Few events have shaped American history like the Civil War, yet many, aside from educators, re-enactors, and history buffs, don’t know the full story of the battle between the states. While there are hundreds of books out there on the Civil War that are worth reading (for those who have the time and inclination), we’ve collected a few of the best here that will let you see the war from a variety of different viewpoints. We’ve selected books that cover specific battles, the lives of soldiers, civilian life, major political figures, and even the long-term effects of the war on how we see race in America today to give you a well-rounded background on the subject. Whether you’re a Civil War aficionado or just want to learn a bit more about this epic conflict, reading the books on this list will help you get well on your way to becoming an expert.
The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote: There are few Civil War historians who wouldn’t include this three-volume set on their list of best relevant books. While Foote’s books have their problems (he has a slight but noticeable Confederate bias), they are some of the most beautifully written accounts of the war that you’ll find anywhere, and many sections, while non-fiction, read like novels.
The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War by Bruce Catton: Noted historian Catton provides commentary on 836 pictures and illustrations from the Civil War era, from famous photographs by Matthew Brady to lesser-known eyewitness battle scenes. This hefty volume is a must for anyone who wants to get the full picture (quite literally) of the Civil War.
A Stillness at Appomattox by Bruce Catton: The third in a collection of books by Pulitzer Prize-winning (for this series) Catton, this book tracks the final year of the Army of the Potomac, culminating in the Battle of Appomattox, which was to be one of the last battles of the Civil War, forcing Lee to surrender. True Civil War buffs should check out the first two volumes as well, though many rate this as the best of the three.
The Destructive War: William Tecumseh Sherman, Stonewall Jackson, and the Americans by Charles Royster: The Civil War tore America apart, both figuratively and quite literally. Casualities were high, and often entire towns were razed in a scorched-earth policy that would have staggering ramifications for decades to come. Through this book, you’ll learn about the leaders on both sides who were perhaps the most fanatical and ruthless during an already bloody war.
This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust: While we know that war involves death — and, in the case of the Civil War, a great number of deaths — it isn’t often that we think of how war shapes our attitudes about it. In this incredibly engaging book, readers will discover how the Civil War profoundly changed how Americans (especially those in the military) treat the dead.
Chancellorsville 1863: The Souls of the Brave by Ernest B. Furgurson: Former journalist Furgurson recounts the history of the battle, which is often considered General Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory, in this well-researched book. He focuses not only on the big names present at Chancellorsville, but also on the men who battled on the front lines, fighting not only for their cause but also their lives.
The War for the Union by Allan Nevins: Nevins is another who simply has to be included on a list of best books on the Civil War. Nevins’ penned a multi-volume series on the war (of which this is the first) called the Ordeal of the Union. Nevins is the Union supporters’ counterpart, displaying a slight but noticeable bias toward the Union as Foote does to the South. Nonetheless, this collection is one of the most detailed and comprehensive histories of the Civil War ever written, even with Nevins passing away before he could write the volume about Reconstruction.
The Confederate War by Gary W. Gallagher: While many historians will tell you today that the Confederacy could never have lasted even if the South had won the war, this book examines how it managed to survive for so long and under so much stress. Patriotism, pride in their way of life, and an untiring belief that they would win sustained the South throughout the war, and even beyond, which Gallagher examines in great detail in this fascinating book.
Lee’s Lieutenants: A Study in Command by Douglas Southall Freeman: This three-volume set is a great way to start learning more about the men who led the South through some of the biggest battles of the war. It documents the lives of the generals of the Army of Northern Virginia, through the good, the bad, and the bloody as the war went on.
Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam by Stephen Sears: Antietam was the site of some of the bloodiest conflicts in the Civil War, though neither side ever saw a definitive victory. Sears reconstructs this battle in stunning detail, making it a gripping, though very tragic, read.
Memoirs by Ulysses S. Grant: Who better to talk about the Civil War than the man who led the Union army? That’s just what you’ll get in this memoir, with vivid descriptions of the battles and events that shaped the war.
Grant and Sherman: The Friendship That Won the Civil War by Charles Bracelen Flood: A study of the Civil War wouldn’t be complete without learning a thing or two about some of the leading generals who fought in it. Here, you’ll find a tale of two men who forged a friendship on the battlefield that would help them go on to win this historic conflict.
Lincoln’s Men: How President Lincoln Became Father to an Army and a Nation by William C. Davis: Drawing on thousands of unpublished diaries and letters, Davis creates a story about the relationship between Lincoln and his soldiers that no one else has told before, documenting the complicated and completely unique bond between a great leader and his men.
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin: Few books on the Civil War have gained such popular appeal as this book, perhaps because many still find Lincoln to be such a captivating figure. The book gives readers new insight into the political strategies of Lincoln, especially how he pulled together his cabinet from his former political rivals. The book is a great read, but if you can wait, a film version (documenting the final section of the book) is set to be released in 2012.
Mary Chestnut’s Civil War by Mary Boykin Chestnut: Often, we forget to consider the impact of war on those who aren’t directly involved in the conflict themselves. In this book, however, readers can gain insights into what life was like for an upper-middle class woman in the south, as Chestnut’s diary records her life as many of the major battles of the war raged on right outside her front door.
The Negro’s Civil War: How American Blacks Felt and Acted During the War for the Union by James M. McPherson: The Civil War, while complicated in its causes, was largely a battle over the right to own slaves, so it only makes sense to take a look at the way that this conflict impacted the African-Americans living in the South at the time. McPherson documents the experiences of everyone from former slaves to intellectuals, drawing on speeches, books, and letters for his information. The result is a great account of the African-American reaction to the conflict, emancipation, and President Lincoln.
Hard Tack and Coffee: Soldier’s Life in the Civil War by John D. Billings: First published in 1888, this book was written by an actual Civil War vet. John D. Billings had served with the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War, and in this book he shares his own experiences as a soldier.
Hiram’s Honor: Reliving Private Terman’s Civil War by Max R. Terman: Max Terman follows in the footsteps of his ancestor, a soldier who was captured at Gettysburg and held in Andersonville prison during the war. He visits the camps, prisons, and battlegrounds, reliving them through the eyes of the elder Terman, creating a compelling mix of fact and fiction in this book.
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James McPherson: If you’re looking for context, then this book by James McPherson is a great read. He spends a great deal of time explaining the causes of the war before ever moving into the conflict itself, which, with such a complicated history, is an amazing asset when learning about the Civil War. While lengthy, the book is far from boring, and won McPherson the Pulitzer Prize in 1988.
When the World Ended: The Diary of Emma LeConte by Emma LeConte: Seventeen-year-old Emma LeConte was living in Columbia, South Carolina during the thick of the Civil War. She was witness to the occupation and destruction of the city she called home, and her diary is an amazingly personal account of life in the South during the war.
Life of Johnny Reb/Life of Billy Yank by Bell Irvin Wiley: Wiley wrote two classic studies of the average Civil War solider, one focusing on the Union and the other on the Confederates. Both are great reads for learning about the men who were in the middle of the battles, how they lived, their personal reactions, and the attitudes of the common man on both sides of the conflict.
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara: A novel might not seem the most logical place to learn factual information about the Civil War, but in this case, it makes sense. Shaara won a Pulitzer for his fictional take on the Battle of Gettysburg, following troops from both sides as they engage in one of the bloodiest battles in American history.
The March by E.L. Doctorow: One of only two novels included on this list, Doctorow won the National Book Award and the Pen/Faulkner Award for this best-selling book. It follows General William Tecumseh Sherman as he marched his 60,000 troops through the South, enduring battles, demolishing cities, and trekking through often desolate Southern landscape.
Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory by David W. Blight: Was the Civil War a fight over slavery or a fight over state’s rights? While today we tend to focus on slavery (and rightly so), in the 50 years following the war, history was rewritten to support the other aspect, perhaps to facilitate the reunion of the two halves of the country. This book documents this strange twisting of the truth, and the long-term effects it has had in the decades since the war ended.
Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horowitz: This incredibly fascinating book takes a look at people in the South, from re-enactors to serious Civil War buffs, whose lives are dominated with their obsession with a bygone past. Strange and perhaps even unsettling at times, the book is a must-read for anyone curious about the lingering affects the war has had on American society.
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