Civil War, a Narrative, Vols. 2 & 3; fine condition, 1st editions; Shelby Foote

Description

The Civil War
A Narrative,
by Shelby Foote
Vol. II - Fredericksburg to Meridian
Vol. III - Red River to Appomattox
This is the second and third volumes of Shelby Foote's magnificent 3-volume history of the Civil War. His massive work was published over a 16-year period, with the opening book (
“Sumter to Perryville”
) coming out in 1958, followed by the second volume in 1963, covering the middle phases of the Civil War actions from Fredericksburg on to Meridian; and then the final volume appeared in 1974, covering the closing phases of the War.
The Vol. II here is a 1963 First Edition in fine and very attractive condition. Its dust jacket has a few very short edge tears but is otherwise in excellent condition. Vol. III is a 1974 edition, 14th printing. It is in excellent condition, in a dust jacket that is also in excellent condition. Their inside dust flaps show that each had original list prices of apiece.
Both are thick, heavy books. Vol. II is 988 pages long, and includes 48 maps especially designed by Shelby Foote and drawn by George Annand. Vol. III is 1,106 pages long, and includes 48 maps.
Shelby Foote became a national celebrity in 1990 when he was featured as the most impressive and memorable commentator during Ken Burns' immensely popular 9-episode documentary on the Civil War which appeared on public television. Prior to that, he was already esteemed as a leading historian on the conflict, on the basis of his groundbreaking trilogy from 1958-1974, with these works being described as:
“. . . one of the great historical narratives of our century, a unique and brilliant achievement, one that must be firmly placed in the ranks of the masters . . . a stirring and stupendous synthesis of history.”
“. . . the whole sweeping story is told entirely through the lives and actions of the people involved, a matchless narrative which could be sustained so brilliantly only by one of our finest novelists.”
“The lucidity of the battle narratives, the vigor of the prose, the strong feeling for the men from generals to privates who did the fighting, are all controlled by a constant sense of how it happened and what it was all about. Foote has the novelist's feeling for character and situation, without losing the historian's scrupulous regard for recorded fact. . . .”
[gsp1058]
_gsrx_vers_856 (GS 7.0.20 (856))