This is, without a doubt, the best book on the seige of Vicksburg that maybe was ever written. Never have I gotten more insight into the heart of Grant as well as a blow by blow description of the problems that befell this Union Army in undertaking what some have called an impossible victory.

For some it may be unclear just how Grant finally took the city of Vicksburg and who to tell it wisely but Shelby Foote! Shelby Foote is probably one of the best authors of the Civil War around and it is certainly easy to understand why in this very informative book! Foote carefully explains all engagements in and around Vicksburg that eventually come to light towards the finish. Every event is descriptively written covering many naval strategies along the Mississippi, Yazoo and other rivers which were of importance to naval affairs of each opposing side. Grants struggles to capture the city are indeed covered by many in depth chapters which cover the naval and land assaults. Also to help build the story, strategic moves in and around the city by Sherman and other generals make it easy to understand the Union grip upon Pemberton towards the end. Another interesting part of this book was about Grant's personal dealings with daily life and how alcohol was a problem. Besides just mentioning movements and battles in this book, condition of troops, officers and citizens of Vicksburg is also presented well. Pemberton's decisions towards the end to surrender easily give the reader a true sense of desparation upon the part of Pemberton to seek help from Johnston for most of the seige which never came. Such writing makes it clear of Pemberton's motives to defend yet finally surrender the city to Union forces as a the stranglehold is built up from the start of the book and to the end!

I hope my fellow reviewer's amusing description of this slender volume as "Foote Lite" doesn't mislead a potential reader into thinking that "The Beleaguered City" lacks any of the poetry and the power of the three-volume masterwork from which it is excerpted. It simply presents the great historian's work in a more easily digested portion - a consumer service for which I personally am quite grateful.

While the Vicksburg campaign, being (in my simple opinion, anyway) more of coup de grace than a turning point, lacks the supreme drama of the battle at Gettysburg (magnificently presented in Foote's "The Stars In Their Courses", over which I have raved elsewhere), it is an amazing story in its own right. As always, not only does Foote brilliantly limn the military action with stirring prose of an almost Homeric grandeur, he unearths the small human details that bring the long-ago events to life with shuddering poignancy. (i.e. A Union commander preparing to assault a Confederate fort at daybreak reports that from behind the enemy's walls he heard "the prettiest reveille I ever did hear", or General McClernand maintaining his military reserve even as a distraught Southern woman defiantly sings "The Bonnie Blue Flag" right in his face.) He is fortunate, of course, to be studying a period in which even humble footsoldiers, steeped in the cadences of the King James Bible, commanded a musical quality of rhetoric that puts today's orators to shame. (i.e. A disgruntled newspaper editor begs his political friend to convince Lincoln that General Grant is "a jackass in the original package", and a captured Union officer gallantly inquires of his captors, "Is this the Army of the Confederacy for which I have so long and earnestly sought? Then, sirs, I am your guest for the duration.")

A very special treat is the audio edition, read by Foote himself in a smoky Mississippi drawl that could not be better suited to the text. It's akin to hearing the great national epic patiently recited by the Voice of America itself.

this is a must have collection (the 3 volumes), for anyone intersted in writting short stories or the russia of 1900's, it contains his most important works of this type, the translation is made by one of the foremost experts on russian literature 'Constance Garnett', although is to notice that it does not include any references in the footnotes of changed russian words that do not exist in english.

Read one of these stories a day (and perhaps chow down on an apple) and... your happiness is assured!

Highest possible recommendation!

Marvelous is the only word to describe this first of three volumes of Anton Chekhov's short stories published by the Modern Library. While the following two compilations are each superlative in their own way (thank you again, Shelby Foote), this Early Short Stories 1883-88, is a thrilling peek at genuis not only flowering but seemingly mature; a self-assured young artist at play in his medium, inventing a new(then) approach to emotions as easily as passing off a serf's bromide or a bishop's benediction. This is lesson one in the art of the short story, boys & girls, and it doesn't get much better....ever.

While this is not a "how to" book it certainly is "why to" book. It's a look at remarkable family that gives anyone who has never invested in the stock market a perfectly good reason why they should! Patience and long term results are a philosophy that has worked well for them over the years. It's a look at a concept and philosophy handed down by the patriarch of the family that wealth should not be handed down, but earned. Spanning 4 generations, Rothchild gives the reader a remarkable insight into a family that works hard and plays hard. Even with this success the family has given back through many philanthropic endeavers including millions to the United World College. The college, with 10 campus' world-wide endeavers to bring students of different cultures and backgrounds together to foster understanding of each other in a world that desperately needs it.

I personally don't care for dry investment books. I read for entertainment. This book provides a great combination as it is a biography of a family steeped in money management and also gives tips of how they were able to grow their fortune.

The book traces the investment history of Shelby Davis to his son to his grandsons. Shelby had family money through his wife and starts investing shortly after the crash in '29. Like many people, I assumed the market has been a somewhat continual climb with some setbacks. This books traces the history showing the many periods of lackluster stock value growth and how most Americans shunned the stock market for bonds. Quite a difference from today.

The original Shelby was a miserly value investor who never spent an extra dime. His investment hits were insurance stocks when no one liked that industry and some prudent investments in Japan, also mainly in the insurance industry. By leaving these investments to compound for years, Shelby built a great fortune. But the hidden engine behind this vast growth was the use of margin to leverage his returns. The original Shelby eventually grew his fortune to over a billion dollars in value.

Shelby's son Shelby did not work with his father until late in his life but eventually became a money manager of some renown also. His philosophy was similar but different and his large money winners tended to be from other industries. The book ends with the sons of Shelby Jr. taking over their father's money management firm and establishing their own identity.

Along this 70 year history, you will learn about the markets and the different stages of development over the years. A significant amount of time is spent in the 60s and 70s as both of the Shelby's were investing at that time. I strongly recommend this book if you have interest in the market and its history.

John Rothchild has written a fascinating biography of one of Wall Street's most successful and least-known investors, Shelby Davis, who turned a $50,000 initial investment in 1947 into $900 million, almost exclusively by buying and selling insurance stocks. Part character study, part Wall Street history, Rothchild's book reads like a novel, with an accessible and witty narrative. Of special note is the concise summary of Davis' investment strategy, which rivals Buffettology in its simplicity and common sense. In Rothchild's hands, Davis' life becomes a fun read, no matter what your business interests, and we from (..)recommend this book to all curious readers.

Stanton's book traces the evolution of US Army Special Forces in Southeast Asia from 1956-1975. He addresses the varied programs and missions that were conducted under Special Forces auspices during the period of American military involvement in Laos, Cambodia, and Viet Nam. His use of official records coupled with interviews with many of the participants provides an insight that all serious students of Speicial Forces will appreciate. The book includes maps of operational areas and provides a listing of Special Forces personnel classified as missing in action as well as Special Forces recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I made the decision to join Special Forces in 1987 after reading this book. It is by far the most detailed and comprehensive account of Special Forces units and missions in Southeast Asia. There are plenty of "There I was ....." books written by SF men who fought there, and these are great reads and definitely of great historical importance, but this one puts all of it into chronological order. The book begins with the activation of 1st Special Forces Group in 1957 and ends with the final missions of the early 70s. All major operations and facets of SF participation are covered, to include MACV-SOG, CIDG, LLDB, and the Mike Force units. I give this book 5 stars in spite of the fact that the author has failed to respond to allegations in the book "Stolen Valor," which maintains that the author lied about participating in combat missions as well as being wounded in Laos, and used thousands of stolen unit records to write this and other historical works. These accusations do not detract from the book's quality, but if they are true I give the author zero stars for integrity.

Mr. Santon presents an excellent and authorative review of Special Forces (Green Berets) overt, covert and clandestine special warfare operations in Southeast Asia from 1956 through 1975. I was especially pleased to see some of the photos that I took while serving in B36, Third Mobile Strike Force, from 1969-1970 in War Zone D. Good Job! The text is a must for every Green Beret's library. I sincerely want to locate a copy for my Special Forces / Special Operations library.

Rather than watch re-runs from my treasured collection of Marjoe Gortner memorabilia, Bishop Spong's introduction made possible a startling encounter with my faith! For the very first time, I learned that a tiny child -- even a Jewish waif -- could heal a belligerent tumor. Don't take my word for it -- try reading the Apocryphal Acts of the Young Christ, then take the ever-affirming Spong Challenge! A real wowser worth every point Amazon offers!

Not only a well-written hypothesis lacking emotional impact, it lacks theological impact as well. Had Jesus up and married and gave birth in India, He might have had the foresight to design and develop the world's first atomic weapons -- and drop them on the unsuspecting readers of this book. Not one for Dr. Strangelove, Bishop Spong nevertheless offers a satisfying substitute.

Coming across this title provides the reader with a clear pattern for adolescent faith development. Resources filling in the blanks of Jesus' adolescence aren't generally helpful. But this one is! The sense of incarnational reality is available to the reader as the author develops his argument not predicated on the life of an individual but rather a generation in which Jesus lived, and moved, and had his being. The consciousness of faith in the maturation of Jesus of Nazareth helps the reader's understanding of the Gospels not in a secret, gnostic way but in the natural unfolding of an integrated faith. Rev. Canon James Irvine

This was a very touching story. It dealt with family problems of the past anf present. Josephine went through a lot, but all she needed was the love of a great man, and Hannibal Ray was that man. Good story!

Josephine Brennon had a really hard childhood. She never felt loved after her mother died and she went to live with her Aunt Cordelia. That is until she met a drifter looking for work and into her life comes Hannibal Ray.

Hannibal had his own ghosts to slay. He never really had anything of material value and didn't care. He started thinking about that those things when he started to get to know Josephine. Aunt Cordelia was a trip. When I started reading this book, I said to myself "This woman has a real problem." I was right and in the book it reveals all of Cordelia's past. Destiny, which is the name of a town in Oklahoma was full of secrets and the people who kept them.

This is my first romance written by Shelby Lewis. I thought the book could have been a little longer, but was really good.

To all my fellow romance readers, let me say this first hand, this book does not have the steamy love scenes, however, the book is very good! Shelby Lewis has written such a compelling story of a drifter named Hannibal Ray and a recluse woman name Josephine Brennon that takes place in Texas and Oklahoma. The way this author developes the relationship between Hannibal and Josephine kept me deeply interested until the final page. Although I have gotten accustomed to the initimate scenes I really enjoyed the creativeness Ms. Lewis uses to make us feel the intimacy that occurs between Hannibal and Josephine in lieu of the actual descriptive words. If you like stories that involve tuff men who don't take no mess from anyone, a woman who illustrates just how tuff she can be and how she trust Hannibal enough to come into her life, lies, secrets, betrayal and of course love sparks. Then, you'll enjoy reading this book. This was my first book I have read by Shelby Lewis and since I enjoyed it so much I look forward to reading more of her work.

Great read, spies, intrigue, and some good tradecraft, and then some

Thrillers don't get much more intense than this one. Sloane Ryder is a New York financial analyst. She stumbles across dirty financial dealing in a major corporation and is fired and blacklisted for reporting it to the SEC. She despairs of finding a job, but is noticed and hired by a secret division of the General Accounting Office. It has detected some disturbing happenings involving the Chinese and high officials in the US government. Soon, with the help of Secret Servicewomen, Holland Tylo and Hollis Fremont, whom Shelby readers will recognize from previous books, an incredible plot emerges. The Chinese government intends to kill the American president and use the confusion as cover to conquer Taiwan. But as Sloane's unit closes in on the American traitors, the Handyman, a professional assassin hired by the Chinese, murders them. The action moves ever-faster to a breathtaking climax. This is a genuine thriller. I usually can put any book aside, no matter how thrilling, until I have time to read again, but I couldn't stop reading this one. Shelby has given us a first-rate story.

Philip Sheby delivers once again and this may be his best yet! It is simply a page turning read with well drawn characters, a fascinating story and enough twists and turns to keep one's interest up until the last page. Don't let this one stay on the shelf!

For years, Washington was well served in the U.S. Senate by "Scoop and Maggie," that is, Henry "Scoop" Jackson and Warren Magnuson. However, while Jackson twice sought the presidency and has been the subject of at least two biographies, Magnuson has been largely forgotten. In fact, he was never a household word nationwide. Fortunately, journalist Shelby Scates has given Maggie the kind of work his memory deserves and his admirers have wanted. This very well researched and documented biography goes back to Magnuson's roots in North Dakota, to his activism in the leftist Washington Commonwealth Federation in the 30's, to his long and distinguished congressional career, and, finally, to his narrow defeat in the Reagan revoluntion of 1980. The lover of liquor and beautiful women always managed to remain a dedicated senator who was respected, even loved, by his colleagues. Maggie looked like a good ol' boy, but was a diehard liberal who advocated civil rights, consumer rights, and worker rights. America is a better place because of Warren Magnuson. Our knowledge of him would have been remiss, were in not for this book.

This is an accurate and entertaining book about the life and deeds of Warren Magnuson. It tells of the remarkable things he accomplished for Washington State. Everyone should be aware of his great contributions. The author, Shelby Scates did a remarkable and accurate job in portraying Magnusons accomplishments and colorful personality.

I believe that any freshman legislator and all students studying the history of Washington State should read this historical novel. It should be part of the corriculum of all schools in Washington State and be availabe in all of the state libraries.

Fans of Shelby Foote's massive three volume Narrative History of the Civil War, (and I am the work's biggest fan), will surely find something they like in Foote's earlier novel about the battle of Shiloh. I couldn't help thinking, however, that Foote's real calling is as historian and commentator, and his effort to write a novel here seems to be a bit off the mark.

Perhaps unfairly, novels of the Civil War tend to get compared to Michael Shaara's brilliant Killer Angels, a comparison that does not bode well for Shiloh. Here Foote tries to tell the story of the battle by providing first person narratives by a number of foot soldiers and adjutants, who often spend most of the battle lost, since I think Foote was trying to portray the confusion of this first great battle of the Civil War, with about 100,000 soldiers on the field and almost 25% casualties. However his narrative style ends up creating a jumbled mess, with no interaction between the characters, and not enough personal insight to make the reader remember or care about any of the narrators.

It seemed to me that Foote the historian is effectively telling the history of the battle and providing biographical info of certain major players, like Albert Sidney Johnston, Ulysses Grant and Nathan Bedford Forrest, and he occasionally throws in a forced reference to a girlfriend back home or a memory from school to remind the reader this is a novel. In particular the very beginning, where assistants tell the reader all about the history of Generals Johnston and Grant (under whom they supposedly serve), seemed contrived. If you enjoyed the campfire banter of Lee and Longstreet in Killer Angels, or the heroic determination of Lewis Armistead to do his duty without harming his good friend Winfield Hancock, you will find nothing comparable here.

I should point out that the audio version of this book had an excellent afterword by the author, where Foote puts the battle in context, discusses his views on literature and especially literature about war, and recounts a trip to Shiloh battlefield he made with William Faulkner in 1952 around the 90th anniversary of the battle. Here is Foote at his finest, spinning a yarn and discussing topics including "Grant was drunk" - (which he denies) and "Grant was surprised" (Foote thinks surely he was, which is a testament to his genius as a general). The excellent afterword, which I enjoyed a lot more than novel, elevated this audio set to 3 1/2 stars in my opinion.

This isn't the greatest Civil War novel - that honour belongs to the Killer Angels, and probably Cold Mountain, but it's a very fine book.

Foote is one of the great authorities on the War, and though he wrote this when pretty young it is still filled with detail and knowledge of the war. It conveys well the chaos of the fighting and how, as so often, small failures of generalship cost the battle.

However, I found the plotting pretty contrived, and the effort to tell the battle through multiple viewpoints was not really helped by the way the different characters kept unwittingly crossing each other. Also, though this book was certainly ahead of its time in trying to convey the war through ordinary men's eyes, you sensed that Foote was actually more drawn to the leaders who he used the soldiers to describe - Forrest, Grant, Sherman etc. Also, the method he uses, and the whole way in which Shiloh was neither defeat or victory for either side, means the ending is curiously unsatisfying and unresolved - unlike the war itself.

But, if there's something that doesn't quite work about this book, there's a lot that does. Enjoy.

Shelby Foote has maintained that he is a story teller above all things. Yet, he has come to be considered a leading expert on the American Civil War because of his trilogy on the war. In Shiloh: A Novel, he gives us a fictional account of the two-day battle of April 1862.

Foote tells the story of 6 different participants in the battle, both Union and Confederate. The men are tired, scared, brave, leaders, and runners. The book is short, only 226 pages, but we feel their fear and excitment, even if only for a moment, along with their short-sighted view of the fighting. Here there is no grand view of the entire battle nor of the tactics and planning. These are largely the fighters who carry out the orders, not knowing why most of the time, only that they are soldiers and this is what they do.

Originally published well before the Shaara trilogy, Shiloh ranks with them and The Red Badge of Courage in the emotion and story telling. The reader becomes part of the action for a short while, until you can almost smell the gunpowder.

I bought this book because of an enduring love affair with the literary works of Walker Percy. As an addition to the literary biographies of Percy written by Samway and Tolson, the letters serve their purpose well. As a letters volume on its own merits, The Correspondence of Shelby Foote and Walker Percy is unbalanced. Apparently, Foote didn't start saving Percy's letters until the exchange had been occurring for some time. Nevertheless, it is thoroughly interesting to observe Foote's massive ego as he lectures Percy, having the knowledge that Percy ultimately became the far greater literary star. If you've already delved deeply into the work and history of Walker Percy, you'll need this book. If not, find a different starting place, this is not a good place to begin.

This was a great read, but each of the correspondents disappointed in their own ways. Percy's letters are written in an intelligent but notably vague style; Foote's have more bite and literary polish, but at the same time display a nasty streak in his personality that remained invisible in his brilliant _Civil War_.

It's a bit sickening to watch on as Foote seduces the wife of a local doctor, and later recommends to Percy (oh so wittily) that he use pillows to prop up the crotches of female UNC undergrads so that they might better serve his wishes.

On the bright side, it is hilarious to watch Foote react to a letter from a clueless librarian accusing him of failing to mention Gettysburg in his history (she seems not to have realized that it was a multi-volume work). Even more importantly, the entire collection is thought-provoking.

Pity Shelby Foote. Most people know his as a writer of books on the Civil War. But when you read this book of letters you see that what thrilled him most was reading great literature.

The reader of this book of letters between two friends will be thrilled by talk of literature. Foote is like Herr Settembrini of Thomas Mann's "The Magic Mountain". He is so overwhelmed by humantistic learning that he finds he must educate his friend and mentor Hans Castrop, in this case Walker Percy.

It is ironic that the prodigy in this case, Walker Percy, soon eclipses the mentor. Walker Percy agonizes in his early letters about his inability to have his novels published while Foote publishes his books in rapid succession. But today Percy's "Moviegoer" and other books are still read while only Foote's "Shiloh" is really still popular. It seems Foote is stuck with Civil War fame have written his long classic on the war.

Reading Foote's letters is where I discovered Flanney O'Connor. Walker Percy and Shelby Foote spoke highly of her here. They also talk about the important of reading Marcel Proust, Faulkner, and a dozen others. Toward the end Foote begins to spew forth on the merits of reading the Greek classics. It is his description of these books and their authors that adds to one's own literary education.

The first part of the book is a little annoying because Shelby Foote threw away the letters that Walker Percy sent to him for the first many years of their correspondence. So you keep reading Shelby Foote but are not privvy to what Walker Percy as to say.