The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War
by Michael Shaara
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Book Summary Information
Author: Michael ShaaraBrand: Random House
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1987-08-12
ISBN: 0345348109
Number of pages: 355
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780345348104
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War
Book Review: Book Review of The Killer Angels
Summary: 5 Stars
Cannonballs soaring through the air accompanied by thunderous claps. Countless rifles firing, releasing tremendous force and a barrage of bullets. Thousands of men dead or wounded. The American Civil War is in full force, and the two armies have collided at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is the most significant battle of the war, which decides the future of the United States of America. The Killer Angels is the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that takes the reader onto the battlefield. It masterfully depicts the bloodshed, bravery, and strategy at Gettysburg with complete historical accuracy, while maintaining the reader's interest and a state of unrelenting suspense. I feel The Killer Angels is a superb novel. The excitement of the combat pours out from every page. The writer uses such clear language that everything is easily perceived, and the maps help a great deal in understanding the events that transpired. The motives of both sides and the thoughts of the Generals are shown, providing very good insight into the reasons behind every decision, as well as the causes of the war itself. The story is told from the points of view of the important Generals involved in the fighting. This is a very important aspect, because it allows the reader to see both sides of the conflict and comprehend the moves each side makes, allowing for a full understanding of the ordeal. One can see why Buford decided to face the Confederates on the first day of battle although greatly outnumbered, or the reasons for Pickett's famous charge. This also shows the motives of each side in fighting the war. It may seem that the Confederates fought only to defend slavery, but the book shows that this is not so. Some commanders of the Rebel army were indeed outraged that people thought that the reason. Many of them did not even own slaves, and believed they were fighting for independence: freedom from the rule of the oppressive Washington government. The insight this book provides is terrific. From the mood of the armies, to the personalities of the Generals, to the emotions flying in the heat of battle, to the aftermath of the engagement and its effect on the Generals, not the slightest detail is omitted. You will feel as though you had been there at Gettysburg after reading this book. The combat is presented very clearly: the reader constantly knows what is going on and why. The Killer Angels is very suspenseful, for the reader is continuously wondering what will happen next: how will one General respond to the move of another, and will the plan work or not? The reader feels the agony that General Buford goes through as he orders his men to do their best to stop the Confederate advance, wonders if they will be able to hold until backup arrives, prays for backup to arrive on time, and questions whether it was a good idea in the first place. The book is full of unceasing action. It starts two days before battle when a spy brings General Longstreet the news that the Union army is very close. This catches the Rebs by surprise and they begin to mobilize for battle, although at first not believing the spy. Then there is the first day of fighting when Buford, commander of the Union cavalry, takes a stand against General Hill's troops at Gettysburg. Reynolds soon brings infantry to help Buford, and then Ewell's Corps and other Confederate divisions join the battle. The second day sees fighting at Devil's Den, on Little Round Top, and at the Peach Orchard and the Wheat Field, as the Confederates storm the Union forces with relentless attack, but the Army of the Potomac manages to stand its ground against the Rebels. On the third and final day of the battle, Lee orders a full-blown strike on the Union army along Cemetery Ridge despite Longstreet's disapproval of such a plan. The brave charge led by General Picket is stopped, and the Confederate army thus loses the battle of Gettysburg. All these events actually took place, and so I feel Michael Shaara has done a wonderful job in keeping The Killer Angels historically accurate. He has just changed some of the dialect so it is easier to understand, and eliminated the minor characters and unimportant occurrences for the sake of brevity. I enjoyed reading this book a whole lot. It was thrilling from beginning to end, and it fueled my interest in history. I was captivated by the battle scenes that came alive with the vivid details used by the author. The way the Michael Shaara managed to present both sides of the war allowed me to understand the true reasons for this bloody battle, and the causes of a civil war in America. I particularly enjoyed how much the Generals and soldiers were described in the novel because this allowed me to sympathize with them and understand their decisions and relationships with one another, as well as even put myself in their place, which made history much more interesting and personal than bare facts in a textbook could do. It was also a great idea of the author allow the reader to view the battle from the eyes of numerous different Generals. That definitely allowed me to comprehend all that took place, and all that caused it to take place, much better. I would certainly recommend The Killer Angels to others. If you enjoy history and the art of warfare, you will love this book. You will also find it worth your time if you just like a gripping story filled with excitement and adventure. Even if you do not know too much about the Civil War, you will not regret reading this novel. You will comprehend everything due to the clarity with which this book is written, and it will kindle your interest in history.
Summary of The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War
Winner of the Pultizer Prize
In the four most bloody and courageous days of our nation?s history, two armies fought for two conflicting dreams. One dreamed of freedom, the other of a way of life. Far more than rifles and bullets were carried into battle. There were memories. There were promises. There was love. And far more than men fell on those Pennsylvania fields. Bright futures, untested innocence, and pristine beauty were also the casualties of war. Michael Shaara?s Pulitzer Prize?winning masterpiece is unique, sweeping, unforgettable?the dramatic story of the battleground for America?s destiny.
This novel reveals more about the Battle of Gettysburg than any piece of learned nonfiction on the same subject. Michael Shaara's account of the three most important days of the Civil War features deft characterizations of all of the main actors, including Lee, Longstreet, Pickett, Buford, and Hancock. The most inspiring figure in the book, however, is Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, whose 20th Maine regiment of volunteers held the Union's left flank on the second day of the battle. This unit's bravery at Little Round Top helped turned the tide of the war against the rebels. There are also plenty of maps, which convey a complete sense of what happened July 1-3, 1863. Reading about the past is rarely so much fun as on these pages.
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