Doctorow's The March and William Tecumseh Sherman Bios

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Has anyone read Doctorow's The March yet? The only Doctorow book I've read is The Book of Daniel, which I thought was awesome. Anyway, I've long been fascinated with literature about the Civil War (especially as told through Faulkner), but haven't read much actual history on it. Does anybody have any suggestions on which Sherman bio to read alongside Doctorow's The March? Recommendations on other good Civil War histories and/or historical novels would also be appreciated. Thanks.

― sutpen, Thursday, 29 September 2005 20:01 (twenty years ago)

Hah! guess I forgot to end the italics. Oops.

― sutpen, Thursday, 29 September 2005 20:03 (twenty years ago)

Reveille in Washington was the one Civil War history that was specifically recommended to me.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Thursday, 29 September 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

extracurricular: rent sherman's march!

― a spectator bird (a spectator bird), Thursday, 29 September 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

For Sherman biographies, it depends on what you're looking for. John Marzalek's Sherman: A Soldier's Passion for Order is regarded for its thoroughness and Michael Fellman's Citizen Sherman is probably the best study of Sherman the man. My advice, though, would be to read Sherman's own memoirs, which are generally well regarded both in terms of their accuracy and readability.

As for histories of the Civil War, James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom is the standard, though I'm currently in the middle of A People's History of the Civil War by David Williams and it is excellent in covering the people that are usually neglected in most Civil War accounts. Finally, in terms of historical novels, you can't go wrong with Michael Sharra's The Killer Angels, though don't expect similar quality from his son Jeff's derivative follow-ups.

― Mark K., Sunday, 23 October 2005 14:23 (twenty years ago)

Ha, I saw Sherman's March. Very fun.

― Hurting (Hurting), Sunday, 23 October 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

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