You know the best thing about Shelby Foote? You can tell that he's always telling the truth without hiding things in his words. A man of humility and kindness.
Except he had a tendency to whitewash the insurrection of the South directed by Davis. A split in our United States brought on behalf of rich plantation owners and poor ignorant Whites who couldn't bear the thought of not having a class of enslaved people to look down on.
My favorite part of the Ken Burns Civil War documentary was anytime Shelby Foote told a story; the twinkle in his eye and his smile was infectious. We should all be so lucky to be that passionate about something.
For those who see Shelby as a confederate apologist, just read the damned books. There’s no bias, there’s no twisting of history, there’s no sense of “the south should have won”. It’s just really well written history.
@@haroldflashman4687 if you would read his works it's not your just that unopened minded that you refuse to do any research at all and only take other people's word for it
Yes he had the great ability to explain things from the South's perspective, from the North's perspective without once sounding judgmental. And as so many others have said - A true Southern gentleman.
35 years ago I called the operator in Memphis and got his phone number, we spoke twice and he answered many questions. I sent him a beautiful bowl I turned on my lathe, and in turn I received a letter from him that I still have and treasure. A gracious man.
That is awesome. I’m 26 and just discovered him a few years ago and I lament that I’ll never be able to speak with him. I’ve got a family connection to the Civil War and Foote’s work has been the best I’ve found in my research.
A joy to read his Civil War History because he became an accomplished writer with his novels before he was commissioned to write of real events where he was not in attendance. It's probably significant that he went to the battlefields on the anniversaries of the battles.
This man was a true genius in his field. He can make an audience mesmerized with his delivery. I could listen to him all day. A true American treasure.
@@meghanmisaliar.. it's possible,, but I think Shelby Foote was unique in his fascination with the subject and being a Southern intellectual,, if his father would have lived and his family would have moved to chicago, maybe he would have developed an interest in steel work,, or railroads, who knows.... Notice how he has a passion and memory for history, perhaps he was like Patton and considered that he lived before, he always seemed like he probably would have been an officer and probably in either Stonewall Jackson's or Forrests army...
As a Scotsman can I say I absolutely adore this man, his matter of fact delivery on questions pertaining to the civil war is second to none, precise and concise ...no whatabootery...I will always miss his knowledge and perception...
@@andymullins84 First of all, I did not blame Grant for anything. Is it asking too much for you to know who’s writing what. Secondly... The availability of food has nothing to do with the south’s conscious decision to NOT construct one single building within the compound (essentially a dirt pit in the ground) in which over 9,500 Union prisoners died over just ten months. Plenty of lumber, operating steam powered saw mills within spitting distance and all the free/slave labor needed to build something/anything for them yet Georgia’s hot summer sun baked Union soldiers and her frigid winter rains gave them pneumonia. NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD OR GRANT. Everything to do with being hateful, vindictive and despicable human beings. Besides which, That the south had trouble feeding herself after starting a war she had no business, and was warned against starting, is hardly the fault of her (self declared) enemy. Study Andersonville before spouting off about it will you? Examine the Confederacy’s own documents regarding it. Go there and have a look at it. see it. Read the diaries and journals of soldiers from both sides who were there and until you do, keep your ignorant opinions about it to yourself.
@@andymullins84 Hope you’re well into your recovery. Two nephews of mine are Marines who saw action in Iraq, one in the West during the first elections. Wounded near the glass factory. His younger sister, Emma is now an RN on the TBI unit here at the Mpls VA Hospital. Be well and thank you.
Yet people hated him for his part in the series. They called him a Confederate apologist, a racist, a senile old man. What a shame. As a 60 year old American I can say I am sad and ashamed that we, as a nation, have devolved to a point where that telling the truth or even one side of a many faceted story is considered being hateful. I have always listened to opposing arguments and people I disagree with but I would never have their opinions silenced or twisted to make them look stupid, as they have with this man.
Not sure exactly who all the “people who hated him” are that you’re referring to. He was the breakout star of Burns’ Civil War documentary, and deservedly so-He was a great story-teller, made great copy, and consequently became famous, and wealthy because of the effect of the documentary on his book sales. So I suspect he was more than willing to put up with any mild criticism that may’ve blown his way from the far left extremists. Now, I do have to confess that I personally detected a bit of the “unreconstructed Confederate” to him, a bit of the “Lost Causer” to him. He could’ve analyzed how the average southern soldier boy was used(lied to) by the slave oligarchs to fight for a system that devalued their labor, caused the majority of them to slip further into poverty, etc. But I don’t hate him, rather enjoyed him. He’s an expert on the “worm’s eye view” of the Civil War, the life & experience of the average soldier, and the military tactics & strategy of the officers on both sides, but he’s no political philosopher or political scientist, and seemed almost neutral about the moral principles involved in the causes of the war, the extent to which Lincoln’s arguments were simply deeper, more profound, and more profoundly correct/true/accurate compared to the arguments made by the leading men of the south, the slave oligarchs, who were bent on growing, expanding & nationalizing slavery all over this continent, Cuba, the Caribbean, more of Mexico, Central America, etc. But that’s OK, there are other men whose job that is- Harry Jaffa, Joseph Fornieri, William Lee Miller, Lucas Morel, Allen Guelzo, Michael Burlingame, James Oakes, et al……🇱🇷🙏🎩
SO I did appreciate his work on the Civil war documentary , BUT when anyone who points out his disdain for yankees in his youth and has beliefs that " slavery was a huge stain on all of us " even northerners of that time & today makes me even take that comment to task and then how he glorified the rebel movement gives me pause,....maybe that has some Americans goat, but you immediately pegged them as left wing extremists and as a Republican I find that odd...I married a cajun queen in `78 and have 3 bros.-in-laws who are just as much a southern gentlemen as Shelby BUT, I then came to learn that their upbringing was one where the Confederate gov`t was one that one to glorify as men like Shelby loved to do..... @@timothymeehan181
@@Historian212 Thank you for bringing this to my attention, however in the south it is common to call someone Mr. or Miss Followed by their first name. For instance, Miss Alice, etc.
What a fascinating man Shelby Foote is. He was the last of a dying breed, and one who will be very much missed. His honesty is so refreshing and his mannerisms are a thing of great charm.
Shelby Foote’s speech patterns and accent draws the listener in as if your grandfather was telling you a story about his youth spent in the war. Brilliant.
An hour-long interview that seems to pass in 5 minutes. I could listen to him for days. I grew up in Eastern Arkansas right across the Mississippi from Memphis and he sounds so much like so many Southern gentlemen I knew who were born early in the century. Accents like this are disappearing and it is a shame. It is a great treat to be able to see material like this on UA-cam.
Arkansas here too! Yep,, that distinct voice is slowly fading away. It's a treasure when you can find someone who actually speaks that way and doesn't put on a phony accent.
I used to like him until I heard that he'd've fought for the CSA despite slavery, that's a real malefactor of a man in any nation, he'd fight for Putin just because he's Russian.
@@tomasinacovell4293 Tomasina, I'mma give you a life-lesson right here. Please consider it--otherwise, I'm just casting pearls before swine (look that up too). Whether one "likes" a teacher is irrelevant. In fact, one can learn alot from one's enemies, both real and imagined. As for what you "heard," consider the source of that statement which you paraphrased--he or she hasn't done what I now ask of you, to wit: Read the man's books and listen to his interviews before you pass such shallow judgment. There's a very old saying..."Those who ignore history are DOOMED to repeat it." Come on girl, change your studying/learning/reading habits. I guarantee you'll thank me or thank someone. You've heard of the Age of Enlightenment? This is your chance at enlightenment for the rest of your lifetime. Peace out!
It's one of my favorite American accents. Educated, Southern, well versed, and completely American. Tacitus was of my people. You are a scholar and a gentleman.
He has a sadness, in his eyes, about him until he relates something he really loves, and then a slight smile comes upon his mouth and, you can see the light in his eyes and how much he loves this subject matter. He is so insightful, so articulate. I just love him.
When I read his books on the Civil War I can hear his voice . When he tells a story it’s so convincing it’s like he was there. Shelby Foote is one cool dude .
@@gmamagillmore4812 when trying to understand the Civil War and subsequent cultural changes I'll never forget Foote's sage comment when he said, 'you must understand that in the south, we come from a culture of defeat.' How simple and articulate these few words struck me at that time.
@Talorc MacAllan He's actually not a historian in the academic sense. Foote did not write histories; he wrote narratives based on history. And there is a big difference academically. Foote's works are not footnoted, or really sourced and he uses much looser standards of evidence often employing hearsay and the obvious Southern apologetics from the post war period without question. Don't get me wrong, Foote was a great writer, and abundantly more honest about the war than most of the Southerners from his generation. He relates the military actions in a generally fair manner (but with errors here and there) with an exciting and readable prose, but that's all.
This gentleman taught me the history of the civil war, I'm English, no other could relay the sensitivity of this brother against brother in his nation, I thank you for those lessons.
We are lucky to view the Ken Burn's documentary with Mr Foote on PBS America in the UK. I've seen it many times and thats how I first heard of Mr Foote.
My great great grandfather served in the Union Army during the Civil War. His grave is just a few miles from me. He lived into the 1920s. He is buried in Springfield Massachusetts, they trained not far from my house for the war. We had the most black Union soldiers in the war. There is a good chance he trained with them.
We LOST SHELBY some years ago now - Such a class act, down the earth intellectual with love of country, historical significance & decency .... a Southern Gentleman should have. Missed and grateful for his commentary and insights over the years !! God bless, jj
All these years ?...humanity ? just think if his beloved south held off until the `64 election and Lincoln lost his re-election this man`s family would be one of a slave owner singing the praises of Gen. Lee & Pres. Davis, because he admits to having disdain/hatred towards yankees as a child like all young boys of the south did in his time...
In my considered opinion Shelby Foote is without doubt the finest and most meticulous Historian on the American War between the States than any other is, or has been in existence. And no I will not use the term "Civil War" because there was nothing "Civil" about it after Sherman committed to the Total War strategy.
@Brad Watson Seriously the people with the white straight coat and the white padded rooms are looking for you!!! Go take your medicine 💉. Donald John Trump is the greatest president we ever had in my life time. There is something very wrong with you!!!🤪 Maybe they should brick 🧱 up the door 🚪 to your padded room, with No food or water and No hope!!
I'm British and my roommate in Dallas was from Memphis, TN. Boy, he hated northerners (Yankees). Listen to this Confederate soldiers English accent. The Union Irish soldiers were straight off the boat. ua-cam.com/video/KPiDqUB9k1I/v-deo.html
Amen...as a History major in school, I found that the storyteller was as important as the story. I really love Mr. Foote's Narrative. I'm in Volume 2 now 🙂
@Ac Tion and lucky for the world that we don’t quit. Look at the list of inventions attributed to Scots. You don’t get the tv right on the first shot, or the telephone, or penicillin or tarmac, or the pneumatic tyre, or RADAR, or MRI scans, or the modern model of economics, or the deep fried Mars Bar, or Irn Bru….We’re a really rather spectacular bunch considering the population of Scotland never topped 5 million.
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Foote at one of his speaking engagements. There was a meet and greet and we spoke for about 20 minutes...it was a very special evening
I didn't realize until after his death in 2005 that he had been living in Memphis since the 50's -- just two hours away from me here in Little Rock. It would've been definitely been quite an honor to meet him, as I absolutely loved his contributions to the Ken Burns documentary.
My late father, F.M. Hill, used to sell books to Mr. Foote. I went with my father to Mr. Foote's house on several occasions. I remember him as a true Southern Gentleman.
@TheJohnnyrat You obviously are not very familiar with him if you think that he propagated the "Lost Cause" which I am assuming that you using that term means that you are saying that he would tell people that the American Civil War was not about slavery which is false, he would not do that. The US Civil War was 100% about slavery and he never shied away from that fact. You are just trying to get a rise out of people because you are miserable and hate yourself and your miserable meaningless life. There is also a strange sect of weirdos that want to rewrite history and equate the Confederates to that of Nazi Germany and will smear and slander anyone who doesn't frame the Confederates in that light whether it be truth or fiction is irrelevant to them for it is not "their truth" that they made up on their own mentally ill heads and that is wrong for them because their life revolves around their own personal brilliance. That is why people like TheJohnnyrat (a fishing lure company, related? we will find out ;) will call anyone who doesn't tow the revisionist line as being part of the Last Cause.
@@usmc-veteran73-77 Semper Fi, Marine from an old Air Force flyboy. And yes, I could listen to Shelby Foote all day. What a treasure he was, we were blessed to have him for as long as we did.
@@drthunder1143 when I was on Okinawa at Camp Foster a lot of times we would eat at the mess hall (Dining Facility-USAF) on Kadena AFB. The USAF chow was delicious compared to USMC chow, there's a reason the USMC calls it a "mess hall." I was stationed on Okinawa back in Aug 74-Sep75. Stay safe Semper Fi from an old Marine
I read the book, "Stars in their Courses" while I was a midshipman at the Naval Academy. I had a sense then that Mr. Foote has a wonderful way to tell a story. Outstanding work!
I`m English and I could listen to Shelby Foote all day long his accent is pure Southern drawl which I love, one moment in the TV series I enjoyed was when he described when he actually was allowed to swing Nathan Bedford Forrest`s sword above his head by Forrest`s descendent who owned it. RIP Mr Foote and God Bless You.
God bless you, Fred, and roll Britannia! Again and again some of the best comments are from our English brothers while so many of the most absurd are from my fellow Americans.
@@mikewhitney8615 Thank you Mike kind regards from Blighty and yes I agree we are brothers and more than that brothers in arms too, long may it remain so.
Remember hearing him in the Civil War by Ken Burns. Thought he was a very passionate storyteller who told stories with great emotion. Happy to have this pop up on my feed.
America is the most diverse country on earth. From place to place accents change. Sure you heard a Boston accent. I grew up 80 miles west of Boston and I don't sound much like them but we do add R's like, idea = idear. Albany NY is 45 min from me and they have a different accent. Hartford CT different 40 min away. Montreal CA it is, hoose = house and every sentence ends with, eh.
@StanSwan, here's an interesting story for you (not sure if you'll remember this man). When he was running for President in 1972(before he was shot), George Wallace made a campaign stop in Boston. He's listening to the people talk, and, after his stop was made, he quipped THESE PEOPLE HERE SURE DO TALK FUNNY (compare a Boston accent with a South Alabama accent).😅😅😅😅
Wonderful interview. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Foote in San Marcos, Texas shortly after this interview. He was every bit the kind and amicable soul that is captured in the Burns documentary and this interview.
I have so much respect for Shelby Foote for his ability to take a reader into one of the most difficult periods in our history and bring it to life with the color of his experiences, prospectives, observations, and opinions. I find that I can listen to him without end for his honesty and insight. I'm eternally grateful for his life and the fate that brought him to his choice of career. May he rest in peace.
I would love to have had the opportunity to listen to him speak 8 hours a day for a week! He was so brilliant! And that accent was music to my ears. I’m Southern, and proud of it.
My all time favorite historian. I have learned so much about the Civil War from this man. His ability to recite actual conversations between men of that period is amazing. Every American should listen to what Shelby has to say.
It is amazing to hear this man talk about Ancient Rome. He was truly a well read and intelligent man. If listening to him doesn’t make you want to pick up a book you better just move on!
Who would be caught dead yawning or catching shut eye in class? Labeled a dullard and a thief. Why thief? My how I'd love To've sat their in his stead, trade chairs out during his nap time. A thief to me forever!!
"perfect historian"? A man who never once entered an archive or used any original source materials? He's a good story teller but one thing he most certainly is not is a great historian.
The perfect apologist because he is the most intelligent person who may try to make a traitor look good. The most laughable historian and teacher I have ever heard. This is not history, it is butt hurt people trying to justify why they act this way today. Glorify this simple, human fraud and make yourselves feel good while you ponder the reasons why the traitors like Foote's heroes give you the courage to be idiots.
Interesting= I was thinking just the opposite - not anything against him - I have always really enjoyed him but i was thinking he might not understand this world today - but yeah definitely we would be better off if people like him were still with us either way
@@pjpredhomme7699 You're 'thinking he might not understand this world today' i.e., the states vs. the feds ? The concentration of power into the tyrannical hands of an elitist few as opposed to the celebration and preservation of individual liberty ; those ''God-given" (natural) rights
A lot of us won’t have had the pleasure of hearing Shelby Foote if it wasn’t for Ken Burn’s documentary, I always looked forward for his stories, told in such a manner as if he himself was there.
Agreed, Ken Burns documentary on the civil war in my opnion is one of the greatest and so far the best decribing the trials and tebulations of Americas greatest and sadest times. Mr. Foote was a big part of Burns fine work on the American Civil War during this time. R.I.P. Mr. Foote, your work is very much appreciated.
His three volume history of the Civil War is, in my opinion, the finest piece of military history of modern times. It reads like a novel and is almost impossible to put down
I spent many childhood weeks in Columbus GA, where my mother was from, with all the cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Always during the summer during school break - just choking humidity and heat. I cherish those memories, just across the river from Phoenix, AL, in the 1960's and all that came with that period. What a fascinating time, a young boy experiencing first hand the vast differences between the North and the South and the worldviews created and separated by only geography. This is a fascinating place, the early '60's civil rights South. Shelby's voice transports me there again and without hesitation. What a time.
Having been raised in Texas and Louisiana since 1951, I well understand what Shelby Foote means about having the Civil War in one’s blood. Listening to recordings of Mr. Foote reading from his histories is a bit like sitting at your grandfather’s knee while he recalls what he personally witnessed as a young man who fought in the War.
T M Well it took along time and in fact Vicksburg Mississippi didn’t celebrate the 4th of July again until 1967 I believe, people’s hatred of the Yankees and blamed blacks for the civil war and took out a lot of revenge on them through Jim Crow that came in heavy after the northern army pulled out 11 years later. Nobody had any idea what to do with millions of people that didn’t know how to do much of anything but farm and most couldn’t even read or write. Emancipation had no provisions in it for post slavery hardly at all and they just let them go. Unbelievable. Lincoln had a plan to send most back to Africa or something. He actually believed that a black man was about 3/4 of a white man at birth. But he didn’t hate them at all. And blacks not wanting to celebrate their liberation and their history is unfortunate. In fact they want to eliminate it.
T M Most people today in the South don’t know enough about it to accept it or whatever you’re talking about, accept it how? People in the North know even less.
"I visited his grand daughter...and she let me swing the General's (Nathan Bedford Forrest) sword around my head a few times, which was a great treat". Shelby Foote had all the abilities of a great historian, and also the ability to translate his observations so that a non-historian would also find them interesting and valuable. A true historian in every sense of the word. RIP Shelby.
And just like that an hour has gone by. I could listen to Mr. Foote speak all day. How fortunate are we that he honed his craft so well and shared his talents with all of us. Thank you Mr. Foote, rest well sir
What a great interview with a famous novelist. Reveals the Civil War and truth and the thinking of those days then. Thank you for this pleasurable interview before he was gone God Bless
I'm 76 years old, I have developed a certain insight to life, I've commented on you tube several times and not many people reply to my insights but a select few, without giving me credit for the knowledge I've acquired in all me years on this planet, there are those of you who, challenged my thinking because I don't think like you, whoever you are. All that I have gleaned from Mr. Foote is that a person has to take into consideration were one was born and the time when they were born to have understanding of one's insight. Being an writer, not on his level of course but someone who wants to leave something of his mind if just for me. He educated me more in this interview about writing than I've learned in my entire life. Thank you Mr. Foote, and to those that think I'm talking out my ass, well you are entitled to your opinion...
I was at Shilo, early morning, and the fog so thick off the river you couldn’t see the opposite shore. And yet, so oddly peaceful. How strange but yet memorable.
Shelby Foote's Civil War History is spiritually akin to the great narrative histories of Antiquity: Herodotus, Thucydides, Polybius, Tacitus, Ammianus Marcellinus, and Procopius. There is nothing quite like it in modern historical writing.
Semper Fidelis Shelby You we’re a great man . Thank you for serving with the USMC . I am a honored to have you serving as a Marine being a Marine I wish I could have served with you. I love your Books on the Civil War . A true Legend . What a great writer and fellow Pipe Smoker ❤Rest in Peace Sir Scott Dickens Tenn
I saw the PBS series first & was hooked. I needed to learn more about my country’s history. It took me a while to find his 3 volume history but, once secured, I couldn’t put it down. I feel that I am a better person for having done so. I am trying to get my teenage daughters to read or listen to him. His message is so important that I shall keep trying.
I remember getting off work in time to watch this series on PBS, I had to rush back to my Apartment and hurry up, years later I watched again on Netflix, I could watch this series every day and still learn something new.
An absolutely brilliant interview. Anyone who believes he’s a Confederate and/or a Southern apologist is simply devoid of any semblance of critical thinking capability or perceptivity. His 3 books on the Civil War are of the very highest order and should be required reading and rereading by every American. The books are profoundly balanced, scholarly and unbiased. Along with “Killer Angels” (by Michael Shaara) I consider “The Civil War: A Narrative” to be the best novels on the Civil War and its effect on the evolution of America. Pity those for whom knowledge and wisdom are of no benefit. Ignorance is bliss until it isn’t.
@@nomdeguerre7265 you are absolutely correct. For me, “Killer Angels” is what I read after revisiting “The Civil War: A Narrative”. “Killer Angels” is a surreal reading experience.
@@magiscichoam It’s a stellar novel. Some great stuff there. It’s the kind of fiction that brings to life our picture of what we believe the past was. Its awards were richly deserved.
Gotta love this man. "I would have fought for the Confederacy cause I am from Mississippi they were my people". You can clearly see he gets its. He understands the pitch from that era. Great interview.
We can likewise render the same respect to all those soldiers who fought in the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy in WW II, the German Army and Navy inclusive of the Nazis, the SS, the Einsatzen Komanndos, the North Korean Peoples Army, The Chinese Peoples Army, North Vietnamese Army, the Viet Cong, the Iraqi National Army, the Taliban fighters, all of them....it doesn't matter that they killed US soldiers....they fought for their people.
@M Glenn Foghorn you need to study history a lil more. Slavery was wrong I will give you that and yes it was about money but not in the sense you are talking about. Prior to the 1860s the government was not really centralized like today. Also study the Jeffersonian economy..very little national debt. Because the states made the decisions. Lincoln did not free the slaves unlike what they teach in high school. Most states had in their constitution they could leave at anytime. The South stood up to a form of government they didn't want much like the colonial did to Britain. Same principle. NOT TRAITORS.
@M Glenn Foghorn he was never tried because the federal government knew the states had a right to leave. So without conviction no treason committed. Just the facts sir.
I went to see Shelby in Hickory NC I felt blessed to hear him talk about the War and felt he let in all of the audience get a chance for great insight to the man. One of my favorite experiences.
I read his 3-volume series immediately after my divorce. His volumes were my companions during dinner time for about 18 months. The first two of the series I was able to find in book stores easily. Took visiting a number of used book stores to find the third and I was overjoyed when I finally found it. Tremendous writer. Now I see he gives a great interview as well.
I found an audio tape version of "Stars in Their Courses" that is read by Shelby Foote. Wonderful! I now read his works in his voice, was makes it even more enjoyable to me. A genuine blessing.
I try to read William Faulkner with Mr. Foote's voice. The accent is important of course, the sounds of the vowels and consonants, but even more important to my ear is the cadence, or cadences. Reading Absalom Absalom one picks up at times an almost funereal rhythm. Shelby Foote has the gift of conveying those expressions in his writing and speaking.
I to got a audio cassette of Stars in Their Courses while visiting Gettysburg in the 90s. remember driving to and from work. It made that trip so fascinating and worth while.
Even here in the UK, Shelby Foote is well known as a fine writer and historial. Personally, I could listen to that great man talk for hours and never tire of him. His complete lack of bias is truly admirable, particularly as the American Civil War remains such a divisive subject. I hope the entire USA is enduringly proud of his memory.
I am English and have toured many American civil war battlefields this man drew me in and gave me the passion to visit them and experience the battlefields with boots on the ground. I thank you for your great perception of the period ! Very inspiring
Thank you for your discerning comment, Mark. Many of the most enlightened comments here are from my British kin, while many of the most inane are from fellow Americans.
I know your English Civil War took place in the 1640s with Cromwell against the Crown. 200 years later the Us Civil War took place. What I find interesting about the war 200 years later was the use of "modern" Photography. It's nice to see actual photos of the people who were the central, as well as minor players in the war. If you look on UA-cam you can see actual film footage, with audio, of Civil War Veterans at a huge reunion in the early 1930s. All very old men of course!! If you tour any old towns in the Southern United States, stop in an old century and see how many Head Stones contain the names of Civil War Veterans!
@@balancedactguy The American civil war is the first war with such detail for the common soldier that photography covered. And it’s the stories that many people followed . When I came over and explored I went to many battlefields from Gettysburg to Nashville Richmond Atlanta to Vicksburg covering 3500 miles but to me it was the personal stories that you could follow I visited where Jackson was shot ,where his arm was buried where he died where he was buried and where his horse is buried for instance . I also loved the preservation of the battlefields and the excellent tour guides. And as a wargamer who has fought the period it was important to walk the ground and see why commanders made the decisions they did.
@@markfoster8110 Thanks for your reply. I guess you show great interest in the US Civil War. We have a term here for people who are fascinated by the Civil war and take time to study it in detail. You are considered a "Civil War Buff"! The house my Mother was born in , in Texas was built by Civil War veterans who fought for Texas in the Confederacy. They even started the town Newspaper that is still published to this day I believe. It's called the "Colorado County Citizen" There is even a small Civil War Museum in her hometown of Columbus Texas...the oldest incorporated town in Texas..I believe incorporated sometime in the 1830s...of course that time frame is nothing compared to the age of towns and cities in the UK! I hope you get to see more of the Civl War cites here in the US!!
@@balancedactguy I’m interested in all history my favourite is Roman history but civil war is my next favourite being a wargamer I have large collections in both periods. The uk has a long history and it is often the case you can put yourself in someone’s footsteps. I can trace my family history back to 1223 on my mothers side but the civil war is touchable for the reason you are talking about Texas enough survives for you to still touch the common soldiers. Thank you for your coments
I'd just like to add my voice to the other British commenters below in praise of Shelby Foote. I too first encountered him when the Ken Burns documentary was shown in Britain in the 1990s and I bought and watched the box set a few years ago. Every time I hear him I learn something new and profound. In this video I was particularly struck by his comment on lives having a beginning, a middle and an end, and people living in a way that made sense when their lives ended. But in the Civil War series it was the depth of his feeling for and understanding of the people involved, and the sheer human poetry with which he expressed it that made a deep and lasting impression on me. This is what history should be about!
English by birth American by choice Shelby Foote was such an inspiration to me in the early 1990s i emigrated to Alabama in 1995, due mainly to the British.
The Gentleman from Greenville, Mississippi. I could sit and listen to his knowledge all day long. Growing up in Starkville, Mississippi.. listening to him as a kid.. made me want to learn so much more about history… Very thankful for Mr. Foote.
I'm so glad Shelby isn't living now to see the horrendous things our Country has lowered itself into. One Fine honorable Southern Gentleman. RIP And may you "Cross over the Rivah and rest under the shade of the Trees"
@@thomasspence307 No way, my good sir. On the contrary. I aver Foote would want the flag and the monuments (most of which were erected by the KKK with the knowledge of local authorities) in museums, where they belong, not in our public squares or in the parks of our United States. Foote was a highly capable historian who, despite his tendency to romanticize the Civil War era, was a moral and ethical human being who would never favor the incandescently racist, bigoted message these artifacts convey.
I believe that many if not most southerners were loyal to the united states, but their primary loyalty was to their own state. What an eloquent, intelligent and well spoken man Shelby Foote was, may he rest in peace.
I am not southern so i can not share the idea that all southerners grow up with a knowledge of the war but from what i have seen i believe that is true and yes every confederate that i have ever heard said they were defending their home. Not the least of all was General Lee he resigned from the US army saying he could never raise his sword against Virginia - his home
True indeed... So many people barely left their county during their lifetime . Ties to home and land were extremely strong. But on the pointy cusp of changing dramatically over the 20 years after 1865., And definitely the 40-50 years after with explosion of travel, Communication, information,. Knowledge
Shelby Foote was one of our american treasures. I have read the 3 volumes a few times, like shakespeare in his language. A great intellect and a fine interview here.
J'ai acheté ses livres et j'ai découvert la culture du Sud des Etats-Unis à travers les yeux d'un grand écrivain. Un homme comme S.Foote était un trésor pour l'humanité. Ses livres permettent d'effectuer un voyage inoubliable et de parcourir des paysages oubliés. C'était hier il y a si longtemps...Frédéric Boussard (France)
I remember watching the tv series and seeing Shelby’s face of pure emotion and distress his empathy for the troops and all o their suffering was right there on his face. His emotion really made the series so memorable and even though I was quite young at the time I really admired him for his honesty and obvious emotional investment. A great man and historian.
@@snowman3693 I don't disagree with you sir and Foote would also agree with your points . My point was he made the subject real and brought a sense of the time to the subject and no doubt if hed been in the civil war he would of fought to keep slavery. That's art ..... being true to yourself.
He was a good man who understood the nuances of both Southern and Northern arguments about the war. That kind of compartmentalization, the ability to look at things from a 30,000 foot perspective, without being affected by personal biases, is sadly gone these days. He was a great historian, who stands shoulder to shoulder with his inspiration, Tacitus.
What a wonderful interview. I’m glad Shelby Foote was able to gain a wider audience in his later years, and think that maybe it’s time to embark, once again, on a journey through his narrative.
I read the three volumes when I was in Engineering College in the early 80's as just a relaxing break away from the tough Engineering and Mathematics course work...they are a masterpiece and very well written.
He states historical facts with a homespun accuracy and honesty, sir. He doesn't play to the camera or discuss a topic with either passion or prejudice in his voice
By the time of this interview, Monsieur Foote, found himself JUDGED by leftists who besmirched him for his favoring a particular C.S.A. officer. In 2021, the same leftists decry him a prejudiced man. We all know who controls the looters and history destroyers which have plagued our U.S. nation for over a decade now. The very same leftists.
@@JohnC-er3rg That was to further support the late Shelby Foote as in accordance to what the gentleman stated in his earlier comment, Mr. C. I was in agreement with him, sir. You're the ass for making an asinine comment👍
I could listen to him all day. So sad he's gone. The best thing about Ken Burns Civil War was listening to him
Amen.
Amen too
Ken Burns would never let Shelby in one of his documentaries today. Burns is cucked and woke.
😅Z😅U t😅6d ya😮
A😅
You know the best thing about Shelby Foote? You can tell that he's always telling the truth without hiding things in his words. A man of humility and kindness.
Shelby is awesome! I can tell the same with Trump, except he is usually lying.
@@Cheesus4YouYou must be very young?
Except he had a tendency to whitewash the insurrection of the South directed by Davis. A split in our United States brought on behalf of rich plantation owners and poor ignorant Whites who couldn't bear the thought of not having a class of enslaved people to look down on.
amen to that
A man who, also, IMHO, excessively romanticized Confederate generals.
My favorite part of the Ken Burns Civil War documentary was anytime Shelby Foote told a story; the twinkle in his eye and his smile was infectious. We should all be so lucky to be that passionate about something.
Absolutely. I loved the entire compellation, but I wanted to be able to separate the Shelby Foote sections because of how much they stood out.
I love the "run old hare" story. He had a great laugh.
And that voice also!
Having served four hazardous tours, I particularly liked the details he treated us to. It made it easy for me to imagine being there.
@@danielalexander8221 Thank you for your service!! You are appreciated.
❤️🇺🇸❤️
For those who see Shelby as a confederate apologist, just read the damned books. There’s no bias, there’s no twisting of history, there’s no sense of “the south should have won”. It’s just really well written history.
@@haroldflashman4687 if you would read his works it's not your just that unopened minded that you refuse to do any research at all and only take other people's word for it
@@haroldflashman4687 then don’t watch or read the book.
@haroldfloyd exactly
@@americanmade6057 👍🏼
Yes he had the great ability to explain things from the South's perspective, from the North's perspective without once sounding judgmental. And as so many others have said - A true Southern gentleman.
35 years ago I called the operator in Memphis and got his phone number, we spoke twice and he answered many questions. I sent him a beautiful bowl I turned on my lathe, and in turn I received a letter from him that I still have and treasure. A gracious man.
Wonderful story & a beautiful treasures for each of you.
That is awesome. I’m 26 and just discovered him a few years ago and I lament that I’ll never be able to speak with him. I’ve got a family connection to the Civil War and Foote’s work has been the best I’ve found in my research.
Lucky he never even signed autographs! very selective
Nice story
he was a man of grace and humility; thanks for sharing your experience with him👍👍💜💜
Shelby's 3 Volume The Civil War has been my constant companion now for over 30 years. The best military history book ever written. A joy to read.
A joy to read his Civil War History because he became an accomplished writer with his novels before he was commissioned to write of real events where he was not in attendance. It's probably significant that he went to the battlefields on the anniversaries of the battles.
Try Grant's Memoirs.
I have read his series 4 times over and about ready for a fifth.So much to learn and hes a pleasure to listen to.
I bought the set and had them shipped out to here in Australia, thats how highly theyre regarded.
This man was a true genius in his field. He can make an audience mesmerized with his delivery. I could listen to him all day. A true American treasure.
A true testimonial to the genius of southern thought, language and heritage.
He was the Confederate equivalent of the Union s James MacPherson. Makes a good balance. Thank you both of you.
Shelby Foote was adorable. An accomplished storyteller, a vastly literate person and a charming man. I miss him.
He was the best of the best. We'll never have another civil war authority as knowledgeable as he was.
@@meghanmisaliar.. it's possible,, but I think Shelby Foote was unique in his fascination with the subject and being a Southern intellectual,, if his father would have lived and his family would have moved to chicago, maybe he would have developed an interest in steel work,, or railroads, who knows.... Notice how he has a passion and memory for history, perhaps he was like Patton and considered that he lived before, he always seemed like he probably would have been an officer and probably in either Stonewall Jackson's or Forrests army...
I would say admirable not adorable.
I would say a 'Gentleman' in its
truest sense.
As a Scotsman can I say I absolutely adore this man, his matter of fact delivery on questions pertaining to the civil war is second to none, precise and concise ...no whatabootery...I will always miss his knowledge and perception...
Absolutely well said
Yeah, precise and concise... Grant was to blame for the atrocities committed at Andersonville.
And Brits were responsible for Nazi death camps.
@@andymullins84
First of all, I did not blame Grant for anything. Is it asking too much for you to know who’s writing what.
Secondly... The availability of food has nothing to do with the south’s conscious decision to NOT construct one single building within the compound (essentially a dirt pit in the ground) in which over 9,500 Union prisoners died over just ten months. Plenty of lumber, operating steam powered saw mills within spitting distance and all the free/slave labor needed to build something/anything for them yet Georgia’s hot summer sun baked Union soldiers and her frigid winter rains gave them pneumonia. NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD OR GRANT. Everything to do with being hateful, vindictive and despicable human beings.
Besides which, That the south had trouble feeding herself after starting a war she had no business, and was warned against starting, is hardly the fault of her (self declared) enemy.
Study Andersonville before spouting off about it will you? Examine the Confederacy’s own documents regarding it. Go there and have a look at it. see it. Read the diaries and journals of soldiers from both sides who were there and until you do, keep your ignorant opinions about it to yourself.
@@andymullins84 My apologies for jumping on you. I should watch my tongue.
@@andymullins84 Hope you’re well into your recovery. Two nephews of mine are Marines who saw action in Iraq, one in the West during the first elections. Wounded near the glass factory. His younger sister, Emma is now an RN on the TBI unit here at the Mpls VA Hospital. Be well and thank you.
One of the most deeply cogent, reflective, and considered writers I have ever heard, in this and other interviews.
Yet people hated him for his part in the series. They called him a Confederate apologist, a racist, a senile old man. What a shame. As a 60 year old American I can say I am sad and ashamed that we, as a nation, have devolved to a point where that telling the truth or even one side of a many faceted story is considered being hateful. I have always listened to opposing arguments and people I disagree with but I would never have their opinions silenced or twisted to make them look stupid, as they have with this man.
Pleasant and entertaining, but Foote's history is self-serving. He is a Southern White Man. Keeping America down.
Not sure exactly who all the “people who hated him” are that you’re referring to. He was the breakout star of Burns’ Civil War documentary, and deservedly so-He was a great story-teller, made great copy, and consequently became famous, and wealthy because of the effect of the documentary on his book sales. So I suspect he was more than willing to put up with any mild criticism that may’ve blown his way from the far left extremists. Now, I do have to confess that I personally detected a bit of the “unreconstructed Confederate” to him, a bit of the “Lost Causer” to him. He could’ve analyzed how the average southern soldier boy was used(lied to) by the slave oligarchs to fight for a system that devalued their labor, caused the majority of them to slip further into poverty, etc. But I don’t hate him, rather enjoyed him. He’s an expert on the “worm’s eye view” of the Civil War, the life & experience of the average soldier, and the military tactics & strategy of the officers on both sides, but he’s no political philosopher or political scientist, and seemed almost neutral about the moral principles involved in the causes of the war, the extent to which Lincoln’s arguments were simply deeper, more profound, and more profoundly correct/true/accurate compared to the arguments made by the leading men of the south, the slave oligarchs, who were bent on growing, expanding & nationalizing slavery all over this continent, Cuba, the Caribbean, more of Mexico, Central America, etc. But that’s OK, there are other men whose job that is- Harry Jaffa, Joseph Fornieri, William Lee Miller, Lucas Morel, Allen Guelzo, Michael Burlingame, James Oakes, et al……🇱🇷🙏🎩
SO I did appreciate his work on the Civil war documentary , BUT when anyone who points out his disdain for yankees in his youth and has beliefs that " slavery was a huge stain on all of us " even northerners of that time & today makes me even take that comment to task and then how he glorified the rebel movement gives me pause,....maybe that has some Americans goat, but you immediately pegged them as left wing extremists and as a Republican I find that odd...I married a cajun queen in `78 and have 3 bros.-in-laws who are just as much a southern gentlemen as Shelby BUT, I then came to learn that their upbringing was one where the Confederate gov`t was one that one to glorify as men like Shelby loved to do..... @@timothymeehan181
Mr. Shelby was a gifted speaker, teacher and author. He is still missed.
4 sure RIP
Mr. Foote.
I miss him.
He was a perfect person to explain why black people are free.
@@Historian212 Thank you for bringing this to my attention, however in the south it is common to call someone Mr. or Miss Followed by their first name. For instance, Miss Alice, etc.
He was a lying bag of shit trying to reinvent some mystical place that never existed.
Shelby Foote was an American treasure.
Absolutely
Absolutely.,,I loved hearing him talk. We truly have lost a Real American History Teacher.
We still have these videos and an ocean of great words. Most won't even scratch the surface of what's available.
Totally agree!
Is
A great man and the world is worse off without him in it. I have his book on the Battle of Shiloh and his Civil War Trilogy.
I just started reading the trilogy been wanting to for a long time .
@ Awesome. 👍
What a fascinating man Shelby Foote is. He was the last of a dying breed, and one who will be very much missed. His honesty is so refreshing and his mannerisms are a thing of great charm.
He was one of the last Southern gentlemen
Nope. Southerners are still like he was
Shelby Foote’s speech patterns and accent draws the listener in as if your grandfather was telling you a story about his youth spent in the war. Brilliant.
An hour-long interview that seems to pass in 5 minutes. I could listen to him for days. I grew up in Eastern Arkansas right across the Mississippi from Memphis and he sounds so much like so many Southern gentlemen I knew who were born early in the century. Accents like this are disappearing and it is a shame. It is a great treat to be able to see material like this on UA-cam.
I could listen to Shelby Foote read the phone book
Arkansas here too! Yep,, that distinct voice is slowly fading away. It's a treasure when you can find someone who actually speaks that way and doesn't put on a phony accent.
I possess this accent. What may I read for you on this youtube?
I used to like him until I heard that he'd've fought for the CSA despite slavery, that's a real malefactor of a man in any nation, he'd fight for Putin just because he's Russian.
@@tomasinacovell4293 Tomasina, I'mma give you a life-lesson right here. Please consider it--otherwise, I'm just casting pearls before swine (look that up too).
Whether one "likes" a teacher is irrelevant. In fact, one can learn alot from one's enemies, both real and imagined.
As for what you "heard," consider the source of that statement which you paraphrased--he or she hasn't done what I now ask of you, to wit: Read the man's books and listen to his interviews before you pass such shallow judgment. There's a very old saying..."Those who ignore history are DOOMED to repeat it."
Come on girl, change your studying/learning/reading habits. I guarantee you'll thank me or thank someone. You've heard of the Age of Enlightenment? This is your chance at enlightenment for the rest of your lifetime.
Peace out!
I miss Brian Lamb and his simple, direct but understated interviewing style. And I'm glad for all the video we have of Shelby Foote.
Listen to his Booknotes+ podcast, Brian Lamb still at it 😊
❤RIP Shelby. What an amazing man, author, historian. In every respect.
It's one of my favorite American accents. Educated, Southern, well versed, and completely American.
Tacitus was of my people. You are a scholar and a gentleman.
This is one of the most brilliant interviews of Shelby Foote...it shows his true genius time after time. What a sweet American!!
Thank you.
He has a sadness, in his eyes, about him until he relates something he really loves, and then a slight smile comes upon his mouth and, you can see the light in his eyes and how much he loves this subject matter. He is so insightful, so articulate. I just love him.
RIGHT AWAY I NOTICED THE SAME THING
I think that too. I wonder what has happened to him that makes him so sad
When I read his books on the Civil War I can hear his voice . When he tells a story it’s so convincing it’s like he was there. Shelby Foote is one cool dude .
He's sad that the South lost.
@@gmamagillmore4812 when trying to understand the Civil War and subsequent cultural changes I'll never forget Foote's sage comment when he said, 'you must understand that in the south, we come from a culture of defeat.' How simple and articulate these few words struck me at that time.
We will never have another expert as well versed on the CW as Mr Foote.
He had the most beautiful speaking voice and vocabulary.
Dude... there's 20 people in gettysburg PA alone who know the war better than Foote ever did. And I love Foote... but nowhere near the best
Oh please. There are historians at universities all across the country who are/were as good or better than Foote. They just haven't been on TV ffs.
Mr. Foote was very clear when he said that he was not a historian. He described himself as a writer and as a novelist.
@@gregshirley-jeffersonboule6258 name them
@@danielcrowe9324 I never called him a historian.
A gentleman and a scholar. History owes much to Mr. Foote. It is not boring in the hands of such a skilled storyteller.
And that's what he is, a story teller and not a historian.
@Talorc MacAllan
He's actually not a historian in the academic sense. Foote did not write histories; he wrote narratives based on history. And there is a big difference academically. Foote's works are not footnoted, or really sourced and he uses much looser standards of evidence often employing hearsay and the obvious Southern apologetics from the post war period without question. Don't get me wrong, Foote was a great writer, and abundantly more honest about the war than most of the Southerners from his generation. He relates the military actions in a generally fair manner (but with errors here and there) with an exciting and readable prose, but that's all.
Nuts to you.
I feel we’ll rarely witness a more genuine and passionate man. The authenticity of his voice and look in his eyes. RIP Shelby.
He was very impartial also in his book regarding north and south, I thought that was very commendable.
This gentleman taught me the history of the civil war, I'm English, no other could relay the sensitivity of this brother against brother in his nation, I thank you for those lessons.
We are lucky to view the Ken Burn's documentary with Mr Foote on PBS America in the UK. I've seen it many times and thats how I first heard of Mr Foote.
He was amazing but was before my time. Great great man
You forgot Cromwell...
My great great grandfather served in the Union Army during the Civil War. His grave is just a few miles from me. He lived into the 1920s. He is buried in Springfield Massachusetts, they trained not far from my house for the war. We had the most black Union soldiers in the war. There is a good chance he trained with them.
@@Jj-gi2uv Yes! I have researched this and found it to be true. Judah Benjamin was part of the "tribe"...if you understand what I'm saying.
We LOST SHELBY some years ago now - Such a class act, down the earth intellectual with love of country, historical significance & decency .... a Southern Gentleman should have. Missed and grateful for his commentary and insights over the years !! God bless, jj
All these years later his words and humanity still resonate. One of the greatest.
@@talorcmacallan4268😊
All these years ?...humanity ? just think if his beloved south held off until the `64 election and Lincoln lost his re-election this man`s family would be one of a slave owner singing the praises of Gen. Lee & Pres. Davis, because he admits to having disdain/hatred towards yankees as a child like all young boys of the south did in his time...
He was an American Treasure. North or South doesn't matter, he told the story of a nation on fire, like no one else.
In my considered opinion Shelby Foote is without doubt the finest and most meticulous Historian on the American War between the States than any other is, or has been in existence. And no I will not use the term "Civil War" because there was nothing "Civil" about it after Sherman committed to the Total War strategy.
@Brad Watson You are mad. Take your meds. All 666 of them.
@@ardshielcomplex8917 I have often pondered the same thing...what was "CIVIL" about this war?
@Brad Watson Seriously the people with the white straight coat and the white padded rooms are looking for you!!! Go take your medicine 💉. Donald John Trump is the greatest president we ever had in my life time. There is something very wrong with you!!!🤪 Maybe they should brick 🧱 up the door 🚪 to your padded room, with No food or water and No hope!!
@@gailjarvis2592 lol Brad lives on different planet then we do!!
Imagine having him as a Professor, you would never want to miss a class and show up early and stay late.
so true!
Imagine having Hitler Stalin or mussolini as a professor...... how it's said I guess can convince the easily lead
Exactly, 😆
Yup had a couple of Profs like him in Virginia.... loved it and Them.
One prof developed Lucite Paint.....
Made Organic Chemistry Fanatastic
@@richardbranton7396 You Could have had ObamA .......
I’m Scottish and I could listen to this fascinating man all day
I'm British and my roommate in Dallas was from Memphis, TN. Boy, he hated northerners (Yankees). Listen to this Confederate soldiers English accent. The Union Irish soldiers were straight off the boat.
ua-cam.com/video/KPiDqUB9k1I/v-deo.html
Amen...as a History major in school, I found that the storyteller was as important as the story. I really love Mr. Foote's Narrative. I'm in Volume 2 now 🙂
@Ac Tion and lucky for the world that we don’t quit. Look at the list of inventions attributed to Scots. You don’t get the tv right on the first shot, or the telephone, or penicillin or tarmac, or the pneumatic tyre, or RADAR, or MRI scans, or the modern model of economics, or the deep fried Mars Bar, or Irn Bru….We’re a really rather spectacular bunch considering the population of Scotland never topped 5 million.
When Shelby Foote spoke, I could not stop listening. Extremely well-spoken and a true gentleman. Wish I could have met him in person.
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Foote at one of his speaking engagements. There was a meet and greet and we spoke for about 20 minutes...it was a very special evening
I didn't realize until after his death in 2005 that he had been living in Memphis since the 50's -- just two hours away from me here in Little Rock. It would've been definitely been quite an honor to meet him, as I absolutely loved his contributions to the Ken Burns documentary.
My late father, F.M. Hill, used to sell books to Mr. Foote. I went with my father to Mr. Foote's house on several occasions. I remember him as a true Southern Gentleman.
What a fabulous memory!
I truly enjoy this man's speech and knowledge. I really miss him I know he is with our maker
I always admired the man, outstanding historian and will be dearly missed
@TheJohnnyrat There's no reason to be unkind to the OP, sir.
@TheJohnnyrat You obviously are not very familiar with him if you think that he propagated the "Lost Cause" which I am assuming that you using that term means that you are saying that he would tell people that the American Civil War was not about slavery which is false, he would not do that. The US Civil War was 100% about slavery and he never shied away from that fact. You are just trying to get a rise out of people because you are miserable and hate yourself and your miserable meaningless life. There is also a strange sect of weirdos that want to rewrite history and equate the Confederates to that of Nazi Germany and will smear and slander anyone who doesn't frame the Confederates in that light whether it be truth or fiction is irrelevant to them for it is not "their truth" that they made up on their own mentally ill heads and that is wrong for them because their life revolves around their own personal brilliance. That is why people like TheJohnnyrat (a fishing lure company, related? we will find out ;) will call anyone who doesn't tow the revisionist line as being part of the Last Cause.
We sorely miss great historians like Shelby Foote.
If you get his books he'll be right there with you! Pour some bourbon and sip and talk with him!
@@thelion6614 Be glad there are amazing young historians coming into their own.
Oh man, I really didn't want this to end. I actually felt peace hearing this man explain the history I grew up in.
I could listen to Mr. Foote speak all day. Miss him.
Me too, love his Southern accent, and I have an Appalachian accent. Semper Fi from an old Marine Sergeant from Charleston West Virginia
@@usmc-veteran73-77 Semper Fi, Marine from an old Air Force flyboy. And yes, I could listen to Shelby Foote all day. What a treasure he was, we were blessed to have him for as long as we did.
@@drthunder1143 when I was on Okinawa at Camp Foster a lot of times we would eat at the mess hall (Dining Facility-USAF) on Kadena AFB. The USAF chow was delicious compared to USMC chow, there's a reason the USMC calls it a "mess hall." I was stationed on Okinawa back in Aug 74-Sep75. Stay safe Semper Fi from an old Marine
@@drthunder1143 , list George London recording of September song
INFO ON SEPTEMBER SONG
This man is a personal hero of mine. His soft manner and obvious kindness bely his genious. Could listen to him all day...
I read the book, "Stars in their Courses" while I was a midshipman at the Naval Academy.
I had a sense then that Mr. Foote has a wonderful way to tell a story.
Outstanding work!
I`m English and I could listen to Shelby Foote all day long his accent is pure Southern drawl which I love, one moment in the TV series I enjoyed was when he described when he actually was allowed to swing Nathan Bedford Forrest`s sword above his head by Forrest`s descendent who owned it. RIP Mr Foote and God Bless You.
God bless you, Fred, and roll Britannia! Again and again some of the best comments are from our English brothers while so many of the most absurd are from my fellow Americans.
@@mikewhitney8615 Thank you Mike kind regards from Blighty and yes I agree we are brothers and more than that brothers in arms too, long may it remain so.
@@fredbeach2085 Indeed, long may it remain so!
Yes Fred, Foote is entertaining to listen to but his facts are way off the rails. He was a novelist, not a historian.
@@minerran To write his novels didn`t he have to study history ? Gone with the Wind was a novel based on history. Thanks anyway for your input.
Remember hearing him in the Civil War by Ken Burns. Thought he was a very passionate storyteller who told stories with great emotion. Happy to have this pop up on my feed.
This may sound silly, but this man’s voice is the voice of America, in my view. A dip pen! Wow! Masterpiece of an interview. Thank you CSpan.
America is the most diverse country on earth. From place to place accents change. Sure you heard a Boston accent. I grew up 80 miles west of Boston and I don't sound much like them but we do add R's like, idea = idear. Albany NY is 45 min from me and they have a different accent. Hartford CT different 40 min away. Montreal CA it is, hoose = house and every sentence ends with, eh.
@StanSwan, here's an interesting story for you (not sure if you'll remember this man).
When he was running for President in 1972(before he was shot), George Wallace made a campaign stop in Boston. He's listening to the people talk, and, after his stop was made, he quipped THESE PEOPLE HERE SURE DO TALK FUNNY (compare a Boston accent with a South Alabama accent).😅😅😅😅
Wonderful interview. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Foote in San Marcos, Texas shortly after this interview. He was every bit the kind and amicable soul that is captured in the Burns documentary and this interview.
I have so much respect for Shelby Foote for his ability to take a reader into one of the most difficult periods in our history and bring it to life with the color of his experiences, prospectives, observations, and opinions. I find that I can listen to him without end for his honesty and insight. I'm eternally grateful for his life and the fate that brought him to his choice of career. May he rest in peace.
I would love to have had the opportunity to listen to him speak 8 hours a day for a week!
He was so brilliant! And that accent was music to my ears. I’m Southern, and proud of it.
I only spent 8 years of my youth growing up in the Shenandoah Valley, and I cherish those years above all the others. I'm nearing 90.
How graciously he navigates the dull questions. What a writer.
I think the "dull" questions are by design, to draw Foote out. It's Lamb's style, which contrasts with the awful "gotcha" journalism we see elsewhere.
@@ronniebishop2496 if you are saying what I think you are trying to say, fuckin stop.
&@@ronniebishop2496 you cry like a little girl with with a skinned knee
:
My all time favorite historian. I have learned so much about the Civil War from this man. His ability to recite actual conversations between men of that period is amazing. Every American should listen to what Shelby has to say.
It is amazing to hear this man talk about Ancient Rome. He was truly a well read and intelligent man. If listening to him doesn’t make you want to pick up a book you better just move on!
I'm German and a dedicated Civil War buff. Love his books an appreciate his work a lot. Thank for this interview.
Shelby was great. Have you read Allen Tate's biography of Stonewall Jackson?
Shelby's genius lies in his innate honesty underpinning his deeply perceptive mind and his eloquence of speech. The perfect historian and teacher!! 👍
Who would be caught dead yawning or catching shut eye in class? Labeled a dullard and a thief. Why thief? My how I'd love To've sat their in his stead, trade chairs out during his nap time. A thief to me forever!!
"perfect historian"? A man who never once entered an archive or used any original source materials? He's a good story teller but one thing he most certainly is not is a great historian.
The perfect apologist because he is the most intelligent person who may try to make a traitor look good.
The most laughable historian and teacher I have ever heard.
This is not history, it is butt hurt people trying to justify why they act this way today.
Glorify this simple, human fraud and make yourselves feel good while you ponder the reasons why the traitors like Foote's heroes give you the courage to be idiots.
Actually he's a great lesson in not being cajoled by charm
@@stevenhaas9622 Then if he's that bad, then why do scholars hold his civil war history in such high regard?
This is why I love youtube, to be able to listen to this great novelist and historian.
He is the one man that would truly understand our country today and give an assessment of what should be done. He is sorely missed.
Interesting= I was thinking just the opposite - not anything against him - I have always really enjoyed him but i was thinking he might not understand this world today - but yeah definitely we would be better off if people like him were still with us either way
@@pjpredhomme7699 You're 'thinking he might not understand this world today' i.e., the states vs. the feds ? The concentration of power into the tyrannical hands of an elitist few as opposed to the celebration and preservation of individual liberty ; those ''God-given" (natural) rights
A lot of us won’t have had the pleasure of hearing Shelby Foote if it wasn’t for Ken Burn’s documentary, I always looked forward for his stories, told in such a manner as if he himself was there.
Agreed, Ken Burns documentary on the civil war in my opnion is one of the greatest and so far the best decribing the trials and tebulations of Americas greatest and sadest times. Mr. Foote was a big part of Burns fine work on the American Civil War during this time. R.I.P. Mr. Foote, your work is very much appreciated.
Foote lies and exaggerates the Southern virtue. Slavers suck
"wouldn't have had"
@@bobstone8667 And now Ken Burns considers the documentary an embarrassment to his career and believes all confederate memorials should be dismantled.
He’s a good honest man. Honorable,principled and high morals. He wasn’t apologizing for the South. He was being honest and factual.
His three volume history of the Civil War is, in my opinion, the finest piece of military history of modern times. It reads like a novel and is almost impossible to put down
Yes it is fantastic. Have you also read The Rising Sun by John Toland? It is also an astonishing piece of military history.
@@poopstainhotdog1 I haven’t read that but I will take your recommendation on board and check it out. Thank you.
Yes, fantastic ❤
It was a great read.
They are quite meaty tomes.
I spent many childhood weeks in Columbus GA, where my mother was from, with all the cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Always during the summer during school break - just choking humidity and heat. I cherish those memories, just across the river from Phoenix, AL, in the 1960's and all that came with that period. What a fascinating time, a young boy experiencing first hand the vast differences between the North and the South and the worldviews created and separated by only geography. This is a fascinating place, the early '60's civil rights South. Shelby's voice transports me there again and without hesitation. What a time.
I was there at the same time. And yes, it has stayed with me.
Having been raised in Texas and Louisiana since 1951, I well understand what Shelby Foote means about having the Civil War in one’s blood. Listening to recordings of Mr. Foote reading from his histories is a bit like sitting at your grandfather’s knee while he recalls what he personally witnessed as a young man who fought in the War.
It can be in your blood so long as you accept the defeat
T M Well it took along time and in fact Vicksburg Mississippi didn’t celebrate the 4th of July again until 1967 I believe, people’s hatred of the Yankees and blamed blacks for the civil war and took out a lot of revenge on them through Jim Crow that came in heavy after the northern army pulled out 11 years later. Nobody had any idea what to do with millions of people that didn’t know how to do much of anything but farm and most couldn’t even read or write. Emancipation had no provisions in it for post slavery hardly at all and they just let them go. Unbelievable. Lincoln had a plan to send most back to Africa or something. He actually believed that a black man was about 3/4 of a white man at birth. But he didn’t hate them at all. And blacks not wanting to celebrate their liberation and their history is unfortunate. In fact they want to eliminate it.
T M Most people today in the South don’t know enough about it to accept it or whatever you’re talking about, accept it how? People in the North know even less.
@@ronniebishop2496 you
@@davidweinstein1861 You too.
"I visited his grand daughter...and she let me swing the General's (Nathan Bedford Forrest) sword around my head a few times, which was a great treat". Shelby Foote had all the abilities of a great historian, and also the ability to translate his observations so that a non-historian would also find them interesting and valuable. A true historian in every sense of the word. RIP Shelby.
Sir...your comment is "Spot on"
Thanks!
I loved that part as well
I do wish the interviewer had asked Shelby: "Nathan Bedford Forrest, one of histories greatest assholes, or THE greatest asshole?"
Man gen. Forrest is my favorite
And just like that an hour has gone by. I could listen to Mr. Foote speak all day. How fortunate are we that he honed his craft so well and shared his talents with all of us.
Thank you Mr. Foote, rest well sir
I was born and live in the south and he is without a doubt a true southern gentleman. Love you
Still in awe of that man. God I wish I had professors of his quality when I was in college!
Shelby Foote has one of the most beautiful speaking voices of all time. A very deep thinker and brilliant author.
What a great interview with a famous novelist. Reveals the Civil War and truth and the thinking of those days then.
Thank you for this pleasurable interview before he was gone
God Bless
I'm 76 years old, I have developed a certain insight to life, I've commented on you tube several times and not many people reply to my insights but a select few, without giving me credit for the knowledge I've acquired in all me years on this planet, there are those of you who, challenged my thinking because I don't think like you, whoever you are. All that I have gleaned from Mr. Foote is that a person has to take into consideration were one was born and the time when they were born to have understanding of one's insight. Being an writer, not on his level of course but someone who wants to leave something of his mind if just for me. He educated me more in this interview about writing than I've learned in my entire life. Thank you Mr. Foote, and to those that think I'm talking out my ass, well you are entitled to your opinion...
No Sir. I totally understand. At 73 my world is soon passing, but without history none of us will know it. Blessings.
I was at Shilo, early morning, and the fog so thick off the river you couldn’t see the opposite shore. And yet, so oddly peaceful. How strange but yet memorable.
I have a opinion. I come to just this type of site to listen up. Going away with more than I came in with 😎
Shelby Foote's Civil War History is spiritually akin to the great narrative histories of Antiquity: Herodotus, Thucydides, Polybius, Tacitus, Ammianus Marcellinus, and Procopius. There is nothing quite like it in modern historical writing.
This man made a massive impact on my life even as a little boy. I was mesmerized by the history and his telling it.
What a pleasure to hear again the sonorous but delightful voice of a true American treasure. God’s speed Mr. Foote.
Semper Fidelis Shelby You we’re a great man . Thank you for serving with the USMC . I am a honored to have you serving as a Marine being a Marine I wish I could have served with you. I love your Books on the Civil War . A true Legend . What a great writer and fellow Pipe Smoker ❤Rest in Peace Sir Scott Dickens Tenn
I saw the PBS series first & was hooked. I needed to learn more about my country’s history. It took me a while to find his 3 volume history but, once secured, I couldn’t put it down. I feel that I am a better person for having done so. I am trying to get my teenage daughters to read or listen to him. His message is so important that I shall keep trying.
I remember getting off work in time to watch this series on PBS, I had to rush back to my Apartment and hurry up, years later I watched again on Netflix, I could watch this series every day and still learn something new.
I'm British and recognise Shelby foote as an American national treasure
No question of that
Amazing that he was almost 80 years old here.
Thank you, British cousin. God save the Queen!
Thank you and you are very perceptive and know quality when you see it.
Whenever I hear Mr Foote speaking on his subject It feels as if he was actually there. All the best from UK.
An absolutely brilliant interview. Anyone who believes he’s a Confederate and/or a Southern apologist is simply devoid of any semblance of critical thinking capability or perceptivity. His 3 books on the Civil War are of the very highest order and should be required reading and rereading by every American. The books are profoundly balanced, scholarly and unbiased. Along with “Killer Angels” (by Michael Shaara) I consider “The Civil War: A Narrative” to be the best novels on the Civil War and its effect on the evolution of America.
Pity those for whom knowledge and wisdom are of no benefit. Ignorance is bliss until it isn’t.
I have them here in Australia in my collection, cost me an arm and leg to get them but worth every dollar.
The Civil War: A Narrative is not a "novel" like The Killer Angels. It's history. However wonderful, Shaara's work is fiction, not history.
@@nomdeguerre7265 you are absolutely correct. For me, “Killer Angels” is what I read after revisiting “The Civil War: A Narrative”. “Killer Angels” is a surreal reading experience.
@@magiscichoam It’s a stellar novel. Some great stuff there. It’s the kind of fiction that brings to life our picture of what we believe the past was. Its awards were richly deserved.
@@magiscichoam My favorite is,High tide at Gettysburg!!!
Shelby Foote, admirable beyond words. Thank you, sir.
Gotta love this man. "I would have fought for the Confederacy cause I am from Mississippi they were my people". You can clearly see he gets its. He understands the pitch from that era. Great interview.
We can likewise render the same respect to all those soldiers who fought in the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy in WW II, the German Army and Navy inclusive of the Nazis, the SS, the Einsatzen Komanndos, the North Korean Peoples Army, The Chinese Peoples Army, North Vietnamese Army, the Viet Cong, the Iraqi National Army, the Taliban fighters, all of them....it doesn't matter that they killed US soldiers....they fought for their people.
@M Glenn Foghorn A very small amount of knowledge is a dangerous thing.
@M Glenn Foghorn you need to study history a lil more. Slavery was wrong I will give you that and yes it was about money but not in the sense you are talking about. Prior to the 1860s the government was not really centralized like today. Also study the Jeffersonian economy..very little national debt. Because the states made the decisions. Lincoln did not free the slaves unlike what they teach in high school. Most states had in their constitution they could leave at anytime. The South stood up to a form of government they didn't want much like the colonial did to Britain. Same principle. NOT TRAITORS.
@M Glenn Foghorn correct. Read past the high school level.
@M Glenn Foghorn he was never tried because the federal government knew the states had a right to leave. So without conviction no treason committed. Just the facts sir.
I went to see Shelby in Hickory NC
I felt blessed to hear him talk about the War and felt he let in all of the audience get a chance for great insight to the man.
One of my favorite experiences.
I could listen to Shelby all day.
As could I. He was a national treasure
and I mourn the loss of him.
Yes, A true Southern gentleman and an honest scholar. One almost feels he lived thru that terrible & glorious time.
.
@Westley Payton You are correct... We don't care.
@@maryanneparrish6089 He wasn’t a “scholar.” He was a novelist playing history.
Shelby was a wonderful writer and so insightful.
Love anything with Mr. Foote, discussing it...he could make the instructions on the back of a cake mix box, and make it interesting!❤
I read his 3-volume series immediately after my divorce. His volumes were my companions during dinner time for about 18 months. The first two of the series I was able to find in book stores easily. Took visiting a number of used book stores to find the third and I was overjoyed when I finally found it. Tremendous writer. Now I see he gives a great interview as well.
I found an audio tape version of "Stars in Their Courses" that is read by Shelby Foote. Wonderful!
I now read his works in his voice, was makes it even more enjoyable to me. A genuine blessing.
Not "eat was makes it
I try to read William Faulkner with Mr. Foote's voice. The accent is important of course, the sounds of the vowels and consonants, but even more important to my ear is the cadence, or cadences. Reading Absalom Absalom one picks up at times an almost funereal rhythm. Shelby Foote has the gift of conveying those expressions in his writing and speaking.
I to got a audio cassette of Stars in Their Courses while visiting Gettysburg in the 90s. remember driving to and from work. It made that trip so fascinating and worth while.
Even here in the UK, Shelby Foote is well known as a fine writer and historial. Personally, I could listen to that great man talk for hours and never tire of him. His complete lack of bias is truly admirable, particularly as the American Civil War remains such a divisive subject. I hope the entire USA is enduringly proud of his memory.
I was born in the northeast but have been living in the South for nearly 50 years. I just loved Shelby Foote's accent. A true Southern Gentleman.
I am English and have toured many American civil war battlefields this man drew me in and gave me the passion to visit them and experience the battlefields with boots on the ground. I thank you for your great perception of the period ! Very inspiring
Thank you for your discerning comment, Mark. Many of the most enlightened comments here are from my British kin, while many of the most inane are from fellow Americans.
I know your English Civil War took place in the 1640s with Cromwell against the Crown. 200 years later the Us Civil War took place. What I find interesting about the war 200 years later was the use of "modern" Photography. It's nice to see actual photos of the people who were the central, as well as minor players in the war. If you look on UA-cam you can see actual film footage, with audio, of Civil War Veterans at a huge reunion in the early 1930s. All very old men of course!! If you tour any old towns in the Southern United States, stop in an old century and see how many Head Stones contain the names of Civil War Veterans!
@@balancedactguy
The American civil war is the first war with such detail for the common soldier that photography covered. And it’s the stories that many people followed . When I came over and explored I went to many battlefields from Gettysburg to Nashville Richmond Atlanta to Vicksburg covering 3500 miles but to me it was the personal stories that you could follow I visited where Jackson was shot ,where his arm was buried where he died where he was buried and where his horse is buried for instance . I also loved the preservation of the battlefields and the excellent tour guides. And as a wargamer who has fought the period it was important to walk the ground and see why commanders made the decisions they did.
@@markfoster8110 Thanks for your reply. I guess you show great interest in the US Civil War. We have a term here for people who are fascinated by the Civil war and take time to study it in detail. You are considered a "Civil War Buff"! The house my Mother was born in , in Texas was built by Civil War veterans who fought for Texas in the Confederacy. They even started the town Newspaper that is still published to this day I believe. It's called the "Colorado County Citizen" There is even a small Civil War Museum in her hometown of Columbus Texas...the oldest incorporated town in Texas..I believe incorporated sometime in the 1830s...of course that time frame is nothing compared to the age of towns and cities in the UK! I hope you get to see more of the Civl War cites here in the US!!
@@balancedactguy I’m interested in all history my favourite is Roman history but civil war is my next favourite being a wargamer I have large collections in both periods. The uk has a long history and it is often the case you can put yourself in someone’s footsteps. I can trace my family history back to 1223 on my mothers side but the civil war is touchable for the reason you are talking about Texas enough survives for you to still touch the common soldiers. Thank you for your coments
I'd just like to add my voice to the other British commenters below in praise of Shelby Foote. I too first encountered him when the Ken Burns documentary was shown in Britain in the 1990s and I bought and watched the box set a few years ago. Every time I hear him I learn something new and profound. In this video I was particularly struck by his comment on lives having a beginning, a middle and an end, and people living in a way that made sense when their lives ended. But in the Civil War series it was the depth of his feeling for and understanding of the people involved, and the sheer human poetry with which he expressed it that made a deep and lasting impression on me. This is what history should be about!
Well said...
English by birth American by choice Shelby Foote was such an inspiration to me in the early 1990s i emigrated to Alabama in 1995, due mainly to the British.
I had no idea that he had such a profound impact on the British. What a wonderful happenstance!
The Gentleman from Greenville, Mississippi. I could sit and listen to his knowledge all day long.
Growing up in Starkville, Mississippi.. listening to him as a kid.. made me want to learn so much more about history…
Very thankful for Mr. Foote.
I'm so glad Shelby isn't living now to see the horrendous things our Country has lowered itself into. One Fine honorable Southern Gentleman. RIP And may you "Cross over the Rivah and rest under the shade of the Trees"
With TJ Jackson 💞
He would be disappointed with how the confederate flag has been treated, monuments being torn down, obliterating history. It’s a shame.
@@thomasspence307 No way, my good sir. On the contrary. I aver Foote would want the flag and the monuments (most of which were erected by the KKK with the knowledge of local authorities) in museums, where they belong, not in our public squares or in the parks of our United States. Foote was a highly capable historian who, despite his tendency to romanticize the Civil War era, was a moral and ethical human being who would never favor the incandescently racist, bigoted message these artifacts convey.
Shelby would be disappointed in today's society.
Well said!
I believe that many if not most southerners were loyal to the united states, but their primary loyalty was to their own state. What an eloquent, intelligent and well spoken man Shelby Foote was, may he rest in peace.
I am not southern so i can not share the idea that all southerners grow up with a knowledge of the war but from what i have seen i believe that is true and yes every confederate that i have ever heard said they were defending their home. Not the least of all was General Lee he resigned from the US army saying he could never raise his sword against Virginia - his home
True indeed... So many people barely left their county during their lifetime . Ties to home and land were extremely strong. But on the pointy cusp of changing dramatically over the 20 years after 1865., And definitely the 40-50 years after with explosion of travel, Communication, information,. Knowledge
@@pjpredhomme7699 I would do no less.
I could listen to Prof. Foote speak all day. He was a National Treasure, and is sorely missed.
Shelby Foote was one of our american treasures. I have read the 3 volumes a few times, like shakespeare in his language. A great intellect and a fine interview here.
Growing up myself in the South, humility, kindness, honesty, and politeness are the marks of a Southern gentleman. Shelby Foote has them all.
J'ai acheté ses livres et j'ai découvert la culture du Sud des Etats-Unis à travers les yeux d'un grand écrivain. Un homme comme S.Foote était un trésor pour l'humanité. Ses livres permettent d'effectuer un voyage inoubliable et de parcourir des paysages oubliés. C'était hier il y a si longtemps...Frédéric Boussard (France)
I remember watching the tv series and seeing Shelby’s face of pure emotion and distress his empathy for the troops and all o their suffering was right there on his face.
His emotion really made the series so memorable and even though I was quite young at the time I really admired him for his honesty and obvious emotional investment.
A great man and historian.
I was impressed by his knowledge and analysis of the wars and the soldiers who fought them. Definitely one of the best historians of the Civil War.
What a great historian. I could listen to this gentleman go on for hours. What an American treasure.
Gotta love when a father says; "gettin' to be a good one". We all should aspire to such
He brings the subject to life , I'm from Wales and I know his importance to art . RIP Mister Foote 🙏
We love Wales! Thank you for your courtesy and intelligence in the face of so much American ignorance.
@@mikewhitney8615 thanks Mike 👍🏴
Andrew Jones I love wales but Foote was lying pos. Gop freed the salves democrats like burns and Foote family fought a war to keep human slaves.
@@snowman3693 I don't disagree with you sir and Foote would also agree with your points . My point was he made the subject real and brought a sense of the time to the subject and no doubt if hed been in the civil war he would of fought to keep slavery. That's art ..... being true to yourself.
The Brits seem very interested in our Civil War for some reason. Recall Winston Churchill referencing it. Just an observation.
He was a good man who understood the nuances of both Southern and Northern arguments about the war. That kind of compartmentalization, the ability to look at things from a 30,000 foot perspective, without being affected by personal biases, is sadly gone these days. He was a great historian, who stands shoulder to shoulder with his inspiration, Tacitus.
Shelby Foote was an amazing historian and a great speaker. His beautiful southern accent is classic.
I've read his three volumes. Great read. Twenty years to complete. Amazing perseverance.
I don't know which I love more, his voice or his brain...❤
What a wonderful interview. I’m glad Shelby Foote was able to gain a wider audience in his later years, and think that maybe it’s time to embark, once again, on a journey through his narrative.
He gained an audience because Burns gave him the platform. Yes, he did quite well by that.
I read the three volumes when I was in Engineering College in the early 80's as just a relaxing break away from the tough Engineering and Mathematics course work...they are a masterpiece and very well written.
Essentially the three volumes is the basis for Ken Burns Civil War .
@@kurtgreaser988 not really.
@@JB-uv4hm and you are?
@@jaed2630 well read. Burns now admits that the overuse of SF was a mistake btw. Another blow to the ‘lost cause’ loser narrative.
What an amazing interview of a wonderful writer. Foote’s humbleness and humanity comes through so well.
Picked up this (his) book just recently and am looking forward to jumping into it. Shelby Foote is a cherished talent. Miss him.
Interview at times, seemed more like an interrogation....Shelby's eloquence and honesty made it worth the exchange..
He states historical facts with a homespun accuracy and honesty, sir. He doesn't play to the camera or discuss a topic with either passion or prejudice in his voice
With the late Shelby Foote, sir, what you see is what you get👍
By the time of this interview, Monsieur Foote, found himself JUDGED by leftists who besmirched him for his favoring a particular C.S.A. officer. In 2021, the same leftists decry him a prejudiced man. We all know who controls the looters and history destroyers which have plagued our U.S. nation for over a decade now. The very same leftists.
@@michaelvaughn8864 I think the post is talking about the interviewer not Foote and you sir are an ass
@@JohnC-er3rg That was to further support the late Shelby Foote as in accordance to what the gentleman stated in his earlier comment, Mr. C. I was in agreement with him, sir. You're the ass for making an asinine comment👍