Will you guys suggest a good Civil War book?

[Coach Deg]

Scott a professor friend of mine has written some pretty extensive Napolean books for Oklahoma Press. Try googling Oaklahoma press and see what they have. One of my buddies books was 800 pages and included all kinds of maps. He was out in the German and French archives for months. So I'm sure they have to have some good ones on the Civil War.

[Ashcan Bill]

If you want something other than a textbook format, take a look at John Jakes' North and South Trilogy. It's historical fiction and covers the periods you're interested in. If I recall, it wasn't a bad read. While the main characters are fictional, he's fairly accurate from a historical perspective and provides an interesting flavor of the times.

[hotreds]

http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Catton/e...r_dp_pel_pop_1

[gettysburgfreak]

James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom

[shilala]

Originally Posted by hotreds

http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Catton/e...r_dp_pel_pop_1

I got this one, the audio/video version. I'm slogging through the beginning, which so far has earned the word slog. I'm sure it'll pick up soon.

Originally Posted by gettysburgfreak

James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom

I will take a look at this one tomorrow. I'm sure I'll get it, it comes very highly endorsed.

Thank You, gentlemen!!!

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by gettysburgfreak

James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom

I'll second this one. Read it twice. Good stuff!

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by gettysburgfreak

James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom

Yeah, this is the book you want if you're limiting yourself to one book.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by hotreds

http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Catton/e...r_dp_pel_pop_1

This one went and got real good on me already. It kept me up till 2:00 last night, and I expect I'll have my nose in it all day.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by shilala

I like a textbook style learnin'. I'd like a book that covers the pre-war political climate, at least lightly, then goes through the battles and actual war pretty comprehensively. A short tie-up, assassination, postwar climate, at least lightly, would be ideal.
I've pieced everything together over the years, studying all the pre-war stuff, and have recently been reading articles in Smithsonian that have me wanting to read more. Mostly so I can get all the stuff in my melon organized.
I'm not sure if a different point of view than a narrative would be more fun to read, but something more interesting than soup can ingredients would be highly appreciated.
I looked in iBooks and there were some that may be okay. I have kindle on my iPad, too. I should have mentioned I want to find it in ebook format.
Thank You!!!

Originally Posted by hotreds

http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Catton/e...r_dp_pel_pop_1

For my money, although it's not one book:

The Coming Fury
Terrible Swift Sword
Never Call Retreat

Catton's earlier trilogy focused on the Army of the Potomac, while these offered a broader view of not only the battles, but the socio-economic and political map of the day.