The Centennial History of the Civil War

I am currently reading James M. McPherson's Battle Cry of the Republic and Hudson Strode's Jefferson Davis and I have Shelby Foote's The Civil War: A Narrative next in line. Today I bought Bruce Catton's The Centennial History of the Civil War multi-volume set at my local library's book sale for $3. I would appreciate any opinions about it and whether I should read it before or after Foote's A Civil War.

Lucas,

Without doubt, start with Catton.

Mike

I would start with Battle Cry of Freedom by McPherson. It is a one volume survey history of the Civil War era and will be a good introduction to the other longer series that are more about the military history of the war. Whichever book you start with they are all very well written and I think you will find them enjoyable and informative.

This is a win-win situation. I have read both and really enjoyed each. I would suggest to read a protion of each title and start with the one that you found you liked better.

I will just say that Catton, for me, has a lyrical quality not found elsewhere. It's what started me on civil war history when I was a teenager. As Schneider says, you can't go wrong here. Enjoy.

Catton is an excellent writer but his books are a little shorter with a bit less detail than Shelby Foote. So if you start with Catton and then read Foote you are working your way up. As the others say, either way you can't go wrong.