NF Books about the Confederacy

[DavidM]

I have a book called "Look Away! A History of the Confederate States of America" by William C. Davis. I have not gotten around to reading it, yet, but wanted to see if others here have any opinions on it?

I also noticed that Davis has written a couple of other books called "An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government" and "A Government of Our Own: The Making of the Confederacy". I was wondering if you know whether there is considerable overlap between those books and the one that I first mentioned, or do they really serve different purposes and have a different focus?

I also noticed a book online called "The Confederate Nation: 1861 to 1865" by Emory M. Thomas. I wasn't sure if you are familiar with this work and how it compares to any of the others mentioned above?

Are there different works that you would recommend? I apologize if I included too many questions or books in this single post.

 

[leftyhunter]

I have a book called "Look Away! A History of the Confederate States of America" by William C. Davis. I have not gotten around to reading it, yet, but wanted to see if others here have any opinions on it?

I also noticed that Davis has written a couple of other books called "An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government" and "A Government of Our Own: The Making of the Confederacy". I was wondering if you know whether there is considerable overlap between those books and the one that I first mentioned, or do they really serve different purposes and have a different focus?

I also noticed a book online called "The Confederate Nation: 1861 to 1865" by Emory M. Thomas. I wasn't sure if you are familiar with this work and how it compares to any of the others mentioned above?

Are there different works that you would recommend? I apologize if I included too many questions or books in this single post.

"Bitterly Divided the South's Inner Civil War" David Williams thenewpress.com .
The American South was from United over the cause of secession. There was substantial Southern opposition to the Confederacy including but not limited to 104k Southern white men in who enlisted in the Union Army ( Lincoln's Loyalists Union soldiers from the Confederacy" Richard Current North East University Press) and well over 150k Southern men of color who joined the United States Coloured Troops. Also there were Unionist guerrillas and milita as well.
Leftyhunter

 

[unionblue]

@DavidM ,

I would suggest reading Davis's Look Away!, before you read any of his other books. I found it to be quite informative and objective.

As for some other books, you might consider the following:

Divided We Fall: The Confederacy's Collapse From Within, A State-by-State Account, by Calvin Goddard Zon.

The Confederate War, by Gary W. Gallagher.

Dixie Betrayed: How the South Really Lost The Civil War, by David J. Eicher.

The Confederate Republic: A Revolution Against Politics, by George C. Rable.

Good luck with your reading.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[Paul Yancey]

One of the very best books I have read is "The Land They Fought for: the Story of the South as the Confederacy, 1832-1865" by Clifford Dowdey. This is an older book, original publication in 1955. Dowdey was one of the most recognized authorities on Southern history. Despite the age of publication I found the book to be much better balanced than many newer publications.

 

[Trevfo]

The Thomas book is very good. I also recommend the Gallagher book " The Confederate War". "Their Tattered Flags" by Frank Vandiver is a good one.

 

[Philip Leigh]

I have a book called "Look Away! A History of the Confederate States of America" by William C. Davis. I have not gotten around to reading it, yet, but wanted to see if others here have any opinions on it?

I also noticed that Davis has written a couple of other books called "An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government" and "A Government of Our Own: The Making of the Confederacy". I was wondering if you know whether there is considerable overlap between those books and the one that I first mentioned, or do they really serve different purposes and have a different focus?

I also noticed a book online called "The Confederate Nation: 1861 to 1865" by Emory M. Thomas. I wasn't sure if you are familiar with this work and how it compares to any of the others mentioned above?

Are there different works that you would recommend? I apologize if I included too many questions or books in this single post.

A Government Of Our Own by the same author (William C. Davis) is considerably better than Look Away.

 

[kitty o'cairre]

Hello ALL ☘
just sharin my mamas day present from my youngest ! Have Not begun reading into yet...
had to look twice at one of the names & thought 'I wonder' lol
Has Anyone Else read this book?? Any opinions??

 

[unionblue]

Hello ALL ☘
just sharin my mamas day present from my youngest ! Have Not begun reading into yet...
had to look twice at one of the names & thought 'I wonder' lol
Has Anyone Else read this book?? Any opinions??

View attachment 359045

@kitty o'cairre ,

That's an Alternate History book, a work of fiction, is it not?

I've read some excellent Alternate History books about the Civil War. Guns of the South, was one of them, in which it is told how 20th century South Africans get hold of a time machine and supply Lee with thousands of AK-47 rifles.

Good yarn.

So what's the storyline in Never Call Retreat?

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[CSA Today]

One of the very best books I have read is "The Land They Fought for: the Story of the South as the Confederacy, 1832-1865" by Clifford Dowdey. This is an older book, original publication in 1955. Dowdey was one of the most recognized authorities on Southern history. Despite the age of publication I found the book to be much better balanced than many newer publications.

Writers like Clifford Dowdey and Douglas S. Freeman were an inspiration to me in my earlier years.

 

[kitty o'cairre]

@kitty o'cairre ,

That's an Alternate History book, a work of fiction, is it not?

I've read some excellent Alternate History books about the Civil War. Guns of the South, was one of them, in which it is told how 20th century South Africans get hold of a time machine and supply Lee with thousands of AK-47 rifles.

Good yarn.

So what's the storyline in Never Call Retreat?

Sincerely,
Unionblue

yes Union blue its a "what If' novel BUT hadnt started it yet. 'guns of the south ,, & a time machine? lol how funny..
have a great day stay safe! is there a ficton section? i looked but never did see

 

[unionblue]

yes Union blue its a "what If' novel BUT hadnt started it yet. 'guns of the south ,, & a time machine? lol how funny..
have a great day stay safe! is there a ficton section? i looked but never did see

I've read your book in part and it was better than the time machine scenario.

As for a fiction section of this forum, there are many "what if" threads and others concerning Confederate victory and other changes to create different outcomes to historical events.

Have fun looking them up in the forum's search engine.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[jackt62]

I have not yet read Davis' "Look Away," but I have read many of his other CW works. I have found him to be a fairly objective writer who has a wide grasp of the military and political issues relating to the war.

 

[kitty o'cairre]

I've read your book in part and it was better than the time machine scenario.

As for a fiction section of this forum, there are many "what if" threads and others concerning Confederate victory and other changes to create different outcomes to historical events.

Have fun looking them up in the forum's search engine.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

well as said just got it from my youngest son as a mothers day gift yes ive seen them union blue but not what i was askin about LOL thats ok ill find itim happy that it was better than the time machine sceneario lol lest its not a spolier as not even heard of the foremention lol
thank ya
'jus kitty'

 

[bdtex]

"An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government"

William C. Davis is a great writer. The book quoted above is one of the finer CW books I've read.

 

[Sid J.]

I have a book called "Look Away! A History of the Confederate States of America" by William C. Davis. I have not gotten around to reading it, yet, but wanted to see if others here have any opinions on it?

I also noticed that Davis has written a couple of other books called "An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government" and "A Government of Our Own: The Making of the Confederacy". I was wondering if you know whether there is considerable overlap between those books and the one that I first mentioned, or do they really serve different purposes and have a different focus?

I also noticed a book online called "The Confederate Nation: 1861 to 1865" by Emory M. Thomas. I wasn't sure if you are familiar with this work and how it compares to any of the others mentioned above?

Are there different works that you would recommend? I apologize if I included too many questions or books in this single post.

Davis is top notch. TV documentaries love him. Well researched, extensive documentation, quality writing style. Government of Our Own is focused on the early days of the CSA in Montgomery AL. Look Away covers the broader life span of the CSA. I've read both and would recommend them. I also saw him at a personal appearance promoting Last Days, and though I haven't read it, I'd be sure it's just as good. If you are interested in Breckenridge, he talked a lot about him.

I've read other books by Emory Thomas, but not that one. The Two Books by Thomas I have read, His Lee Bio and The Confederacy as Revolutionary Experience, seem more controversial when brought up in this forum. He does a good job with his writing and research, he seems more focused on areas where pop view points can be challenged.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

@kitty o'cairre ,

That's an Alternate History book, a work of fiction, is it not?

I've read some excellent Alternate History books about the Civil War. Guns of the South, was one of them, in which it is told how 20th century South Africans get hold of a time machine and supply Lee with thousands of AK-47 rifles.

Good yarn.

So what's the storyline in Never Call Retreat?

Sincerely,
Unionblue

Never Call Retreat is the final book in a series over what would have happened if Lee followed Longstreet's suggestions at Gettysburg. I've not read the others, but Never Call Retreat is a VERY interesting "what if" book that is very well written. I've read my copy maybe 5 times over the years. Instead of the usual Confederate victory in the war if Lee won Gettysburg, it has an entirely different set of events. One could say Lee got overconfident. Although there are many things in it I personally think highly improbable, its an entertaining read. I absolutely love what happens to Custer. It fits under the circumstances.

But its fiction, even if entertaining.

 

[jackt62]

One of the very best books I have read is "The Land They Fought for: the Story of the South as the Confederacy, 1832-1865" by Clifford Dowdey. This is an older book, original publication in 1955. Dowdey was one of the most recognized authorities on Southern history. Despite the age of publication I found the book to be much better balanced than many newer publications.

I enjoyed that one and as many other of Dowdey's books as I have been able to get hold of. I'm no fan of the southern Confederacy, but I respect his and other southern writers (such as Douglas Southhall Freeman and Shelby Foote), whatever they're particular point of view.