What I enjoyed most was seeing how the various generals moved through the ranks and became the legends we think of today. Sherman, Grant, Longstreet, Stuart, Jackson, Lee, Meade, Bragg and all the rest are here in vivid detail; some stabbing each other in the back, others showing their genius for tactics and leading men.
I laughed out loud reading about how Jeb Stuart, after his horse was struck in the neck by a bullet, stuck his finger in the bullet hole to stop the spurting blood, continued riding for a mile and then dismounted (removing his finger) and the horse collapsed. I bet it was a sight to behold!
The full breath of heroism, bad decisions and outright luck of the civil war is here to behold.
It's long, but if you enjoy to act of reading you'll enjoy every minute of this series.
First, this set is huge. It's taken me about two years just to get up the courage to start reading it. It's slow going, but that's because you are so enthralled in it. It is a truly great read, and I can't imagine a better narrative, nor a more descriptive one.
The only problem I have is that I wish there were more of the little graphics that show troop movements throughout the books. These really help you visualize the action more. Actually, there could probably be a whole companion book with these troop movements laid out to correspond with the chapters.
Overall though, you can't go wrong with this classic.
This book does not present a Northern OR a Southern side of the Civil War. JUST FACTS, That is the true beauty of great history books.
Some people have two sets of these books, one for the office, to go over in our spare time, and another in our homes.
My warning to those that undertake to read this wonderful set of books, is don't be surprised, when you feel let down, and a little depressed, as this story has to come to an end.
As a good read, there were many pages that made me shed a tear; ( When Lincoln lay dying, and Senator Sumner was crying like a baby); to the anger at the vivid description of Shermans army burning Columbia. ( This is very descriptive, as is much of the book)
Shelby Foote painstakingly took 20 years to write this book, and did a phenomal job.
Should he be reading this: I salute you, sir.