I've heard Foote's trilogy criticized for being so focused on the military aspects of this time in history; however, considering the incredible complexity and energy with which he handles the subject, I think the man can be forgiven for not trying to write another three volumes about society! Foote's prose has the warmth and energy of good conversation, and yet manages to convey an enormous wealth of detail and fact. For years, I resisted learning anything about the Civil War -- as a Southerner raised in an area still thick with hackneyed pro-Confederate views, I felt that I knew (and disliked) the story. These books converted me into an enthusiast; Foote states that American history can't be understood without a thorough knowledge of the Civil War, and the trilogy proves his point.