Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning historical novel "The Killer Angels" provides more details about the Battle of Gettysburg than any piece of academic nonfiction. His account of the "High Water Mark" of the Civil War features deft characterizations, including Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, and George Pickett as well as Union Generals Buford, and Hancock. Shaara successfully presents various perspectives of the three-day battle by using his characters' voices. The most compelling figure in the book is Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, whose 20th Maine regiment held the Union's left flank on the second day of the battle. The unit's bravery at Little Round Top helped turn the tide of the second day and set the stage for the third day's confrontation at the Angle, during Pickett's Charge. "The Killer Angels" includes numerous maps, which convey a complete sense of what happened at Gettysburg, during July 1-3, 1863. Michael Shaara's ability to convey the thoughts of men in battle- especially their confusion, the "fog of battle"- is positively breath-taking. Reading history is rarely so informative, or as entertaining, as in this book. Anyone who has been to the Gettysburg battlefield will appreciate Shaara's ability to bring the battlefield to life.Read full review
This novel won the pulitzer prize for fiction and for good reason. It's superbly written with a keen eye for military and character details. The commanders come alive in this book like in no other except perhaps Shelby Foote's brilliant (non-fiction) trilogy. The movie "Gettysburg" was based on this novel. If you love historical fiction and the Civil War you must read this fantastic book. The author's son has made quite a career (Jeff Shaara) out of writing a series of novels based upon this one - before and after Gettysburg (which is the setting for Killer Angels). Unfortunately, in this instance, the apple fell quite far from the tree as far as writing capabilities are concerned. Steer clear of the Jeff Shaara books and read the non-fiction histories instead. But, if you need a good/great civil war novel, you're likely to find no better one than this.Read full review
It's been one hundred and fifty years since America fought it's 'Civil War' and in these days of our "Fifty/Fifty" nation that conflict, and the lessons it teaches us about what can happen when otherwise rational people let their emotions rather than their intellects rule the debate, is probably more relevant now than anytime since it was Fought. "The Killer Angels" was written by Michael Shaara in 1974. It covers, from a fictional yet historically precise view, the Battle of Gettysburg in July,1863. The movie "Gettysburg" is based on this book and follows Mr. Shaara's work almost exactly. I would actually watch it first, then read the book- the experience of seeing that film can really make this fantastic work come alive. In the intervening time, Shaara's son Jeff has expanded on what he began with three other books, "Gone For Soldiers", "Gods And Generals"...both 'pre-quels to "Gettysburg" and "The Last Full Measure", which covers the end of the war. Taken together, these four books follow the lives of many of the soldiers who fought...Robert E. Lee, Longstreet, Pickett, 'Stonewall' Jackson and many others on the Confederate side and Joshua Chamberlain, US Grant, Hancock, Buford on the Union's. Not only do the Shaara's have the ability to bring these men, whose deeds were so vital in determining the course our nation today, to life in a way that is an eminently entertaining read, but they also bring us into the mindset of a nation, our nation, at the most critical juncture of it's existence. Our knowing 'how it turned out' does nothing to diminish the excitement and drama of their writings. Each battle is described in completely accurate detail, accompanied by maps showing the several critical stages of the engagements. Between the maps and the writing, we can see the movement, know the weather, the sounds, the horror and the thrill of the participants, as well as the mistakes, tactics and sometimes plain old good or bad luck, that led to either victory or defeat. After completing these books the reader comes away with an understanding and sympathy for these people that's almost indescribable, as well as a factual knowledge of both the Civil War and how it could happen that no dry history text can give us. Yes, there is a great deal of 'fiction' here...no one can know the exact thoughts of the men involved or precise words they might have used...but based on their lives and actions, the Shaaras 'fiction' is entirely reasonable from an historical point of view, as well as critical for both our reading enjoyment and understanding of war. These are books that can be read again and again by anyone even casually interested in history, as well as referred to by any 'student' of the war. Are they the 'definitive' history of The Civil War? No, but they're not meant to be. They're an (entirely successful) attempt to bring to life a time in our nation's history that should never be forgotten. Given our country's current political divide, the facts of our first Black President and the anniversary of the war, it's also a fitting time to re-visit this chapter of the story of our nation.Read full review
One of if not the finest story of human conflict in the face of war. Shaara's character development is outstanding as he takes the reader on a journey to the inner struggles which these commanders faced on the eve of the turning point of the American Civil War. We witness warfare moving from an outdated romantic vision to the first steps of what modern warfare with the use of technology will look like. The mounting numbers of loss in human life will be inconsequential if the final outcome brings success. Sections of this novel read so poetic with imagery and life. The dialogue between Chamberlain and Kilrain is classic as they debate the value and worth of man. So profound are Shaara's words that in the world today we must stop and question if Chamberlain's hope for man is correct and mankind is worth saving and in fact we do have value as seen in that inner spark. The literary world lost a true voice with the death of Michael Shaara.Read full review
This book was assigned reading in an American History class in college. This was the first book I read of the "historical fiction" genre, and I was moved beyond words. I felt transported back to the Civil War, a subject I had never even been that interested in. The character development is superb, and the method of telling a story as seen by both sides (North and South) and from many vantage points was brilliant. I cannot recommend this book enough!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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