"Catton or Foote?" Topic

I think Bruce Catton is a writer who is touched with greatness. He is a fine historian but for me that is beside the point. I think his Army of the Potomac trilogy is the American Iliad and it will be read as long as long as the printed word exists.

Love Catton. Always will. I was a bored kid one summer when I picked up Mr. Lincoln's Army and started to read it. Couldn't put it down. Went on to read everything Catton. Read Foote too. But Catton started it all for me. Love his style. Still have those 3 volumes of the Army of the Potomac trilogy on my self today.

I think Bruce Catton is a writer who is touched with greatness. He is a fine historian but for me that is beside the point. I think his Army of the Potomac trilogy is the American Iliad and it will be read as long as long as the printed word exists.

I couldn't agree more. I read Catton's trilogy on the Army of the Potomac in high school and have kept it in my library ever since.

Thinking back I think one reason I liked Catton was because I read him when I was young and blissfully unaware of historians using their works to advance or refute agendas.

I own works by Foote, Catton and McPherson and have read and enjoyed all three. It is important to read historians with more than one background. If you want to understand both sides of the arguement, read all of them. If you just want someone to reinforce your own pre-existing view then the point is moot.

B