These are gift ideas for the burgeoning Civil War enthusiast. Don’t try to get them for the established armchair scholars. They’ll already have them.
1. Battle Cry of Freedom
by James McPherson. It’s the Holy Grail and the Holy Bible for students of the Civil War. How is it possible that a one-volume, readable, coherent, and pretty darn inclusive account of the War Between the States can exist? McPherson’s accomplishment really blows my mind. Plus, virtually every literary organization puts it in their Top 100 Nonfiction Books of all time. (see Modern Library, National Review)
2. The Killer Angels
by Michael Shaara. Another classic. This time in fiction. It’s important for readers to remember that this is a novel and not to be taken as truth, but its impact is unavoidable. It is widely believed that this book is responsible for the resurgence in James Longstreet’s popularity. The characters are so well-drawn that you feel like you know them. The events at Gettysburg come alive through Shaara’s storytelling. It’s an easy read, a fast read. But if you are buying for more of an action-type person . . .
3. Gettysburg
(DVD). It’s the movie adaptation of the book, and it doesn’t suck. The 20th Maine’s defense of Little Round Top is amazing. There’s a great Making Of special feature that talks about all the reenactors who showed up and volunteered to make the film possible. When they showed these guys marching across the actual ground of Pickett’s Charge, I was crying like a baby. This movie will give that beginning Civil War convert some visuals of how things were. I don’t think there’s any coming back from that.
Then he or she will be ready for my next list: Holiday Gift Ideas for the Established Civil War Buff.
If you have any additions to any of my lists, please don’t hesitate to let me know!
Tags: Recommendations // 4 Comments »
I like your recommedations, but In order to get someone interested in the Civil War, you might try some good romantic fiction like Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War by Jessica James. It gives a great overview of both sides and why they fought with a romantic storyline.
Good recommendations! I might add Company Aytch by Sam Watkins. Engrossing commentary from the common soldier told from the southern perspective.
Good point, Tara. Fiction is very often the gateway drug. I distinctly remember reading Across Five Aprils, Rifles for Watie, and The Red Badge of Courage as a child. That was before I knew I even liked the Civil War.
But you’ve also exposed my historian’s bias. I think the actual stories are compelling and dramatic enough that resorting to the fakeries is not needed. That’s an unreasonable position, I know, but novels (beyond Killer Angels) didn’t even cross my mind.
griot, good pick. I’d be afraid that the details would be too specific for people without a general background yet, but we all have to jump into it somewhere right?
[...] where has the time gone? I swear I just posted my Holiday Gift Ideas for the Beginning Civil War Buff last week. Instead, it was a full two weeks ago. Here’s the [...]