Rating: 
Summary: Mr. Foote is a true artist of words, master of his subject
Review: A student (yes, I'm a history major) of the Civil War, and having grown up believing that the holy land was a certain battlefield in Pennsylvania, I read Shelby Foote's The Stars in Their Courses as part of a research paper. I had gotten the copy for my father that past Christmas. It was well worn by the time I borrowed it in April.
In reading his work on the Gettysburg campaign, as he described the places about the enormous battlefield, I could see myself in those places once again. It was like reading an old journal entry, or seeing a picture of a childhood home; such is the power of Foote's work that it can transport you to the place you are reading about. Both my father and I read this book with great enjoyment, for this was written in a style of prose much more beautiful and approachable than many other writers on the subject.
To this day, Shelby Foote's work remains a staple in the bookcases of the Lacey household, and will remain that way for a long long time.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Discourse
Review: For its narrative sweep, human drama, and immaculate prose, you would call this the greatest American war novel ever written except, of course, for the fact that every word of it is true. (I had heard about Foote's ostensible Southern bias and, frankly, I didn't see the evidence for it. That he portrays the rebels as three-dimensional men with sincere convictions rather than two-dimensional villains ought not to bother anyone who values truth above political correctness.) How good was this book? I'm now tackling the entire three-volume work from which it is excerpted. See you in a year or so.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally I Understand What Happened There
Review: I was afraid that reading this book was going to be an exercise in plowing through a bunch of Civil War trivia, but it seemed too short for that and was. There's enough to make it interesting, but Foote doesn't bury you in all the trivia. If you are the least bit interested in the Civil War you will love this book. Though not a true "buff" I bought and read it because I was about to go to Gettysburg and wanted to be able to know what I was looking at when I got there. That was a great decision. It was a fine blend of the personalities involved, the politics at the time, the factors that influenced this or that strategy, and the impact the battle had on the outcome of the war as a whole. Indeed, on us as a people.
Rating:
Summary: An absolute must-have audiobook.
Review: Shelby Foote's account of the Gettysburg campaign is a phenomenal narrative history that truly comes to life in audio format. The unabridged version sets the stage and unfolds the action in a leisurely yet deliberate pace that is actually suspenseful until the action begins with the rebels coming on July 1, "three deep and booming." The author's syrupy deep voice is mesmerizing, and his Mississippi accent gives new resonance to the famous quotes of the battle, from Lee's "The enemy is there, and I am going to strike him" to Pickett's "Up, men and to your posts! Don't forget today that you are from Old Virginia!" The Union heroes, especially Hancock, are given equal time in this balanced and compelling account. Foote covers the battle from flank to flank for all three days and weaves in such related vignettes as Stuart's truancy and the cavalry action as well. It is helpful for the reader/listerner to have some general background knowledge of the battle, but Foote provides brief descriptions of the various players as the story rolls along. These cassettes are out of print but well worth tracking down and even paying above-market money for. "Stars in Their Courses" is a perfect audiobook for a trip or long daily commute; you will find yourself looking forward to getting in the car to drive to work. A classic.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Account of the Gettysburg Campaign
Review: Shelby Foote's monumental, three volume history of the American Civil War is widely recognized as one of the great works of the twentieth century. However, its great length - roughly three thousand pages - is undoubtedly intimidating to many readers. Fortunately, this 1994 Modern Library edition, Stars in Their Courses, the Gettysburg Campaign, circumvents this difficulty.
Stars in Their Courses is the middle chapter in the middle volume of Shelby Foote's remarkable history. This extract offers an easy way for a reader new to Shelby Foote to become acquainted with his masterpiece.
The editors of the Modern Library series should be commended for selecting this particular chapter. It is hard to imagine a better introduction to the Gettysburg Campaign. Stars in Their Courses is not only great history, it is great literature. Shelby Foote is an outstanding writer, one that happens, fortunately for us, to write history. In reviewing Foote's acclaimed historical narrative, one critic said, "It seems to me unlikely that it ever will be superseded."
Remarkably, Stars in Their Courses is entirely self-contained. A reader not familiar with Shelby Foote's writing would not realize that this Modern Library edition was actually a single chapter drawn from a much larger work. The reader has no need to reference any other sources.
Stars in Their Courses would make an excellent gift for that friend or family member that enjoys good literature, but heretofore has not developed an enthusiasm for the Civil War. The Modern Library edition is attractively bound, and printed on acid-free paper.
Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Killer Angels, would be a great companion gift to Stars in Their Courses. Shaara's focus is on specific participants in the three-day battle, especially Lee, Buford, Longstreet, Chamberlain, and Armistead. The Killer Angels was the basis for the epic movie, Gettysburg.
Rating:
Summary: A True Page Turner
Review: Shelby Foote's Stars in their Courses crackles with an intensity and fire from the first page to the last. Foote's narrative puts the reader squarely on the front lines as the fate of a nation hangs in the balance. From Lee's fateful decision to begin the Northern campaign, to his retreat from the bloody fields of Pennsylvania, the reader is inexorably drawn deeper and deeper into the story, even though the final outcome is already known. What makes Foote's writing even more compelling is his subtle "what if" writing, where the reader can quickly infer the explosive differences a few decisions (i.e. Lee's hesitation on the 1st day to charge what were still weakened Union forces, Meade's failure to go after a bloodied and weakened Confederate force in the aftermath of the Gettysburg retreat) could have made to the ultimate outcome of the battle and the war. Some critics of Foote have complained of his 'southern bias' but I found Foote more than willing to lay the ultimate blame for the Southern failure at the deified feet of RE Lee. Personally, I think Meade never got his due in history for his aggressive, bold, and calculating decision making during these three days (particularly in light of the fact that he had just taken over full command) while Lee, worshipped in the South, is always excused as having inferior supplies, troop numbers, etc ... The fact is, that at Gettysburg, the terrain was about as equal as it was in all the war and Lee came up short. The pages literally fly by and you will be happy to cite and refer it to your friends for years to come. A great read.
Rating:
Summary: Great look at the Battle of Gettysburg!
Review: Stars In Their Courses is an excellent book covering the Gettysburg Campaign. Taken completely from Foote's Civil War Trilogy, the book presents a balanced view of the battle. Foote's writing is always easy to read and understand and at times brief in coverage. For a reader looking for great information I would suggest reading a book devoted to a particular day of fighting during the campaign as this book covers the basics and seldom dives into any hour-by-hour detail. For the advanced historian it may seem a bit too brief but for the novice Civil War reader it is an excellent book. Foote likes to present the battle from both sides of the army and explain Lee's and Meade's thoughts or strategies that help explain the how the battle and final outcome evolved. Shelby Foote is probably one of the best authors on the subject and I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to gain further knowledge and insight into the Battle of Gettysburg.
Rating:
Summary: Great look at the Battle of Gettysburg!
Review: Stars In Their Courses is an excellent book covering the Gettysburg Campaign. Taken completely from Foote's Civil War Trilogy, the book presents a balanced view of the battle. Foote's writing is always easy to read and understand and at times brief in coverage. For a reader looking for great information I would suggest reading a book devoted to a particular day of fighting during the campaign as this book covers the basics and seldom dives into any hour-by-hour detail. For the advanced historian it may seem a bit too brief but for the novice Civil War reader it is an excellent book. Foote likes to present the battle from both sides of the army and explain Lee's and Meade's thoughts or strategies that help explain the how the battle and final outcome evolved. Shelby Foote is probably one of the best authors on the subject and I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to gain further knowledge and insight into the Battle of Gettysburg.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story Well Told
Review: This book is actually a single chapter from Foote's three volume narrative history of the Civil War. It is the central chapter from the central volume, and the tale it contains represents the high water mark of the Confederacy. To say that Foote has a way with words is an understatement. Here is a completely compelling story of a campaign that was a defining moment of the war. In the course of less than 300 pages, Foote provides a powerful tale told in such subtle strokes that you become part of history without being aware of being pulled into it. There are lots of other works about Gettysburg. Most are longer, none are so well told. I read most of this book while we were on a family outing to the Gettysburg battlefield last year. It put the battle in complete context. The combination of reading this brilliant account and seeing firsthand how geography shaped the battle was priceless.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story Well Told
Review: This book is actually a single chapter from Foote's three volume narrative history of the Civil War. It is the central chapter from the central volume, and the tale it contains represents the high water mark of the Confederacy. To say that Foote has a way with words is an understatement. Here is a completely compelling story of a campaign that was a defining moment of the war. In the course of less than 300 pages, Foote provides a powerful tale told in such subtle strokes that you become part of history without being aware of being pulled into it. There are lots of other works about Gettysburg. Most are longer, none are so well told. I read most of this book while we were on a family outing to the Gettysburg battlefield last year. It put the battle in complete context. The combination of reading this brilliant account and seeing firsthand how geography shaped the battle was priceless.
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