Anonymous
Post 05/06/2016 11:08     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The only issue I had with Ken Burns is that he romanticized the war.


You must not have listened to the entire series then. I think he gives a very rounded view of the war. It starts off romantic because that's what all the men going into the war thought about it.

His Dust Bowl series was incredible. I had to watch it twice in a row because I was so amazed by the videos and photos from the 1930s. My family is from Southern Missouri and were farmers who'd lost everything and I'd never even heard stories like that.

Except that oh so romantic letter! It's been years so I won't pretend to remember who wrote it exactly, but even now I remember that truly romantic letter from a soldier home to his wife. Beautiful.
Anonymous
Post 05/06/2016 11:06     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
Shelby Foote for books

Ken Burns for video
Anonymous
Post 05/06/2016 09:14     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
Anonymous wrote:The only issue I had with Ken Burns is that he romanticized the war.


You must not have listened to the entire series then. I think he gives a very rounded view of the war. It starts off romantic because that's what all the men going into the war thought about it.

His Dust Bowl series was incredible. I had to watch it twice in a row because I was so amazed by the videos and photos from the 1930s. My family is from Southern Missouri and were farmers who'd lost everything and I'd never even heard stories like that.
Anonymous
Post 05/06/2016 09:08     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
The only issue I had with Ken Burns is that he romanticized the war.
Anonymous
Post 05/06/2016 09:04     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
FYI Montgomery County library has Battle Cry of Freedom available as an audiobook for download. I stuck it on my phone and spent a month listening to it on my commute and loved it.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 21:17     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
Thank you for the tips. I'll get started on these.

-- OP
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 19:57     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
Yes to ken burns. I don't like history at all and my DH is a buff and we watched it together (he for the umpteenth time) and it's great. Engaging and informative and keeps your attention. I learned a lot.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 19:28     Subject: Re:Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
jsteele wrote:If you are interested in light reading that is historically accurate, if fictional, Jeff Shaara has a series of historical fiction books about the Civil War that I enjoyed. His father also wrote a few books, but I haven't read them yet so can't comment (though they get good reviews).


I agree with the Jeff Shaara recommendations, and would add his father's book, The Killer Angels. It's a great book.

Also, the Ken Burns documentary is fantastic.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 18:58     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
Ken Burns' Civil War is IT
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 18:54     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
Definitely Ken Burns. His work is the gold standard, and the Civil War series is outstanding.

For books, I agree on McPherson. His books are serious but accessible.

I would also recommend Chrles Royster, The Destructive War; Drew Faust, This Republic of Suffering; and Chandra Manning, What This Cruel War was Over.
None is a general overview, but each gives compelling, and sufficiently broad, insight.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 18:27     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
Ken burns. Love his documentaries on netflix
jsteele
Post 05/05/2016 17:51     Subject: Re:Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
If you are interested in light reading that is historically accurate, if fictional, Jeff Shaara has a series of historical fiction books about the Civil War that I enjoyed. His father also wrote a few books, but I haven't read them yet so can't comment (though they get good reviews).
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 17:45     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
Ken burns documentary. I'm not interested in civil war generally but it's great.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 17:44     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
I think McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom is still considered the standard one-volume work. Very readable.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 17:22     Subject: Recommend a good resource on Civil War history
After hiking some local battlegrounds I'd like to increase my minimal knowledge of the Civil War. So many resources. Is there one book or video series that's considered a good start?