Greatest Civil War book and most accurate account of the Cvil War I’ve ever read. A set I always wanted to own and now do. Thank you Shelby Foote for your expertise.Regarded as a masterpiece what more need I say. This is for the Time/Life version which people poo poo because of the pictures and maps. That is why I bought it and I wish it had more maps. A companion book with the maps and battles and troop movement should have been created for Shelby Foote's masterpiece. Some complain he focus too much on the south. I believe this is short sighted in that MOST of the war was fought in the South therefore why won't a lot of the focus be the South. My take. I like the Time/Life version. If pictures or maps disrupts the read for you then steer clear. Dirt cheap when I bought it and seems to still be an excellent purchase for what you get 14 hardcovers ~ $100. How can you go wrong? Highly Recommended for the Civil War fan that doesn't already own a copy.Shelby Foote's monumental narrative gets the ultimate treatment here, paired with TIME-LIFE's vast treasure of photographs and smartly divided into 14 volumes. The knock on the more common 3 volume set is that each doesn't sit on your lap without numbing it in no time - they're heavy and indigestible. This is a very smartly produced set that will be a treasure on any bookcase; well-bound, expensive paper and nice bookcovers (when placed in order they produce a photograph of a Union encampment). I can't think of a better way to read or show this classic. I am surprised that it's out-of-print and that nothing was done for it's 50th anniversary publication (this is the 40th anniversary edition) but if you look hard or are lucky (just recently got my edition) to see this anywhere, get it. I don't hold out much hope for a better-produced set of Civil War history than this.Shelby Foote is a master at telling this tale. It reads like a story, not the usual dry Civil War histories. Due to his vivid descriptions, you can almost put yourself in the action. It is suspenseful, which is unheard of for history books. You would think knowing the outcome would effect the story, but not so here. Yes buy it.really good condition, beautiful set of books