detailed and rewarding look at the Civil War. There's not as much analysis of the social and political issues as there is in McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom . It is pretty noticably lacking on slavery and the causes of the war. Instead, Foote's style is a much more personal narrative (no footnotes) strewn with lots of interesting little tidbits and tons of detail! The narrative was very readable (although the prose got a little too long and fancy at times), but made it sometimes difficult to keep track of the chronology. The Time Life version had lots of historic photos and maps (could always use more though!) which add a lot to the experience. Foote's style reminded me a lot of Stephen Ambrose in trying to relate history on a personal level. The participants are vividly drawn, Lincoln especially. He was portrayed as an interesting, complex individual. Self-made, humorous (very reminiscent of Mark Twain), intelligent and tenacious; yet at the same time, underhanded, meddling and involved in lots of political shenanigans (bribery, suspension of habeus corpus, and locking up political opponents). These personal details just scratch the surface and have whetted my appetite. I look forward to reading more about many of these fascinating individuals - Lincoln, Davis, Grant, Lee, Sherman, Jackson, Sheridan, Forrest, Longstreet, and Cleburne.
For more info, check out:
Civil War site
Another Civil War site
Civil War Photographs
The Civil War is a very long (14 volumes, 4064 pages) but very detailed and rewarding look at the Civil War. There's not as much analysis of the social and political issues as there is in McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom . It is pretty noticably lacking on slavery and the causes of the war. Instead, Foote's style is a much more personal narrative (no footnotes) strewn with lots of interesting little tidbits and tons of detail! The narrative was very readable (although the prose got a little too long and fancy at times), but made it sometimes difficult to keep track of the chronology. The Time Life version had lots of historic photos and maps (could always use more though!) which add a lot to the experience. Foote's style reminded me a lot of Stephen Ambrose in trying to relate history on a personal level. The participants are vividly drawn, Lincoln especially. He was portrayed as an interesting, complex individual. Self-made, humorous (very reminiscent of Mark Twain), intelligent and tenacious; yet at the same time, underhanded, meddling and involved in lots of political shenanigans (bribery, suspension of habeus corpus, and locking up political opponents). These personal details just scratch the surface and have whetted my appetite. I look forward to reading more about many of these fascinating individuals - Lincoln, Davis, Grant, Lee, Sherman, Jackson, Sheridan, Forrest, Longstreet, and Cleburne.
For more info, check out:
Civil War site
Another Civil War site
Civil War Photographs
June 29, 2007
Let's get a few things out into the open: 1. This war was not fought THAT long ago 2. Slavery was NOT the main issue, as we learned in 5th grade 3. Our country still bears the social/ cultural scars of of a time in it's young life when it tore itself in two and one half tried to kill the other.
Read this narrative to really find out why classmates, cousins, friends, and brothers parted ways in the name of loyalty, only to meet again on the field of battle.
Shelby Foote IS the authority on the subject, and the 14 volume narrative is time consuming, yet a page turner. His structure, eloquence, and style will engross the experienced historian and new reader alike.
Mr. Foote chose his viewpoint carefully, never forcing a verdict upon the reader. Instead, the author lays the facts out before you, and allows the reader to form his or her own opinions. Civil War: A Narrative will impress upon you the disparity and terror of war, the plight of the common soldier and slave, the arrogance and heroism of their leaders, pro/anti slavery perspective, and the pride of the people on both sides of the line.
Read this narrative to really find out why classmates, cousins, friends, and brothers parted ways in the name of loyalty, only to meet again on the field of battle.
Shelby Foote IS the authority on the subject, and the 14 volume narrative is time consuming, yet a page turner. His structure, eloquence, and style will engross the experienced historian and new reader alike.
Mr. Foote chose his viewpoint carefully, never forcing a verdict upon the reader. Instead, the author lays the facts out before you, and allows the reader to form his or her own opinions. Civil War: A Narrative will impress upon you the disparity and terror of war, the plight of the common soldier and slave, the arrogance and heroism of their leaders, pro/anti slavery perspective, and the pride of the people on both sides of the line.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews