A review of The Civil War, A Narrative

by Shelby Foote
July 8, 2016
Reviewed by Molly Martin

The Civil War: A Narrative–Fort Sumter to Perryville, Vol. 1

by Shelby Foote
Vintage
Paperback, 840 pages, ISBN-13: 978-0394746234

The three volume set created by War Between The States/Civil War historian Shelby Foote
commences with his 840 page work regarding the interlude beginning 21 Jan 1861 and
continuing until the battle of Perryville, KY during the fall of 1862.

In this first volume Foote writes of the period packed with disorder and warfare which altered the
course of life in the United States forever. All the most important battles conducted during the
period, from Manassas/Bull Run through Shiloh, the Seven Days Battles, Second Manassas to
Antietam, and Perryville occurring during the fall of 1862 are detailed in Vol. 1. Moreover, so
too are numerous of the lesser, and less recognized, nonetheless ones often were equally
momentous engagements conducted both on sea and land: Ball’s Bluff, Fort Donelson, Island
No. Ten, Elk Horn Tavern/Pea Ridge, New Orleans, Monitor versus Merrimac, and Gen’l
Jackson’s Valley Campaign to name a few.

The Civil War, A Narrative exemplifies the awfulness, overtiredness, dirt and stench of war. It
was a time of fading hope, misinterpretation, fundamental disquiet vis-à-vis the future and an
anxiety that the war which everyone had hoped would end rapidly, would not. Notwithstanding
the nearly 900 page enormity of the work, is an edition to be studied by serious scholars of
history. Weighing some three plus pounds, this individual tome is a bit unwieldy. The size is the
one drawback I find with this book; my hands are small and arthritic. While reading I lean the
book against, pillow when sitting on a chair or against a book rest while sitting at my desk and
turn the pages. The edition might be better served if presented as a series of smaller, more
easily handled works.

Full of names, dates, places, and times; Vo1 1 Fort Sumter to Perryville is not for the marginally
inquisitive or the non-serious reader who occasionally reads historical works. The size alone
will put off the borderline student. This book is a wide-ranging, heavily researched source work
principally focused for use by those readers who have a deeper interest in military history, the
dedicated student of the United States war waged during the 1860s, and for any who enjoy
reading United States history in general.

Throughout his life and writing career, Foote was always keenly aware that to the victors go the
writing and portrayal of history. That awareness motivated Foote’s writing objective that his
historical works be as focused in fact as possible. Even in the face of variance of prevalent
opinion from either side of the issue, concerning the incidents, grounds and occurrences Foote
chooses not to take sides or let personal bias color his thinking or writing. In particular, readers
can appreciate that all historical details have been heavily investigated for accuracy. Lending to
the legitimacy of the work; the book offers perceptions, reminiscences and actual writings of
individual soldiers/officers who actually were a part of episodes recounted.

Reviewed by Molly Martin