I’m a few days late with this, but famed American writer and historian Shelby Foote has gone to meet his Maker.
He was 88 years old.
Following an early career as a novelist, Foote turned to history, writing extensively about the Civil War, which he described as America’s equivalent to the Illiad.
He was a keystone interviewee in Ken Burns’ 11-hour documentary The Civil War, which made him nationally famous.
Foote was the best friend of fellow-novelist Walker Percy, and once the two went to visit William Faulkner. Percy was too shy to enter Faulkner’s dwelling. Foote knocked on the door, entered, and spent several hours there while Percy waited in the car.
REQUIESCAT IN PACEM.
Author: Jimmy Akin
Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."
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I’m a few days late with this, but famed American writer and historian Shelby Foote has gone to meet his Maker.
Heck, in my opinion, Ken Burns’ “The Civil War” should have been called “The Shelby Foote Show”. He was the only interviewee I even remember, and I suspect a twelve-part interview with him would have been superior to the documentary we actually got.
Right, and I’ve heard he would have done more with it, but was put-off by Burns’ lopsided treatment of issues in the second half of the series. Anyway, I read his history, and it is second to none. Never got the credit he deserved because –gasp!– he did not use footnotes.
“Never got the credit he deserved because –gasp!– he did not use footnotes.”
And that is one of my biggest frustrations with Hilaire Belloc as a historian, as well. He’s got some great stuff, and once buried a skeptical colleague in footnotes when challenged on why his books had none to back up the assertions, but without Belloc around to defend his work it is impossible to duplicate and prove his research. That’s why footnotes matter.
Belloc irritates me for the same reason. I just can’t tell what’s his opinion and what he knows to be fact. In addition to lacking footnotes, he also seems scant on specific details–names, dates, locations, etc.
I don’t think it means he shouldn’t be read, but I think his work would be much more valuable if he had included his sources.
Belloc should never be one’s first source in history. Only read him after you know the outline of the matter, then revel (or recoil, as the case may be) in his anlysis.
This is a coincidence. Last night I just took advantage of the $9.95 Summer sale at http://www.Audible.com (which ended last night) and bought the 3 volume set “Civil War – Shelby Foote” for my iPod. These books (or at least the MP3 price quoted) are regularly $60.00 each! I got them all for about $30.00, for all three.
I’ve heard some good reviews on this series and I’m look forward to iPod-ing my way through this 4th of July weekend to Mr. Foote’s best.
Thanks Mr. Foote for all your books.
Tim robles +<><
Since Mr. Foote’s death, I have been looking back over his life’s work, and I understand he narrated an audio cassette version of “Stars in Their Courses” and possibly other works. Apparently this title is out of print. Does anyone know if this audio book is available anywhere, or if it was ever digitized to be burned on CDs? I’ve been looking, but no luck so far. It seems to me that Mr. Foote narrating his own work would be a priceless recording, and I’m surprised to find such little information out there. Thanks in advance.