The Civil War: A Narrative, Volume I, Fort Sumter to Perryville

By: Shelby Foote

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 42 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. 1 begins one of the most remarkable works of history ever fashioned. All the great battles are here, of course, from Bull Run through Shiloh, the Seven Days Battles, and Antietam, but so are the smaller ones: Ball's Bluff, Fort Donelson, Pea Ridge, Island Ten, New Orleans, and Monitor versus Merrimac.

The word “narrative” is the key to this extraordinary book’s incandescence and its truth. The story is told entirely from the point of view of the people involved in it. One learns not only what was happening on all fronts but also how the author discovered it during his years of exhaustive research.

This first volume in Shelby Foote’s comprehensive history is a must-listen for anyone interested in one of the bloodiest wars in America’s history.

©1986 Shelby Foote (P)2011 Blackstone Audio

Shelby's bias didn't bother me

I read this after watching Ken Burns' documentary about the Civil War which featured commentary from Mr. Foote so I knew in advance that he was very much a sympathizer of the South and their cause. Even knowing that I was still very pleased with his work. Yes, he does seem to glorify the leaders of the Confederacy and attempts to portray them and their"Cause" as tragic victims but it doesn't take away from the facts that are presented. The who's, the what's, the where's and the when's are well researched and presented in an informal and easy to follow manner. My only criticism is that he oftentimes didn't include the actual name of the State where events took place and instead just used the names of the town. Even that wasn't more than a minor inconvenience.

The narrator was great. A classic American voice and a perfect choice for this series.

I'm looking forward to starting the next one in a few minutes.

A Masterpiece in Story and Narration

A story superbly told and narrated. Highly recommend this book if you have even a passing interest in the American Civil War.

May we never forget

Marvelous but terribly sad story about the Civil War and the men who fought in it. It brings to life the battles and battle fields from both sides. I’m thankful that the author has put so much into this splendid work!

Just another Opinion

I think that if you don’t know Civil War Generals and lower ranked men it can be hard to follow at times unless you really pay attention obviously. I give this Book 5 Stars. I look forward to book 2.

Best overview of the Civil War!

Footes “Civil War Narrative” is the best book on this war ever. It covers all aspects in addition to the battles including the politics and life away from the war. And Foote presents both sides equally and fairly. It is unabridged but worth your time.

The detail of this narrative is as good as it gets!

I loved this narrative . I felt embedded in the struggle of the confederacy. Shelby Foote does not disappoint!

OUTSTANDING! I'M PROUD TO BE A BLACK AMERICAN!!

As a black American who grew up in Washington, DC, I never had ANYTHING good to say about the Confederacy. Reading this series only proved my personal credo "Racism is born out of ignorance". Guess who was a hypocritical, ignorant racist? ME!!! I discovered that I knew about as much about the Civil War as I was taught in school about African-American and black Americans - NOTHING!!! Oh, we got a smidgen on George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass but only enough to fill a thimble. Although my family home was just 3 blocks from Fort Stevens where the Confederate army almost took Washington and where President Lincoln was almost killed by a Confederate army, we never learned the amazing story behind the fort which we used as a playground.

This series of books covers the Civil War from "A to Z". They are extremely well-researched, providing little-known information about this historical fight. I came away with a new respect for the South for fighting and dying for a cause in which they believed in totally. I learned that the Civil War wasn't about white people hating black people (although there were quite a few whites who held the ridiculous belief that we weren't even humans). The war between the North and South was more about the economic necessity for cheap labor to maintain America's dominance in agriculture which fueled Europe's dominance as an industrialist giant. And the proof was in the South's total destruction after the Emancipation Proclamation. Rich plantation owners were broke, busted and bankrupt. No cotton or sugar - no money.

I have a new-found respect for Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, and Robert E. Lee and the multitudes of Confederate soldiers who lost their lives fighting to maintain their way of life. Of course, as a descendant of slaves, I'm glad that the North prevailed. It's just unfortunate that the South couldn't see past their noses and let over 20,000 skilled black artisans (carpenters, blacksmiths, seamstresses, etc.) leave for the North instead of revamping the South by becoming the nations center of furniture makers, ironworks, and purveyors of clothes for the rich and poor. To compound the country's total lack of vision, the alleged Northern abolitionists lost out also because it gave these new black citizens jobs as cooks, maids, nannies - actually, let's just call "a spade a spade: "Mammies" - butlers, house boys, and manual laborers.

That said, Shelby Foote gives a well-rounded objective insight into a much misunderstood war that didn't really advance America's narrow-minded view of the people it brought to these shores in bondage and oppressed for more than a century after this horrible conflagration. But I thank him for helping me see the Confederacy from a different and enlightening perspective. I had lived in Atlanta, GA for 15 years when I read this book. My northern family and friends couldn't understand how I could stand the "racist South" with its "good ole boy" attitude. That is something I have never experienced in Georgia. I don't worry about the Confederate flag or the hero leaders of the Civil War which are carved in the side of Stone Mountain, like Mount Rushmore. In all my years there, I was never called a "nigger" not once. Yet, after moving to Phoenix, AZ, I was called "nigger" four times in my first six months here. Has this country learned nothing? I still consider myself a "Georgia Peach".

According to Shelby Foote's amazing account, the south has nothing to be ashamed of for fighting for what it believed was right at the time. Now if the whole country can learn from past mistakes and move forward as a COMPLETE country - white, black, brown, red, yellow or purple with pink polka dots - we will be ready as a nation to defend our shores from foreign threats. Reading this book is the first step in the right direction,

Shelby Foote is a genius

enjoy his decades of research, and ability to put you right there whether its the field generals, the soldiers tents, the battlefields, the White House, or the minds of Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.
This is a historical narrative worth its weight in gold. Print or Audible.

Good but can be improved

Shelby Foote writes an epic story that make each battle come alive. The history and understanding that he describes make this easy to understand. The disappointing aspect is that although the book is excellent, there is low level audio feedback throughout. The quality of the audio is suspect and do not total enjoyment.

Superb history of the Civil War

This series of books is one of the best on the subject. Shelby Foote is also one of the best authors on this subject. His ability to extrapolate on the how, why what and where of the current events of the time really make this an enjoyable listen. If you are a fan of history, then you will most surely be a fan of this series of books. The narration of the books is also well done in my opinion. This is a GREAT series of history lessons.