NF Shelby Foote, "Stars in Their Courses."

Non-Fiction
It's in my library -- I bought it last summer or fall, I think -- but I have not yet read it. I was curious about the bios you said you have. I have (and have read) A Writer's Life. I know you quoted from that in a post above, but I think you said you have three bios of him. Which others?

I'm quite envious of your signed copies of his books.
One is a biography, the other a collection of conversations with Foote from interviews during his life. I cherish my signed copies. I also have a signed copy of Shiloh.

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Just received a copy of Shiloh. Looking forward to starting it soon.
As your reading it... although a novel, Foote said that the battle and anything a general said or did in the book is taken from facts. He did no distort the conflict, or what they did or what they said. He kept it's true form, but then added his fictional characters.
 
One is a biography, the other a collection of conversations with Foote from interviews during his life. I cherish my signed copies. I also have a signed copy of Shiloh.

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Two things stand out, both from things he mentioned in that C-Span interview. One, that he never or rarely smiled while having his picture "made," as he liked to put it. And he's not smiling in those photos! The other is that he didn't sign many books. Did you get them at a site like ABEBooks or a collector's bookshop? Nice finds, regardless.
 
Two things stand out, both from things he mentioned in that C-Span interview. One, that he never or rarely smiled while having his picture "made," as he liked to put it. And he's not smiling in those photos! The other is that he didn't sign many books. Did you get them at a site like ABEBooks or a collector's bookshop? Nice finds, regardless.
Ebay. A few are the Easton Press editions, which he did sign. I remember him saying something to the effect of that he didn't like to sign books... but if someone is going to spend the money on a leather bound book, with pages accented in gold, then he'll sign it (I'm paraphrasing)
 
So great to see Drew's post about this!! I came across this video yesterday, quite unexpectedly, while listening to a YouTube thing of Willis Alan Ramsey singing "Goodbye Old Missoula." What a find! I was captivated. I've always loved listening to Shelby Foote, and this interview was exceptional.

I've read his biography and most of his novels, as well as two of the shorter volumes (Vicksburg and Gettysburg) of CW history taken from his longer works. In this interview I was struck in particular by his description of his writing process--by hand, with a dip pen, no rewriting or editing since he was able to compose slowly and methodically--as well as what he had to say about the Great Compromise that (then, when he was speaking about it in the 1990s) allowed Northerners and Southerners to respect and care for each other. Things have changed. As he foresaw, violating the Compromise only stirred up bitterness and hatred.

Nice post, Drew!

Thanks - glad you enjoyed it. Listening to one another is super important.

It might just get us out of the next war.
 
In this interview I was struck in particular by his description of his writing process--by hand, with a dip pen, no rewriting or editing since he was able to compose slowly and methodically--as well as what he had to say about the Great Compromise that (then, when he was speaking about it in the 1990s) allowed Northerners and Southerners to respect and care for each other. Things have changed. As he foresaw, violating the Compromise only stirred up bitterness and hatred.
"Great Compromise?" What is this alleged great compromise?
 
Can you summarize this compromise? I'd rather not listen to the guy.
If you'd rather not listen to him, you probably would not care for his opinion on how Northerners and Southerners can respect and live with some care for each other. If I have time later, I might try to find the minute marker of when he is speaking about this and post it so you don't have to listen to the whole thing. But again, I'm guessing you wouldn't think much of his opinion in any case.
 
It's puzzling why you are reading about a video'ed interview with Shelby Foote if you'd rather not listen to him.
I'm sure other people skim through threads on books or authors they don't care for, and discuss if they feel compelled. Kevin Levin is an author that comes to mind. If it is too much of a bother to give a short description of the compromise, then drop it. It's not that important.
 
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