Shelby Foote

Date of Birth: November 17, 1916

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: June 27, 2005

Biography

Shelby Foote was an American historian and novelist, best known for his comprehensive three-volume history of the American Civil War, “The Civil War: A Narrative.” Born in Greenville, Mississippi, Foote developed an early interest in literature, which he pursued at the University of North Carolina. Although he initially aimed to be a fiction writer, his interest in American history led him to the monumental task of documenting the Civil War in a narrative style that combined thorough research with engaging storytelling. Over two decades, he meticulously crafted his trilogy, which has since become a cornerstone of Civil War literature. Beyond his writings, Foote gained widespread recognition through his participation in Ken Burns’ documentary series “The Civil War,” where his insightful commentary and distinctive Southern accent made him a beloved figure to many viewers.

5 Interesting Facts about Shelby Foote

1. Shelby Foote was a lifelong friend of novelist Walker Percy, and their correspondence was published in “The Correspondence of Shelby Foote and Walker Percy.”

2. He served in the United States Army during World War II but was discharged for medical reasons before seeing combat.

3. Foote’s first novel, “Tournament,” was published in 1949, long before he began his work on the Civil War trilogy.

4. He worked as a journalist for a short period, including a stint at the Associated Press.

5. Foote was once expelled from the University of North Carolina for keeping a pistol in his dormitory room.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Shelby Foote

1. “A university is just a group of buildings gathered around a library.”

2. “If you want to study writing, you have to study the masters of writing.”

3. “I can’t begin to tell you the things I discovered while I was looking for something else.”

4. “I think that the North fought that war with one hand behind its back.”

5. “The Civil War defined us as what we are and it opened us to being what we became, good and bad things.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Shelby Foote’s highest net worth is estimated to have been around $1.5 million, much of which he accrued through book sales and television appearances.