epic
This is more than an epic story of the civil war. It is a drama told with great skill and passion by Foote. It is a drama of military conflict, but more than that, it is a drama of life. Foote describes in detail events, passions, mistakes, personal conflicts, generals abilities to overcome setbacks in some cases, and inabilities in other. If you read this narrative you will realize how relative it is to the tribulations and exaltations everyone experiences in the course of a life and career.