Shelby Foote's Civil War: A Narrative

This is a wonderful audio interview with Shelby Foote. The listener gets a real taste of his mannerisms and attitudes. When I read the book, this is exactly how the words ring in my ears and roll off my tongue. Come on now, I know that when you read something really good you mouth the words and hear them as they lift off of the pages. Or am I the only crazy one?

If the interview doesn't immediately start, select it from the playlist.

Shelby Foote On NPR

Enjoy!

In 1953, Foote was contacted by Random House and offered a contract to write a 200,000 word piece about the Civil War to commemorate the conflict's centennial. This offer was made to Foote based on his book Shiloh, a historical narrative written about the American Civil War's bloodiest battle.

Foote, who had no formal training in historical research, worked on the outline for several weeks before he went back to the publisher to request a rewrite of the request. Foote determined that it would take 500,000 to 600,000 words and nine years to write. The request was approved and Shelby went to work on a project that ended twenty years later and a million and a half words deep.

The first of the three books, Fort Sumter To Perryville, was released in 1958. Fredricksburg To Meridan was released in 1963 while Red River To Appomattox finished the set with its 1974 release.

The Civil War: A Narrative was the basis for the 1990 Public Broadcasting System's award winning Ken Burns' documentary, Civil War. Burns employed Foote for roughly 80% of the narration for the film.

As far as the detail of the account of America's Civil War is concerned, I have never read anything that came even remotely close. Both sides of the conflict are handled on so many deep levels it is unbelievable to me that it only took Shelby Foote twenty years to write it. From the ranting and ravings of the southern dissidents and Lincoln's election to the aftermath of assassination of Lincoln, the books thoroughly cover every theater, every battle, every political move, and every economic impact with surgical precision.

But Shelby Foote's deep research coupled with his wonder writing voice takes the book well beyond the typical blow by blow historical, textbook writing in projects of this nature. He brings the combatants to life in a way that I can feel them standing next to me. Every time I re-read the third day at the battle of Gettysburg, I can feel Lee's anguish of not having Stonewall Jackson to lean on for success, or his feeling of being lost on that same day because J.E.B. Stuart. The there's the watching of Lincoln as he seemingly tried to win not only win the war alone, but at the same time, fight off the political wolves that nipped at every step he took.

I felt both Lee and Lincoln age as the war wore them down.

Foote was born and raised in Mississippi and later moved to Memphis where he died in 2007, yet he not once portrayed any Confederate biased in his writings. The casual humanity of his voice brought to life for both side of the conflict the gritty reality of the agony in the soldiers' peril, or the jubilation in even the smallest of victories.

I find his writing inspiring and full of lessons for me as a writer. I idolize his works as he was enamored with Faulkner's work. One million and a half words can keep a person busy for a long time. One million and a half words written with such talent can enlighten a man for a lifetime.

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