Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Gods and Generals
Book Review: Amazing Review
Summary: 4 Stars
Gods and Generals is like no other. This book describes four characters in the Civil War. Chamberlain, Lee, Jackson and Hancock all are portrayed perfectly in this novel. A great thing about this novel is it is not just a story, but a biography like story that tells what each of these four men went through during the war. The characters are all so well described and are so well thought up that it makes you wonder if Shaara lived during the time of the Civil War. He tells of some major battles, and it is so historically accurate. If you are interested in reading a good novel about the civil war, Gods and Gnerals is the book of choice.Book Review: An Average Book
Summary: 3 Stars
Gods and Generals is an adventurous story. Historical and reviving, it takes you back to the past during the Civil War. The battle tactics that are used are interesting. I would recommend this book to people who are intrigued in history or have any knowledge of the Civil War. Gods and Generals is about the Union and Confederacy fighting to win the war. The character development is hard to follow because each chapter switched from person to person. At times, the story can get confusing when different characters start to tell their point of view. During the fighting, the book makes me want to keep reading. This book may be hard to keep up with the characters, but other than that it is pretty good.Book Review: An Enjoyable Read
Summary: 4 Stars
Jeff Shaara does a credible job mining his father's field: the novelization of civil war leaders critical to the Battle of Gettysburg.His characters are well rounded in this prequal that covers the years before 1863. I particularly enjoyed his treatment of Gen. Hancock. The dialog is believable and his characters never seem out of character to those familiar with the historical accounts of the same men.
It's an interesting book that gets beyond the history of the early Civil War. It lets the reader feel that they are witness to a plausible behind the scenes treatment of men compelled and called upon to do terrible things in support of their vision of America.
I would rate this a notch below "The Killer Angles." That was such a superb book in my mind that the son's book still merits mention as a very enjoyable read.
Book Review: An Extraordinary Novel, Shaara Strikes Gold!
Summary: 5 Stars
Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara is the prequal to the Pulitxer Prize winning novel The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. Gods and Generals follows the lives of 4 men in the turbulent days leading up to the Civil War until just before the Battle of Gettysburg. Thomas Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Winfield Scott Hancock and JOshua Chamberlain are the 4 main characters and in the mix we see glimpses of some of the best known soldiers and civilians of the Civil War Era, including JOhn Brown, JEB Stuart, McClellan, Burnside, Longstreet and Hooker. Shaara's talent for writing is obvious in the first lines of this work. He is able to capture both the triumph and tragedy of the Civil War. When it comes of the battles, his accuracy is almost complete. Shaara does his research and provides the reader with the thrilling idea of being inside a historical figures mind. The only complaint I can make is that he does not delve into the insanity that strayed just beneath the surface with Jackson, instead promoting Jackson's obvious if misguided religious beliefs. Although Gods and Generals was made into a subpar movie, it is a first rate story with compelling character and explosive drama. Well done Shaara.Book Review: An excellent civil war novel in its own right.
Summary: 4 Stars
You may be aware or indeed unaware that Jeff Shaara, the author of `Gods and Generals' is the son of the late Michael Shaara who in turn is the author of `The Killer Angels' which is acknowledged as one of the best civil war novels written. `Gods and Generals' is very much a prequel to `Killer Angels', describing the war up until the battle of Gettysburg (the subject matter of `Killer Angels').While `Killer Angels' is indeed a wonderful civil war novel I feel to continuously mention both books in the same sentence does each a dis-service. Jeff and Michael Shaara, although father and son, are different people and consequently different authors. Thus to review `Gods and Generals' from the shadow of `Killer Angels' is not something I wish to do here. Therefore this is a review of `Gods and Generals' as a stand-alone novel.
First time author Michael Shaara has written an excellent account of both the pre-war and early war years. The novel offers an insight into the lives and motivations of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson of the Confederacy and Winfield Scott Hancock and Joshua Chamberlain of the Union. Shaara uses the experiences of these men in a skilful manner to elaborate and expand on the politics and events that occurred during the years 1858 to 1863. In doing so he is able to bring these four into contact with many figures that played a role in the war; Longstreet, Davis, Hooker, Burnside and so on. The result is a believable and comprehensive account that enables the reader to stay closely involved with the decision-makers of the war. Shaara is also able to write convincingly of the internal beliefs and philosophies that motivated individuals to take up arms against their fellow Americans.
At times I would have liked a little more detail regarding the early battles of the war. However, the accounts of Second Manassas and in particular Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville and extremely well written, deep in detail and convincing in action.
Jeff Shaara is a talented writer, not only with regards to battles but also with reference to emotions. I found his account of Jackson's deathbed to be as moving and respectful as his battle scenes were exciting and horrific.
I recommend this book to you and encourage you to read it not as an add on to `The Killer Angels' but as an excellent civil war novel in it's own right.