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I'm almost finished with the first volume of Shelby Foote's "The Civil War: A Narrative" trilogy. It's a great book written in a novel-like style that manages to capture the huge panorama of death that defined America as we know it today. But what strikes me most is the tragic waste of human lives due to a war caused by a few politicians and leaders of the southern states, and the disappointing fact that we continue to mythologize the conflict today and even continue some of the same arguments, refashioned for the 21st century. But if you're looking to make sense out of this history Shelby Foote's book is great reading and a monumental achievement.
