The second chunky volume in Shelby Foote's excellent narrartive history of The Civil War - this one covers the decisive battles including the early Confederate victories in Virginia of Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville, the Union triumph at Gettysburg, and some of the main turning points on the Western frontier such as Vicksburg, Chickamauga, and Chattanooga. And it covers seemingly everthing in between as well -- thrilling cavalry raids, antiwar movements in both the North and the Souith, countless interesting things and people that I once had passing familiarity with from history class: the Lawrence massacre, the ill-fated Hunley, the Gettysburg address, Sojourner Truth. It is a fascinating, while exhausting work.

Whether I am more used to the style or possibly even more (?morbidly) fascinated with the subject matter, I found this volume even better than the first. The battles are clearly presented weaving in actual quotes from orders, communications, diarys while still maintaining the coherence and immediacy of the struggle. In my opinion - nothing seems biased or melodramatic - yet the emotional impact of Foote's storytelling is undeniable. Again, I am impressed at his organization and the handling of simultaneous events. I will say that it requires a close, concentrated read with constant vigilance as to which general, commander, etc he is referring to. Sometimes the author refers to people by their home state -"the Virginian, the Ohioan, ..." and this was hard for me to follow. Now, who is he refering to, again?

Overall, while not an easy read, it is as engaging and entertaining as non-fiction can be. One definately needs to take a break before delving into the next (thicker!) volume. Highly recommended for lovers of The Civil War era - including those like me, who mainly just read historical fiction -- It reads like a novel. ( )

Excellent. Long and very readable. ( )

One of the very best narrative histories of the Civil War - very balanced view, heavy on biographical detail and personality. ( )

This is the second in the outstanding and comprehensive series by Shelby Foote about the American Civil War. It narrates the change in fortunes that occurred in 1863--turning the tide of victory from South to North. The beginning of the narrative finds a northern army beleaguered by such disasters as Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville--while the South rides the wave of victory created by the genius of Lee and Jackson.

By the end of the book, Jackson is dead, and the North has tasted victory at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Missionary Ridge. The narrative finishes with Grant and Sherman meeting in Ohio to plan the final destruction of the rebellion.

One aspect of the late Shelby's writing that I greatly appreciate is his neutrality. Though southern (Mississippian) by birth, he is complimentary and critical of northern and southern figures alike, based on their merits or lack thereof.

Given that this series was written at the time of the centennial of the Civil War (the 1960s), the following text from the bibliographical note is instructive. In thanking those who contributed to the work Shelby states,

"In a quite different sense , I am obligated also to the governors of my native state and the adjoining states of Arkansas and Alabama for helping to lessen my sectional bias by reproducing, in their actions during several of the years that went into the writing of this volume, much that was least admirable in the postition my ofrebears occupied when they stood up to Lincoln. I suppose, or in any case hope, it is true that history never repeats itself, but I know from watching these three gentlemen that it can be terrifying in its approximations, even when the reproduction--deriving, as it does, its scale from the performers--is in miniature."

In this polarized time of American history, may the only repeat of history be the courage and fortitude shown by the descendants of those on both sides who shed their blood during that great and terrible war.

www.comingstobrazil.com ( )

Speaking as an Australian who is fascinated by all history I stumbled upon this series because of shelby foote's appearance on the Ken Burns' Civil War documentary. The three books are fanatstic reading, and their sheer size may be daunting but the writing is fluid, the characters well delineated, and Foote seems (to his foreigner at least) to have no axes to grind. ( )