Top 5 Civil War Novels

Since the end of the Civil War in 1865, many novels have touched on the conflict, either from the perspective of the Union or of the Confederates. Only a few novels, however, delve into the reality of the war in a way that makes us feel like we were there. As we get closer to the 150th anniversary of the Civil War (or the War of Northern Aggression as it is called in the South), it is interesting to read different perspectives on the motives and the aftermath of the war. Here are my picks for the top five novels about the Civil War.

1. North and South

John Jakes' North and South is actually a trilogy of novels: North and South, Love and War, and Heaven and Hell. The novels were turned into television mini-series in the 80's starring Patrick Swayze. The novels start before the Civil War, follow it through, and then follow the lives of two families in the aftermath. The Hazards from the North and the Mains from the South are connected through the friendship of Orrie Main and George Hazard, who meet at West Point Academy in 1842. The comprehensive story follows them through the Mexican-American war and, of course, the Civil War. A significant commitment to read the trilogy but definitely worth the effort.

2. The Red Badge of Courage

This 1895 novel by Stephen Crane is one of the most revered texts in literature and an interesting, if one-sided, look at the Civil War from a point only 30 years removed from it. Red Badge started as a serialized story in The Philadelphia Press in 1894 and the book had a large following even before its first printing hit stores. The historical details of the novel are vague at best, but the story follows a new Union recruit who is terrified at the possibility of conflict. He "grows up" during ensuing conflicts and learns the meaning of courage. If you're looking for realism, you might want to take a pass on this one, but its main purpose is to expose the heart of a soldier and it does this stunningly.

3. The Killer Angels

Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels covers only four days of the Civil War: the Battle of Gettysburg. The book won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1975 and was turned into the movie, Gettysburg. The story unfolds from the perspective of individuals on both sides of the war. Although at times the book has a similar feel to The Red Badge of Courage, Shaara has stated in interviews that his goal was to tell the story from a more strategic perspective, examining the motivations of generals and commanders rather than new recruits. Killer Angels includes maps of the battle which help relay the historic accuracy of the background.

4. Gone With the Wind

Margaret Mitchell, an Atlanta journalist was cajoled by both a publisher and a friend into bringing to light an old manuscript she kept hidden in her modest house. The publisher recognized the potential of the manuscript and, in 1936, published Gone With the Wind. It was turned into a top-selling movie three years later. Gone With the Wind is a detailed account of the Civil War's impact on Atlanta, and, in particular, on the wealthy who had no interest in politics or nationalism. Atlanta was burned to the ground by Sherman's army and, even today, only six pre-war houses stand there. A great depiction of the war from the South's perspective.

5. Cold Mountain

This best-seller was Charles Frazier's debut novel. It follows a fictionalized version of the last years of W.P. Inman, a real Confederate soldier wounded in 1863 and a deserter in 1864. The novel follows Inman as he signs up at the beginning of the war and eventually realizes he only wants to be home with the love of his life, Ada Monroe. Monroe, a privileged rich Charleston girl, has come to Cold Mountain in western North Carolina in the ministry with her father. When the war starts, she is left to her own to run the farm and to learn how to be self-sustaining. Monroe is helped by Ruby, a self-sufficient young woman who teaches her how to cook, clean and raise crops and animals. As the book portrays Inman's walk home to Cold Mountain, it shows the impact of the war on the rural residents of North Carolina and makes clear that there was more to the war than slavery.