Rating: 
Summary: The Definitive Work on the American Civil War...
Review: Amalgamating narrative with an almost introspective analysis of thought and action for the soldiers involved, these three volumes are the author's magnum opus in literature, and the work is a masterpiece of historical research. Mr. Foote began this work in the mid-1950's, shortly after some success with his novel "Shiloh", and over the next twenty years continued working on this project of considerable proportion surely sometimes wondering, "is it all worth the effort?" But it is to our favor that he continued and finished. The work is readable and very entertaining, as he brings out the down-to-earth humanity of the soldiers through his singular mastery of anecdotal reflection. The genius of Shelby Foote was first realized by most through his participation and supporting narration of the PBS documentary "The Civil War" by Ken Burns, but upon reading the entire text of his chronological three-volume treatise on the Civil War made me realize that Mr. Foote must have been destined to write this work. The last thing to say is simply "Thank you, Shelby" because you have brought to life the world of the soldiers and politicians and honestly, all People, who had to endure the horrors of this catastrophe in American history. There is no doubt Shelby Foote's work will stand forever as the foundation of our understanding of the American Civil War.
Rating:
Summary: Classic old-style history
Review: Foote has written an impressive narrative history of the entire war. The most distinctive element is his novelist's eye for characters. Unlike most accounts of campaigns and battlefields, he gets inside the leaders' heads in the way a novelist would.
Though he includes some material from soldiers' diaries and the like, the account remains elite-centered. As other reviewers correctly note, this means that the role of African-Americans is underemphasized (but not absent). For this side of the war, I'd recommend James McPherson.
Much more so than most histories, Foote emphasizes events outside Virginia, including campaigns in the trans-Mississippi. This is valuable, since the war was won (and lost) in the West.
Foote clearly sides with the South, which has the potential to annoy this Northerner. Fortunately, his leanings appear more as symmpathy for the people involved than as strong bias or polemic.
Finally, this trilogy really is long, with each book near 1000 pages in smallist type. I found it congenial to take a break between books, each of which is self-contained.
Rating: 
Summary: Hardly a literary masterpiece
Review: If this is what our literature has come to, it's little wonder our young people don't read more.A sample of Foote's convoluted writing, from volume 3: "By assigning Gordon's division to Breckinridge, who coupled it with his own, he gave the former Vice President a post befitting his dignity and put thirty-five-year-old Robert Rodes - a native of Lynchburg, which he had just helped to save from Hunter's firebrands, and a graduate and one-time professor at V.M.I., whose scorched ruins he viewed sadly, and no doubt angrily as well, after marching his veterans past that other V.M.I. professor's grave - in charge of the remaining corps, composed of his own and Dodson Ramseur's divisions; Ramseur, a North Carolinian, promoted to major general the day after his twenty-seventh birthday early this month, was the youngest West Pointer to achieve that rank in Lee's army."
("Civil War," vol 3, pp 446-447) One is led to consider the possibility that Mr. Foote was paid by the word! I doubt not that Foote's knowledge of the war far exceeds mine, and can neither dispute nor disagree with his accounting of battle facts, even though his pro-Confederacy (or are they anti-Union?) sympathies are evident. All in all, Southall's "Lee's Lieutenants" is better structured and better composed, a much easier and more enjoyable read. At least, that's the way it seems to me.
Rating:
Summary: humbaby
Review: If you are looking for lots of footnotes and in-depth scholarly analysis of the Civil War, Shelby Foote's history of the Civil War is definately NOT for you. On the other hand, if you want the best narrative history of the war, this is it! Historians could learn much from Foote's wonderful storytelling. Some reviewers have noted that this is predominantly a battlefield history, which is true. If you have plans to visit a Civil War battlefield site, read through the account of the battle before you go or while you are there and your visit will be greatly enriched. The other area where these books excel is in painting portraits of the important figures in the war. Those who have seen the Ken Burns PBS documentary will quickly see how heavily it drew upon these books. Consisting of three large volumes, it may be a bit intimidating for some to tackle this series, however I found it was well worth it. From start to finish, these books are outstanding and a joy to read!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Civil War Narrative
Review: If you want to learn all about the Civil War, these three books are the perfect place to start. Depending on how interested you are in the war, this trilogy will be either the three books you will read to learn about the war or the starting point.
Foote does an outstanding job of bringing together the political, social and military stories of this era, and also does a better job than some others of keeping a balance between the battles in the west and those fought in the east.
Foote and Bruce Catton have written the best general histories of the war. Foote is from the South and Catton from the North, so some people will tell you that you should read one or the other, depending on the point of view you're more interested in. I think they both did a great job of presenting unbiased views of the war. You really can't go wrong with either of these guys. First, they got the facts right. Second, they both wrote about the war in a way that made it come alive. These are not dry, boring histories.
If you finish these books you may want to also check out some of Catton's, and if you still want to read more, James McPherson has written some excellent books on the war too. "Battle Cry of Freedom," is another outstanding narrative account of the war.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book about the Civil War
Review: Shelby Foote presents the Civil War and the events of the time in a highly readable format resembling a novel rather than a history book. The inclusion of numerous private exchanges between officers and soldiers help to bring the characters to life. The book does an excellent job of mixing infomation on the battles, with a look at how event transpired from the perspectives of both the North and the South, and the social transformations and political maneuvering that was taking place in the background. The book begins with a strong background first of Lincoln, then of Davis, and proceeds to explain the state of the nnation early in 1861. Once the first shot at Sumter is described, however, the tone changes and the emphasis is more on the millitary campaigns. However, Foote continues to tie everything together by bringing the reader back to why the war was being fought from the perspectives of both sides. While not for everyone (the three volumes together are more than 3000 pages), these volumes provide an excellent source for a perspective of event during the war. The only downside is an insufficient number of battle maps which, at times, makes it hard to picture events as they unfolded during certain campaigns.
Rating:
Summary: News from the Front
Review: Shelby Foote takes the Civil War and dissects its every twist and turn in a writing style that feels as if your hearing news from the front in an ongoing war. That is a good thing since these three volumes are very hefty. This book is not for the mildly curious, you will get bored and overwhelmed by the dates, names and places. But to military history, history, or civil war buffs, it is as detailed and factual as you could want. This is truly a thesis of study on the war between the states. The book handles personalities of both individuals and cultures and their effects on the war. The reading can be slow going at times as armies march toward each other and the order of battle becomes established with the commanders names and stations, but the battle details seem incredibly well researched and the accounts of individual soldiers/officers bring home the reality of this conflict. This book is well worth the effort to read, it imparts a sense of what the United States has survived and clarifies many historical perceptions of the era and the people involved in this massive conflict. My only suggestion, keep a note pad at your elbow as you read this book, it is slow going and you'll need to take notes about commanders and places to keep it all straight in your head.
Rating:
Summary: The most complete work ever on the War
Review: Shelby Foote's classic multi-volume history of the War Between the States will always stand as THE must-read. Foote gives a balanced and fair account of the heroics and failings of both sides and a vivid account of each battle that makes the reader feel part of the action. Sure to stand the test of time, Foote's works are as invaluable to history and students of the war as the Official Records and the many officer's memoirs.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone interested in the Civil War
Review: The author brings in so many details, but puts these details very effectively together to keep the story moving along. The author uses a language which seems natural to the age and writes of the personalities with genuine admiration and affection as if they had been to dinner with him on Sunday.
Shelby Foote's interesting writing style of an interesting yet tragic event in our history is a remarkable accomplishment. Every American should have these books as part of their home library.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: There is no doubt this narrative history of the Civil War can be wordy but the payoff for reading this work is more than worth it. The strength of this book is the way that Foote makes the characters of the War come alive. Foote's accounts of Lincoln as he prosecuted the war, administered a national government and coped with his wife's mental illness will cause anyone to realize that he was indeed a great man and President. Much of his descriptions of Lincoln come from newspaper reporters of the day or other persons who were present and Foote's ability to meld all that together makes for vivid pictures of the man. I felt like he dealt with each "side" in a balanced way and I didn't discern any editorializing. Just darn good reading and not only is it my favorite book on the Civil War but one of my favorite books in general.
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