The Civil War isn’t an easy topic to cover by any means. From the politics to the violence to the repercussions that have stood the test of time, the Civil War is the subject matter that needs to be covered in depth to do it justice.
That being said, we’ll be discussing the most popular books currently being used to study the Civil War. From novels to textbooks, this list will cover all the bases because when it comes to history, there isn’t always a single book that will tell the whole story.
Battle Cry of Freedom
This single volume packs a ton of Civil War history into one 900-page book. As far as credibility goes, James McPherson is a professor of American history at Princeton University, so you don’t need to worry about that. In the course of this book, McPherson covers critical events and court cases leading up to the Civil War along with the conflict itself.
Considered an “expert in his field,” McPherson thoroughly examines the military strategy and a number of other factors that led to massive triumphs and defeats throughout the Civil War. In Battle Cry of Freedom, you’ll find an all-inclusive way of reviewing and analyzing history as McPherson tackles nineteenth-century social movements around slavery, technicalities of military strategy during the war itself, and how factors like economics came into play.
The Civil War Trilogy Box Set: With American Homer: Reflections on Shelby Foote and His Classic The Civil War: A Narrative (Modern Library)
In this narrative, Shelby Foote covers the four years of the Civil War in a uniquely engaging way. The series starts off with Jefferson Davis’s resignation and describes the next few years in a series of historical events. The trilogy also focuses on the life of Abraham Lincoln and bounces between the biographies of Lincoln and Davis.
This narrative has received much praise for its captivating rendition of the Civil War. Reviewers have noted that Foote has done his due diligence in research, setting the backdrop of the Civil War appropriately while overlaying the biographies of Lincoln and Davis.
The Civil War: A Narrative: Volume 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville
This is the first installment of Shelby Foote’s works on the Civil War. In Volume 1, Foote covers the end of Jefferson Davis’s term. The book reads like a novel and tracks political, social, and economic changes, thanks to Foote’s intensive research on the subject,
This narrative ends with the battles of Antietam and Perryville, bringing the story to a bloody conclusion. Reviewers praise Foote’s abilities as both a historian and a writer. So if you’re looking a for a book that makes the Civil War more engaging like a novel would, this might be the pick for you.
The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War
Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels convey the good, the bad, and the ugly around the Civil War era. According to the book description, it covers the loss of innocence and disillusionment that occurred during the bloody, drawn-out war.
The novel focuses almost exclusively on the Battle of Gettysburg. Many readers praised the research that went into describing the battle and how skillfully the author integrated it into the novel. If you’re interested in learning about that particular portion of the Civil War, this is the book for you.
Confederates in the Attic
This unique take on the Civil War follows the correspondence of one Tony Horwitz, the author, as he researches the history behind and continued fascination with the Civil War. He recounts his travels through states like Virginia and Kentucky, where he learns about “hardcore” Civil War reenactors who go as far as starving themselves for reenactments.
Throughout the book, Horwitz combines humor, historical research, and journalism to deliver a fresh take on the Civil War. He blends the past and present, using his personal experience to examine how the Civil War continues to shape its own legacy.
Gone With the Wind
One of the most popular novels of all time, Gone With the Wind is an exploration of life and love during the Civil War and Reconstruction. The story follows Scarlett O’Hara, the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner.
Through the lens of O’Hara, the reader seems to experience for themselves the social and political changes that the Civil War wrought upon southerners’ way of life. Through O’Hara’s love life, family life, and personal trials, you gain an intimate understanding of the reality of war and how it affected ordinary people on large and small scales.
Frederick Douglass
Much like its subject, this biography of Frederick Douglass is inspiring and captivating while providing authentic insights into the sociopolitical landscape of the Civil War. This biography follows the life of Frederick Douglass after his escape from slavery in Maryland.
Through the book, the reader learns of Douglass’s personal life with multiple marriages and tangled family relationships. It also goes into great detail about his personal accomplishments as an abolitionist who used his own experience to speak out against slavery. This book’s awards speak for themselves, including a Pulitzer Prize in History.
The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant: The Complete Annotated Edition
by Ulysses S. Grant, David S. Nolen, Louie P. Gallo
Speaking of prominent figures during the Civil War, this memoir on Ulysses S. Grant follows the military leader’s time during and after the Civil War. Through extensive research and historical commentary, the author covers not only Grant’s life but pre-Civil War years, the war with Mexico, and the Civil War period itself.
To be clear, this book is not a singular memoir of Ulysses S. Grant. Rather, it’s a compilation of the many memoirs that were handed out after the Civil War. Through the author’s commentary and the memoirs themselves, readers are able to gain a deep understanding of Grant as a Civil War figure and the landscape of the country at the time.
Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom: The Escape of William and Ellen Craft from Slavery
While many who are interested in Civil War history focus on various proclamations and battles, fewer are able to find information on individuals who escaped slavery. Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom is an excellent opportunity to hear the largely unheard stories of William and Ellen Craft, who make “one of the most daring escapes in the history of slavery in America.”
The Crafts traveled by train and ship to escape Georgia and eventually landed in England. The miraculous true story draws from original nineteenth-century texts. If you’re interested in the overlooked stories of the Civil War, this is a tale for you.
Conclusion
While it may not come up in everyday conversation, the Civil War is a topic that must be addressed in the education of every American citizen. But the sheer amount of text on the topic can be daunting. Luckily, this list covers the basics of everything you’ll need to know to get a decent understanding of the Civil War, from strictly history books to historical fiction.
