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Civil War buffs. Good books to recommend?

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T

thavoice

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14,376 posts
Jul 20, 2011 12:10 PM
Stopped by some battlefields over the weekend in Tennessee. Saw some books in the bookstore that looked interesting.

I have read a number of WWII and current war books but not much about the Civil War.

What are some good historical reads on that war?

As a side note......I didnt know that Nathan Bedfor Forrest was a real guy. I thought that was made up in the movie Forrest GUmp
Jul 20, 2011 12:10pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

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16,816 posts
Jul 20, 2011 12:29 PM
Bruce Catton wrote a series of books which would be a good starting point, and after reading those, maybe one or two areas will be more interesting for you to get some information on.
Jul 20, 2011 12:29pm
I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
Jul 20, 2011 1:02 PM




In that order.
Jul 20, 2011 1:02pm
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se-alum

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13,948 posts
Jul 20, 2011 1:40 PM
thavoice;835417 wrote:Stopped by some battlefields over the weekend in Tennessee. Saw some books in the bookstore that looked interesting.

I have read a number of WWII and current war books but not much about the Civil War.

What are some good historical reads on that war?

As a side note......I didnt know that Nathan Bedfor Forrest was a real guy. I thought that was made up in the movie Forrest GUmp
What year did you drop out of school?? :D
Jul 20, 2011 1:40pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Jul 20, 2011 2:54 PM
I Wear Pants;835485 wrote:



In that order.

I saw the movie of Gods and Generals...the book any better?

Saw the Killer Angels book there as well.
Jul 20, 2011 2:54pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Jul 20, 2011 2:54 PM
se-alum;835549 wrote:What year did you drop out of school?? :D

Jr year.

Of college.

Do no recall if I had knew it and forgot, or never learned it.
Jul 20, 2011 2:54pm
I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
Jul 20, 2011 3:04 PM
thavoice;835702 wrote:I saw the movie of Gods and Generals...the book any better?

Saw the Killer Angels book there as well.
The book is much better. One of my favorites.
Jul 20, 2011 3:04pm
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
Jul 20, 2011 3:09 PM
A very interesting set of books is the Harry Turtledove fictional history series that starts with Guns of the South.

Guns of the South goes a little sci fi but the historical accuracy of the people involved is astonishing.

He continues the thought process of the south winning in a long series that starts with How Few Remain: The Second War Between the States.


He takes this series all the way through WWII
Jul 20, 2011 3:09pm
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The Equalizer

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1,003 posts
Jul 20, 2011 3:13 PM
Shelby Foote wrote a 3 part anthology that I always liked. Also check Ken Burns PBS documentary on it.
Jul 20, 2011 3:13pm
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namod65

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508 posts
Jul 20, 2011 3:16 PM
I read Killer Angels back in high school. Loved it.
Jul 20, 2011 3:16pm
I

I Wear Pants

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Jul 20, 2011 3:19 PM
namod65;835752 wrote:I read Killer Angels back in high school. Loved it.
I actually find that I like Jeff Shaara's (Michael's son) books better than The Killer Angels.
Jul 20, 2011 3:19pm
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swamisez

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1,990 posts
Jul 20, 2011 4:57 PM
Evan Carton wrote agreat book, Patriotic Treason: John Brown and the heart and soul of America

John Brown went HAM in Missouri, Kansas, and Western Virginia in the span of 3 years.
Jul 20, 2011 4:57pm
Little Danny's avatar

Little Danny

Senior Member

4,288 posts
Jul 20, 2011 5:00 PM
The Equalizer;835744 wrote:Shelby Foote wrote a 3 part anthology that I always liked. Also check Ken Burns PBS documentary on it.

Foote's book is called The Civil War: A Narrative.

A book I enjoyed because it outlined the sheer physical destruction of the war was Charles Royster's "The Destrive War: William Tecumsah Sherman, Stonewall Jackson and The Americans.

Of course, if you are looking at what is considered the "Bible" as far as a history of the Civil War, you should turn to James McPherson's "Battlecry of Freedom".
Jul 20, 2011 5:00pm