What's a good book on the American Civil War?

[dalej42]

I thought I’d read a good one volume book on the Civil War. Looking for something that focus mainly on the military campaigns themselves as well as the daily life of the men who fought on both sides. Even better would be a book which isn’t afraid to offer some commentary: “Lee was an idiot to do… The North wasted this chance here…”

Also, something that would be available in a big city library.

LInk to local library

[Northern_Piper]

I really enjoyed “A Short History of the Civil War” by James L. Stokesbury. It’s very well written and easy to follow. The author has a real sympathy for the topic and the people who went through it, as shown by the final paragraph of the book, which always brings a bit of a lump to my throat:

So they passed from the scene, first the generals, then the older officers, and finally the young privates and drummer boys and buglers, no longer young at all, but old, old men in faded uniforms of the Grand Army of the Republic or the United Confederate Veterans, riding stiff and straight in automobiles in the parades in Bridgeport or Wilmington, while other young men marched off to other wars. The Grand Army of the Republic held its last meeting in 1949; sixteen men were still alive of all those thousands who had once worn blue fatigue jackets, and six attended the meeting. The United Confederate Veterans outlasted them; its last reunion, of three men, was held in 1951. Then they were gone, all Americans, all equal, all free at last.

[Telcontar]

The standard one volume work on the civil war is Battle Cry of Freedom by McPherson. It takes a holistic approach, so perhaps less knitty gritty on the campaigns than you seem to be looking for. I’m not sure which “just the fighting” book might be best.

[PopeJewish]

If you don’t mind it being Historical Fiction, “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara is a great book (much better, imo, than any of the “sequels” written by his son Jeff Shaara). The conversations are obviously fictional, but if you’re interested in the daily lives of soldiers it’s quite good. It takes place exclusively during Gettysburg, but has viewpoints from both sides of the campaign

[Rube_E.Tewesday]

@PopeJewish

If you don’t mind it being Historical Fiction, “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara is a great book (much better, imo, than any of the “sequels” written by his son Jeff Shaara). The conversations are obviously fictional, but if you’re interested in the daily lives of soldiers it’s quite good. It takes place exclusively during Gettysburg, but has viewpoints from both sides of the campaign

This is the one I came in to mention. Fiction, but amazing.

[Sailboat]

If you like your “one volume” split into three handy-to-carry installments, I recommend Bruce Catton’s Centennial History of the Civil War (The Coming Fury, Terrible Swift Sword, Never Call Retreat). Catton has a way of cutting through the mundane, and an eloquence of language.

If you really want to get your hands dirty, try Shelby Foote’s [I]The Civil War: A Narrative*. Foote is almost as poetic as Catton but much wordier – in a good way. These books are filled with gossip and larger-than-life personalities, and convey a real sense of having known the people and events of the war.