Which book about the first day?

[tbuckley]

I assume that this has been asked before but, which book do most forum members recommend for the first day of the battle?
I recently picked up a used copy of Gettysburg, July 1 by David Martin and am currently reading it and enjoy this book. I had previously read Harry Pfanz' Gettysburg-The First Day and liked it as well.
Which of these two do most prefer?

 

[Jamieva]

Pfanz

 

[Jimklag]

I assume that this has been asked before but, which book do most forum members recommend for the first day of the battle?
I recently picked up a used copy of Gettysburg, July 1 by David Martin and am currently reading it and enjoy this book. I had previously read Harry Pfanz' Gettysburg-The First Day and liked it as well.
Which of these two do most prefer?

Pfanz and Martin are both good, but I think Pfanz by a nose.

 

[infomanpa]

I haven't read either book, but I would appreciate discussion, contrasting and comparing the two. I am guessing that these two titles are the only single volume books about the first day.

 

[tbuckley]

I'm getting close to finishing Martin's book. I read slow. I enjoy reading Martin but, I will have to say that the Pfanz book is better.
infomanpa, There is an earlier, and much shorter, book about the first day Crisis at the Crossroads by Warren Hassler from 1970 that I read years ago that I will probably have to take another look at.

 

[rpkennedy]

Martin is good if one can get one of the later editions, which cleans up a lot of the spelling and editing errors which plague the early editions.

Pfanz is going to be excellent as everything he did was excellent.

Ryan

 

[Andy Cardinal]

Pfanz is very good but for the first day I prefer Martin. It is a harder read, but it is the most detailed.

There is also a book called Morning at Willoughby Run (I forget the author) which presents some interesting interpretations. It is about the morning fighting and not the whole day. Wittenberg's book about Buford is also has very good coverage of the first day, although it is focused on Buford and not the whole battle.

 

[JohnW.]

I have as of YET read neither...I do think that Stephen Sears gives a good treatment of July 1st in Gettysburg IMHO.

 

[kel1985]

I've read both, I prefer Pfanz.

 

[infomanpa]

Pfanz is very good but for the first day I prefer Martin. It is a harder read, but it is the most detailed.

Another book on the first day is more detailed than Pfanz?? Whoa.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

Another book on the first day is more detailed than Pfanz?? Whoa.

Obviously a matter of opinion. As I said I think both are very good.