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: Remarkable Retelling of the Battle of Gettysburg
Summary: 5 Stars
A brilliant retelling the last major engagement and one of the most significant battles of the American Civil War, this historical novel details the three-day battle of Gettysburg, as told from the viewpoints of the commanders (such as Lee and Longstreet of the Confederate Army along with Chamberlain and Buford of the Union Army). Unlike other Civil War novels, such as The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, The Killer Angels focuses more on the strategies of battle and the the generals who make those crucial decisions. The plot is somewhat less important because reader's who have studied the Civil War (in Middle School perhaps) are aware of how the battles occur as well as their results (victors, casualties, etc.). Rather, what's notable is how Michael Shaara managed to portray the characters...their personalities (shown through vivid dialoque between officers as well as deep comtemplation within each commander's mind), their beliefs, and the thinking that was involved behind their military decisions. Every commander is shown with his own virtues as well as his flaws, which only adds to the depth of each man's personalties. The research clearly apparent in this novel is superb. Michael Shaara shows a keen sense of knowledge as to the war's background and (important) details, and he does not appear to favor either side. Rather, he illustrates, very clearly, both "causes" to show why each commander and every soldier continued to fight in this long war that forced brother against brother.
The maps, placed with their corresponding pages, are very helpful in illustrating the military strategies involved. Also, the film Gettysburg, which is based on this novel, was amazing and incredibly well done in adapting the novel to film format. A remarkable novel.
~Elena Archer.
Book Review: The Killer Angles Review
Summary: 5 Stars
Gettysburg, 1863- The sight of the three bloodiest days in American history. We've read about it thousands of times, in practically every American History book. But what was it like for those in charge of the chaos? Michael Shaara tells us his interpretations, through great story telling, and amazing description in his 1974 classic, The Killer Angels. This is a historical fiction book that is both imaginative, and innovative.We've heard stories of what it was like before. We've all heard of the booming cannons, the deadly gunshots, the restless hospitals, and the dying men. But what about the men in the headquarters? Shaara does a great job of expressing the emotions of the leaders. He describes what they felt towards their men, and what they went through with every decision they had to make. Shaara also does a great job putting emphasis on the little know historical facts, such as John Buford, a Union general who was never given credit for choosing the ground at Gettysburg.
In addition to his great characterization, Shaara does not slack on the description end. "There were a few groans; most dead sounds from dying earth most of them soft and low. There was a fire far off, a large fire burning in the grove of the trees, men outlined against a great glare; a band was playing something disorient, something unrecognizable".
The exceptional emotion and description is what makes The Killer Angles a classic that is near impossible to put down. It shows what America's deadliest war was like from another view, thus innovating a new style, which will later be used in such novels as we were Soldiers Once, and Young. I found The Killer Angels to be both entertaining, and informative. This is a must-read for anybody who likes drama, action, adventure, and history.
Book Review: Eyewitness Accounts of the Battle that Changed America
Summary: 5 Stars
This Pulitzer Prize winning novel retells the Battle of Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) from the viewpoints of the major participants, both North and South. It falls into the category of historical fiction and is based on well researched facts, to be precise *seven* years of research and writing revisions (as stated on the jacket cover). It depicts actual events with the imagination of the author filling in the feelings and thoughts of General Robert E. Lee, Colonel Chamberlain, Buford, Longstreet, Ewell, Pickett, Armistead, during key positions and outcomes of this most important battle during the American Civil War. Highly acclaimed by both, Gen. H. Norman Schwartzkopf and film maker Ken Burns, this book deserves a wider reading audience.
Similar to "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Red Badge of Courage", the reader is given a first hand account of what it is like to have lived through this major historical turning point of the war. What otherwise would be dry, cold hard facts becomes a living event, felt and experienced in all of its glory, gory details, and sadness. Human emotions, hope, longing, courage, deprivation, fatigue, love, loyalty, regrets and faith in God are clearly shown. Anyone who wants to learn more about the Civil War but was hesitant should read this book. It makes history come alive. I was so capitvated, I bought the prequel and sequel, written by the author's son, Jeff Shaara, who continued the writing tradition started by his late father. One readily appreciates how fragile a gift is freedom and democracy, not to be taken for granted. The United States as a nation underwent one of the most tragic events in its history ... to maintain unity and integrity ... this should never be forgotten.
Erika Borsos (erikab3)
Book Review: Tremendous work - wonderfully written
Summary: 5 Stars
With only a passing interest and dimly remembered high school history lessons about the Battle of Gettysburg, I picked up this book, having heard many good things about it.
Once I started reading, it was a mere day later I finished it - that's how engrossing this book was.
The story of the Battle of Gettysburg, the turning point in the Civil War, is told from the perspective of the various generals on either side. Each chapter is entitled with the name of the particular soldier whose perspective is being examined, such as Lee, Longstreet, Armistead, Chamberlain, and others.
Far from a dry, boring academic treatise on the battle, the story is told in a sweeping story that makes the reader feel a part of the armies on the march - the frantic preparations for battle as each side rushed to the scene of the potential battle, the first day of contact as the partially assembled armies tangled for the first time, all the way through to the final, disastrous charge led by General Longstreet's Corps that decimated the ranks of Confederate fighting men and ultimately led to the demise of the CSA.
The book primarily focuses on two main incidents during the battle - the fight at Little Round Top, where the 20th Maine Regiment, commanded by Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a former university professor, bitterly resisted a Confederate attempt at breaking the Union's left flank, and Pickett's charge, the final, futile attempt by Lee to break the center of the Union line. Each of these fights is told in a harrowing narrative as if the reader is in the battle itself.
Even if you're not a Civil war buff, this is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.
Book Review: Simply the Best Gettysburg Novel you will Ever Read.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book about Gettysburg is the standard against which all Gettysburg, and even all Civil War novels are measured.
An absolutely fantastic book that will bring you into the thinking, the action and the characters of the Civil War and the High Water mark of the confederacy, at Gettysburg like no other work can.
This book went on to be turned into the classic Civil War movie, Gettysburg, by Ted Turner. The movie is good. The book is even better.
In terms of civil war, historical information there is no doubt that some elements are glossed over and do not get the attention that they deserve. That is a legitimate criticism, and there is no question that as a resource to understand Gettysburg academically, this is not where you should be looking primarily, although there is certainly great value in that realm.
But this book was not written to serve that role. What this book serves to do is to bounce you through the 3 days of Gettysburg by following the actions and thoughts of many of the key players and to give you a feel for the flow of the daily activities and highlights. This book has served, and no doubt will continue to serve, as an introduction to or expansion upon, the unfortunately all too often dry history that is a necessary evil to understanding the Civil War and this nexus battle upon which the entire war pivots.
This book puts life into that history and flesh to the characters in a way that few historical fiction type works ever achieve.
Read it. Look deeper into the history and then read it again. You'll enjoy and see new elements with every reading.
No Civil War library, at any level, is complete without this book!