The only point on which I disagree with Geoffrey Ward in “Matters of Fact” (December 1987) is in his evaluation of the Civil War historian Shelby Foote as being as good or better a writer than Bruce Catton. At best Foote is as good—and that is still a high compliment.

But both Foote and Catton, as well as Nevins, do their jobs as writers and teachers. They tell the story so well they draw you into the period, make you want to understand and to learn. They learned what more history teachers have to realize—history can be both fascinating and educational.