NF Underrated Authors?

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I think the reputation of some authors is well-know, especially within Civil War circles. Examples: Freeman, Catton, Foote, Bearss, McPherson, Sears, Cozzens, and Hess. But what authors of Civil War history and/or biography seem to be underrated?

I suppose that's actually two questions.

What author - preferably of multiple books - doesn't seem to be as well-known among Civil War buffs as they should be?

What author that is well-known to Civil War buffs but isn't well-known to a more general history audience, despite the quality of their work deserving more acclaim? Catton and Foote are mainstream. Freeman and McPherson are probably among the better known Civil War authors because of their Pulitzers.

Cozzens is probably better known to the average history reader for his Indian Wars books than his Civil War books, but I wouldn't consider him underrated in that regard because most of his Civil War books are regimental-level battle studies that are a little too deep for average history reader's interest level. Sears or Trudeau are probably more on on the level of a single-volume battle study for a general history reader. Similairly, Timothy Smith and David Powell have written great books, but if you're not a Civil War buff you're not going read multivolume book series about the Chickamauga or Vicksburg Campaigns.

Erik Larson's The Demon of Unrest is another example of good Civil War history that appeals to a broader history reading audience.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Perhaps the question can be slightly rephrased.

Who are those lesser-known authors whose works deserve more acclaim? (In one's own opinion, of course).

 

[delta rifles]

Joseph Glatthaar comes to mind for me although he is fairly well known. His book The March to the Sea and Beyond: Sherman's Troops in the Savannah and Carolina's Campaign is one of my all time favorites.

Stephen E Woodworth and Mark Grimsley are also writers who don't get enough credit. James G Hollandsworth's books on the Louisiana Native Guards and Nathaniel Banks are very good, and I've enjoyed Nathaniel Cheairs Hughes' works as well.

 

[SSVilla]

I haven't read as much yet as many here. One of my favorites is Brooks Simpson.

Recently, I enjoyed reading Sears, the Young Napoleon, he grabbed my attention fast and kept it all the way through. I had no interest in McClellan when I picked up the book and if it wasn't for his skill as a narrator I wouldn't have finished it. He was very good.

For military opinions and analysis, I've liked Hess.

I've really liked Timothy Smith. I read his Corinth 1862 and he has an easy to follow narrative style. I have several of his books on my to read list.

I've loved Demon of Unrest though Larson is very popular. I will note however, I didn't know him prior to this book.

I like reading original sources a lot, these take up my time as much as historians and often more.

 

[SSVilla]

A previously unknown who I have enjoyed reading, and she will challenge your previously held opinions and at least provoke thought is Elizabeth Brown Pryor. I don't necessarily agree with everything but she's thought provoking.

 

[RyanQ1864]

A previously unknown who I have enjoyed reading, and she will challenge your previously held opinions and at least provoke thought is Elizabeth Brown Pryor. I don't necessarily agree with everything but she's thought provoking.

She was a great historian and the field lost an excellent voice when she was killed in a car accident

 

[SSVilla]

I like Gary Gallagher as well, although I haven't read as many of his books, he's written or edited many, mostly focused on the confederacy but not exclusively. I mostly got to know him through

The American Civil War

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[TallTallMan]

A previously unknown who I have enjoyed reading, and she will challenge your previously held opinions and at least provoke thought is Elizabeth Brown Pryor. I don't necessarily agree with everything but she's thought provoking.

She was a great historian and the field lost an excellent voice when she was killed in a car accident

I agreed with virtually everything in her Lee book. I'll go with her.

 

[Sheltowee]

Sound like a broken record….. if it's Kentucky- related, check out Kenneth Hafendorfer. Unfortunately, they can be difficult to get.

I see he also published a book on a Forrest raid at Murfreesboro, and the journal of a William L. Trask. Have not seen these yet.

 

[Library Lady]

Sound like a broken record….. if it's Kentucky- related, check out Kenneth Hafendorfer. Unfortunately, they can be difficult to get.

I see he also published a book on a Forrest raid at Murfreesboro, and the journal of a William L. Trask. Have not seen these yet.

You're not kidding, @Sheltowee . I ran an AddALL list on the author's name and came up with one copy of Perryville: Battle for Kentucky at $120.

 

[jackt62]

Aside from those already mentioned, there are many serious CW historians and authors who may not have the same instant recognition as a Sears, Foote, or Cozzens. For example, Ethan Sepp Rafuse has written a number of regarded books on McClellan and the early Virginia campaign. Let's not forget D. Scott Hartwig whose Antietam series is the gold standard of that campaign.

 

[dougmatt]

I would add William Bruce Johnson, Daniel Farber, and Eric Foner.

 

[DC1221]

Allen C. Guelzo

Excellent book about Gettysburg. Excellent book about Reconstruction. Excellent book about Lee.

 

[DC1221]

Whoops, double clicked.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Such underrated authors are more likely to be identified in that cohort of writers, whose works are self-published (rather than published by large commercial or academic publishing houses).

 

[Drew]

Daniel Weinfeld used to post here as @DRW

He sold me one of his books years ago, The Jackson County War and gave me a great piece of advice for someone interested in learning about Reconstruction. Specifically, the whole thing is was way too broad and varied to learn from a single text. Rather, it's best we choose a place that interests us and drill down there to learn as much as we can.

Weinfeld's book was about Jackson County, FL and I chose Red River Parish in NW Louisiana. Wow, did I learn something doing it that way!

He also edited and published a sort of autobiography of Timothy Thomas Fortune's, which I wanted to read. Weinfeld wouldn't take money from me for that one and sent it, free.

T. Thomas Fortune was born into slavery, worked as a page in the Reconstruction Florida Legislature, spent time at Howard University and wound up a newspaper publisher in NYC's Harlem. It's a fascinating account spoken from the mouth of a person who lived in those times and places, rather than the "interpretation" of a 21st century white college professor.

Highly recommend both books.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

I particularly like Edward Ayers books. "The Thin Light of Freedom" and "in the Presence of Mine Enemies" are two of my favorites. His study of the complexity of the Civil War's cause, "What Caused the Civil War" is fascinating reading to me.

I believe John Michael Priest is underrated. His books, "Antietam" and "Before Antietam" are essential to my studies.

Jeffrey Wert comes to mind! He has written much more than his essential "From Winchester to Cedar Creek."

I cannot believe Eric Wittenberg and Scott Mingus have not been mentioned! In addition to their many individual books, their two-volume collaboration of "We Are Striking for Pennsylvania" Volumes I & II is fantastic and their "The Second Battle of Winchester" is essential to my research.

I like Scott Patchan's books as well. I enjoyed both "Shenandoah Summer" and "The Last Battle of Winchester." He also has books on Second Manassas and George Washington in the French and Indian War among others.

That is a few that I like....

 

[Drew]

I particularly like Edward Ayers books.

No argument from me here, but the thread is about "underrated authors." No one would call Ayers or the rest of them "underrated."

Yours are all pretty well famous, LOL.

Ed Ayers has been pretty well quiet for a while now. I guess he's retired? A very entertaining character, back in the day.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

No argument from me here, but the thread is about "underrated authors." No one would call Ayers or the rest of them "underrated."

Yours are all pretty well famous, LOL.

Ed Ayers has been pretty well quiet for a while now. I guess he's retired? A very entertaining character, back in the day.

You are probably right about Ayers, although, Ayers' work has always been questioned somewhat because his arguments about the complexities of the war's causes aren't easily pigeonholed. Supporters of the Union don't like that he recognizes more complexity than just slavery and supporters of the Confederacy don't like that he debunks many of their cherished beliefs. I don't hear him mentioned as much as a Gary Gallagher or even a Carol Reardon, but I guess that you are right that he is as prominent as them.

Ayers is not retired from writing. He is retired from academia. He taught at UNV from 1980 to 2007 and was the President of the University of Richmond from then until 2015. So, yes, you are right about him retiring. But he wrote "Thin Light of Freedom" in 2017, he published "Southern Journey" in 2020 and "American Visions" last year.

It is hard to say who is "underrated?" I would agree that my list fits the underrated among non-Civil War buffs. I guess I am thinking of the top tier as those we see on Ken Burns and other famous documentaries. Those would be who the general public has heard of. It is also hard for me because the big box bookstores no longer have "Civil War" sections and that is one way I gauged who was being considered a top tier historian.

You are right though, among history buffs, my list isn't very underrated.

 

[SJU]

Prior to visiting Chancellorsville I picked up a relatively short book on the battle by Ernest B. Furgurson. I thought it was very good. I just checked Amazon and see that he also wrote about Richmond during the war. Haven't read that one so can't comment.