The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Killer Angels
Book Review: Enjoyable Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
A historical novel that comes to life. One of the best historical novels I have read in years. It is also a quick and easy read, due to the excellent writing by the author. If you have even the slightest interest in reading about the Civil War battle at Gettysburg, you will enjoy this book.Book Review: Excellent Historical Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
And excellent integration of historical fact with a novel which makes for a very good read for anyone interested in the Civil War and the personalities that fought it. Special attention is given to the top members of the Confederate and Union armies command structure as well as the enlisted men and their reasons for fighting this war which remain topics of debate even now. The book centers on the battle of Gettysburg which I have visited several times in Pennsylvania and the author brings to live that battle in no other way by any other author in an authentic way which will capture the imagination of any Civil War buff.Book Review: Excellent telling of the Battle of Gettysburg
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not a Civil War buff, but I am interested in researching the Battle of Gettysburg in preparation for a planned trip there. The friends we are visiting who live near the battlefield, suggested this novel.
As it turns out, there is substantial controversy amongst Civil War buffs about the historical accuracy of the novel and its emphasis on particular military units and personages.
Regardless of its accuracy or lack thereof, this is one heck of a novel. (I do intend to read more serious histories of the battle.)
Shaara provides a brief vignette of most of the major actors of the battle. Lee, Buford, Chamberlain, Longstreet, Pickett and so on.
He then frames the origins of the battle. It wasn't planned in any sense of the word. The Confederate Army, under General Robert E. Lee had invaded the North, marching into Pennsylvania. For about two weeks, the Confederates had free reign. The Union Army had a new leader, General Meade, and unexpectedly advanced in force against the Confederate columns.
A strategy quickly evolved in Lee's mind of engaging the larger Union force, cutting them off from retreat to Washington, defeating them and essentially forcing the Union to sue for peace.
In quick, deft strokes, Shaara paints pictures of the minds of the men as they prepare for the unexpected battle. Buford, the Union cavalry officer who locates the Confederates takes the high ground and ultimately holds off a far superior Confederate force, an act which may have saved the Union.
Shaara brings us into the mind of Lee who believed the way not only to victory, but to keep the Confederate Army intact, was to attack. Opposing him in a military manner was Longstreet who believed that the Confederates should follow a defensive strategy.
Shaara does well at depicting the "fog of war", with the Confederates not knowing the size or disposition or plans of the forces opposing them.
With regard to the battle itself, Shaara provides a fairly comprehensive overview of how the forces were arrayed and prepared for battle.
We live inside the imagined mind of Joshua Chamberlain, a Colonel with the Union's 20th Maine which figured prominently in two of the battle's three days.
Shaara provides a magisterial telling of the famous Pickett's charge against the Union lines - leaving you to wonder where men so mad or so brave as to make the attack were found.
Overall, whether it is accurate or not, Shaara wrote a great war novel, well worth the reading.
Jerry
Book Review: Filling the Historical Holes
Summary: 4 Stars
Shaara brilliantly depicts the pivotal battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of both the generals and their staff and fictional characters based on historical information. I found most scholars to agree that this book is very accurate with a few liberties taken, and it gives a good impression of what the confederate leaders dealt with in their preparation and execution of the attack.
I read this for an assignment at work, and my boss gave me the recommendation with the quote, "It's one of those books that's so good you wish you could forget it and read it again." I found this to be true, and it's a good tool to learn as well as enjoyable literature.
If you enjoyed Pressfield's Gates of Fire, than this is definitely one that you need to check out. It is not really biased toward the north or south, so it's also a good representation of balanced history.
Book Review: Further Evidence That Not Knowing What Lies in Front of You Can Be Very Costly Indeed.
Summary: 5 Stars
As I get older I am more aware of American politics. I am finding myself drawn more and more to the past to help me understand the present and perhaps brace for the future.My reading of great Americans such as Washington,Lincoln and the wars that shaped them are truly facinating,enlightening and help me see past mistakes,analyse and reassess current priorities.The study of war,how men fought it,the decisions made,good or bad demonstrating tactical finesse and victory or bold,proud,stubborn ones usually leading to failure make for good reading.Having until now focused on the Revolutionary War era my thoughts were turned toward the Civil War.By chance my brother-in law Frank Russo,a military history buff,sports authority and author in his own right(see my review of his book by checking 'see all my reviews')and myself got to talking about Gettysburg and how we should visit the battlefield.He was there already but wouldn't mind going back.The trip intrigued me.A weekend away from the wife and kids,hmmm,I could live with that,(so could they).But to go unprepared,never.Yet I knew practically nothing about the battle other than that it was a battle,one of many in the civil war but that this one was different somehow.That's about it.After some research of which there are literally thousands of books to choose from on the subject how does one narrow it down.After some more digging it became clear that one book stood out. One that would give me what I was looking for and that book was The Killer Angels.This,I decided was the place to start and boy was I right.A perfect historical novel,well written,accurate, not too technical,not dry at all and allowing one to not only experience this monumental 3 day battle but also enables the reader to get to know the major players,their personalities,anxieties and emotions on both sides of the battlefield.This book is so well written that when the movie 'Gettysburg' was made which is based on this book, most of the dialog was used from the book, verbatim, with hardly any revision at all.See it to make the book come alive for you.If you need to know about the Battle of Gettysburg,if you want to know just why Lincoln felt compelled to 'address' it then The Killer Angels should be your first taste as it was mine.I'm no historian but I know more about this battle now than ever before where my knowledge beyond elementary school stories had to suffice.It shows just how stupid,painful yet necessary it was. Growing pains of a new nation they called it.Feel the pain of your history.Discover why we are one nation,undivided.This is one book you will enjoy even if you don't like history.Written in 1974, it still has relevance today and is pure genius.Pick a side and get ready to fight.After reading it your perspective and sympathies may just change as you get to understand the true meaning of the Civil War itself.To give you a hint, it had something to do with rats and why a man named Pickett and his analogy of a gentlemans club was very succinct,leading to his famous 'charge'just as the confederate 'cash' was running low.Sorry for the pun,no disrespect intended.Read it,you won't regret it.