The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War by Michael Shaara
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Book Reviews of The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War
Book Review: The Turning Point of the Civil War
Summary: 5 Stars
The Killer Angels is a fascinating portrayal of the key events of the battle at Gettysburg. This small town in Pennsylvania was the site of the convergence of the huge forces of the Confederate and Union armies, led by Robert E. Lee and George Meade respectively. The clash of forces here was to certainly alter the course of the Civil War, giving the Union side the upper hand. The novel tells the story more from the perspective of the South, with focus on General James Longstreet and General Lee; but also Colonel Joshua Chamberlain from the North. Shaara steps into the mindset of these main characters, along with a few others, and weaves a tragic, and sometimes ironic storyline. General Longstreet becomes a particularly interesting character, with his brooding, pessimistic outlook on the battle and the woefully accurate foresight which he is forced to ignore. General Lee appears as a weary and yet determined and tremendously respected leader, who makes some fatal decisions in the battle. Colonel Chamberlain, a pensive and intelligent character, despite being a lower ranking officer on the Union side, nonetheless plays a critical role in guarding the uttermost left flank of the Union line against Longstreet.
Shaara does an excellent job of making the intense battle scenes come alive, and wisely focuses the story on the crucial points of battle. In doing so, he inevitably leaves out the perspective of other major figures, but mostly those who seemed to play a less active role in the battle. The numerous maps of the arrangement of the forces at Gettysburg are immensely useful for picturing the battle, and the fine storytelling makes one want to travel to the historic battle site to see where these events took place. The novel also is a grim reminder of the tremendous casualities and pain of the war, and the emotion of fighting one's own fellow countrymen. This book is highly recommended as informative and engaging reading.
Book Review: Why Study War Anymore: Echoes of Preceding Generations.
Summary: 5 Stars
My title is a takeoff on a 60s-70s chant--"We will study war no more." Michael Shaara's book, which won a Pulitzer in 1974, shows why we SHOULD study war. He has taken his vast knowledge of the Civil War in general, and Gettysbury in particular, and shaped an historical novel, not exceedingly long, than delves into the lives, motivations, thoughts, feelings, and goals, of many types of people who participated in this great struggle for definition of what it is to be American, to be a citizen of the United States (which, after the war, noted Shelby Foote, a singular noun).In my opinion, and knowing personally about Europeans' interest in our Civil War, this book belongs in the Canon of the Literature of Western Civilization...how can I say this? It isn't just because I'm interested in the same topic.
On a recent airline flight, I had the opportunity to spend about an hour explaining "To Kill a Mockingbird" to a young European woman who was assigned that book to read in a high school in Texas....she was in her senior year, with a father in the oil business.
Four months later, I received an e-mail, thanking me for that time, and she commented that her teacher was amazed that she had understood the book, and the issues (the enduring prejudice against blacks in the South long after "Reconstruction."
Why is it relevant? We think we "reconstructed" Europe after World War II--and she realized we hadn't. The same problems we have 140 years after the spring campaigns of 1864, we also see in Europe only 60 years after the dawning of D-Day. We have International Courts, the EU, common currencies, almost instantaneous communication worldwide, and what progress has been made?
A reading of the Killer Angels will stay with you, cause you to think, and demand that YOUR children study war. And so help us, the more who understand it, the better.
Book Review: Killer Angels review
Summary: 5 Stars
I really like the way Michael Shaara presents the battle of Gettysburg in The Killer Angels. His interpretation of primary sources - i.e. soldiers' diaries - is unique and outstanding, and it forms a very good story line. The novel is divided into chapters based on point of view. For the South, the book is told from the perspective of Generals Lee, Longstreet, and Armistead, Col. Fremantle, and Longstreet's spy Harrison. For the Union, Col. Chamberlain and Gen. Buford are featured.Another characteristic that makes this novel so fascinating is how much time is spent behind the scenes. In many war novels, the action takes place mainly on the battlefields or at various places in between battles. That's definitely not so here. Some chapters are spent on the battlefields, but usually more activity takes place behind the lines. However, much of the book is set off the familiar fields of battle and takes place at army headquarters or somewhere else near the commanding offficers at night or early in the morning. These sections show in detail how much planning and how many tough, often critical, decisions go into winning - or losing - a battle and, on a larger scale, a war.
One diffficult thing about reading and comprehending The Killer Angels, however, is how many officers are involved. It can often get very confusing and, if you don't know who's who, it's pointless to read the book. A good way to keep characters straight is to print out a copy of the regimental order of battle for both sides at Gettysburg. ... Trust me, it helps a lot.
Possibly the most significant reason that this book is so fantastic is that Michael Shaara's writing style really makes you feel as if you are there and know the characters well. This is a very difficult concept to explain or understand, and there is only one way to truly grasp the meaning of it: read the book.
Book Review: An Immortal Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Not only will you learn more about Gettysburg and the U.S. Civil War in general, but Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels" is an easy read. Even those with the least of historical knowledge can follow along with leaders Lee, Longstreet, and Chamberlain as they fight for their respective sides and try to make out just what is going on around them. Shaara masterfully describes the three main characters throughout the book. Lee, a dissilusioned leader that believes his men are invincible, Longstreet, Lee's right hand and "War Horse", who is miserably trying to put an end to the war, and Chamberlain, a professor turned colonel who's about to run into some of the thickest fighting of the battle.Shaara's writing style is dry and very to the point. When you read, it's as if you are standing right next to Chamberlain during the second day as he orders a charge. Shaara describes intimately the knowledge around you; the environment is totally immersive. The story turns heartbraking as you realize some of the relationships the soldiers have with their past and friends. For example, Longstreet blames his grumpiness on the death of his children, and the deep friendship between Confederate general Armistead and Union general Hancock as they face each other in a mile-wide charge.
Shaara never got the fame deserved for this book because it was released during Vietnam. Fame did not come until the early 1990's when the feature film based on his book, "Gettysburg", was released. Sadly Shaara passed away before the film was released. "The Killer Angels" inspired Shaara's son, Jeff, to write a prequel and a sequel, in which both are underway for movie treatment.
"The Killer Angels" is, in my opinion, one of the top five books about history. It should be included on a list for some of the best books ever written.
Book Review: A Powerful Work that Transcends Culture
Summary: 5 Stars
I am an Australian and have always possessed a curiosity about the American Civil War. I was loaned a copy of what a friend of mine said was a great book about the Battle of Geetysburg. I was enthusiastic but someheat put off by the title of"The Killer Angels".I can assure you I was not put off for long! This is a fine work and in my opinion the single finest piece of writing I have ever read. Interest in the subject helps of course but this is much more than a historical novel.
This rich drama uses one of the major events of US history as a canvess on which to paint and depict the various aspects of humanity, human frailty and inhumanity which are a part of war. But more than this, the style in which this work is written also offers a keen insight into the workings of the minds of the central characters of Lee, Longstreet and Chamberlain. The quality of the writing places the reader at the centre of not only the action of battle but also the decsions which shaped its outcome and the personal interactions and conflicts which contain lessons in strategy, management and leadership.
The truly remarkable aspects of work this transcend whether or not you are American. It is not surprising that Michael Shaara won a Pultizer Prize for this novel. I encourage any serious reader I know to read this book and indeed it has has crossed the country with me several times. This is a novel which looks into the heart of humanity under the extreme conditions of the horror of battle.
Shaara's son Jeff has performed an admirable job with the "bookend" novels he has written to from a civil war trilogy. I would rate "Gods and Generals" a 4 star compared to "The Killer Angels" 5 but would rate "The Last Full Measure" as very nearly the equal of the original.