Ken Burns' "The Civil War"

[born2see]

I started watching Ken Burns'"The Civil War" again yesterday. What a magnificent piece of film making that is. For anybody who's never seen it, watch it if you can. I remember when it first aired on PBS a guy I worked with, who had no interest in history or the Civil War for that matter said to me "you know I started watching this Civil War thing on PBS and it just sucked me in".

Thanks to Mikesla I've set "Ashokan Farewell" (the theme) as my intro music and it makes me think of the documentary every time I play SOWG. And isn't Shelby Foote a complete anachronism? That guy probably commanded a Mississippi regiment in a past life. Great stuff.

[SouthernSteel]

Now that I find to be a good piece of work on the Civil War (and honestly the only one I can think of). There are parts of it that are rough/contrived/otherwise a bit off, but on the whole, it is not only good, but re-watchable. I'd have to say offhand that I watch it maybe once a year (the whole series).

Shelby Foote was a good choice, in my opinion, to be one of the main narrators. However, be aware that most professional historians positively loathe him in that role (at least) for heavily romanticizing the South in many ways (amongst other things).

[born2see]

I didn't know that. I'm re-reading his "Stars in Their Courses", the book about Gettysburg excerpted from his three volume history of the war. Any thoughts on that work? For that matter, any book on the subject.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Hi.

You are absolutely correct, it is one of the best series I have ever seen. I watch it whenever PBS has it on.

Cheers...

[SouthernSteel]

To be honest, I've done a shocklingly small amount of reading for the time I was "in" :pinch: . There's something about forced reading that tends to keep one away...

I do recall having read part of Foote's overall work but I don't remember thinking anything of it one way or another. In general, he is revered because he was a good scholar (and writer) and produced a massive, well-documented work very early on in the field of Civil War scholarship. Nowadays histories, etc of the period are a dime a dozen. No disrespect to scholars who have wasted, er, "used", years of their lives in these works, but go to any book store and you'll see it's true.

I had a professor claim that we're working towards an hour-by-hour account of the entire war and, while hyperbole to be sure, had a good bit of truth to it. But that's beside the point, I suppose. I cannot recommend any works offhand. I've grown somewhat fond of historical fiction (although a lot of it is terrible, but there are a few good ones), but that's not everyone's cup of tea.

[Tobe123]

I've grown somewhat fond of historical fiction (although a lot of it is terrible, but there are a few good ones).

I know I'am asking you to set yourself up for a fall Parker, but any recomendations.

[SouthernSteel]

Well, the classic trilogy from Michael and Jeff Shaara is usually pointed to as a starting point (being The Killer Angels, Gods and Generals, and The Last Full Measure in order of when they were written). They are extremely solid and, for most "history buffs" stick very close to actual events (unlike, say, Turtledove). The Killer Angels, as many of you likely know, is what was made into the Gettysburg film.

I was fairly impressed by the trilogy written by William Fortschen and Newt Gingrich (and Albert S Hanser, I see): 1. Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War (2003) 2. Grant Comes East (2004) 3. Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory(2005). As an aside, I was wholly unimpressed with Gingrich in the History Channel's "America: the Story of Us," but that is a different and dreadful thing. This series, I think, begins extremely well, but gets a bit too frantic as it goes along (especially by the third book - it felt like me like they were trying to make too much happen and really cram it all in there, which is no doubt why the third book is much longer than the previous two, 384, 404, and 496 pgs, respectively). Still, they were of the sort of book which I had a hard time putting down. I see they've now released an absolute ton of series covering various conflicts well up into the 20th century.

I have read Guns of the South and How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove, but they are, as historical fiction goes, way out there (time travel, etc.) They can be a bit much unless you're really into fiction/fantasy. That said, Turtledove isn't a bad writer, per se, but keep in mind this is basically "Alternate History".

I have read one or two others (one, if not both, of which deal with Gettysburg) though their names escape me, and rightly so. They were pretty damn awful, I never finished the last one I started. All I recall is that the author was obsessed with using the term "Charmed existence/life" every time he mentioned Lee and his repeated miraculous escapes from being killed near the front lines.

Edit: And there are, of course, the wonderful yarns I have repeatedly spun in the midst of our various failed campaigns on each of the various websites and whatnot. Alas, all have been lost. A national treasure that never was!

[35th Georgia]

There is a couple of good fiction works I know of, Mosby's Ranger. Jeb Stuart and I think "A boy and his bugle". The last being one I read over thirty years ago and never have forgotton the story but I'm a little cloudy on the title. Our local library still has it.

[Armchair General]

Foote's series is amazing. His writing style was flawless and made everything come alive. He doesn't offer any sources, which could be a downfall, but he's Shelby Foote, you take him at his word.

[X Navy Seal]

Yeah - S. Foote's trilogy is most likely the way to go - although i have never read it and it isn't "historical fiction." Nevertheless, I have heard that it is in narrative form (like most good historical writings) and so should read somewhat like a novel. Also, from what I understand, he basically chronicles the war from start to finish in three volumes - as close to in it's entirety as possible. Plus, I admire a man who can get away with not using citation. I plan to get around to it someday ...