The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Killer Angels
Book Review: wonderful read-aloud to young sons
Summary: 5 Stars
I started reading The Killer Angels to my 9-year-old son, and after a few pages he was hooked, not just on the story, not just on the Battle of Gettysburg, but on the entire Civil War.
After we finished reading it (he didn't seem to mind my Southern, Maine, and Irish accents), we watched the 1993 movie Gettysburg. We've also been watching the Ken Burns Civil War series for PBS. I've caught my son doing reading on his own of the various battles, including from my West Point battlefield atlas.
We've moved on to the sequel, The Last Full Measure, which doesn't seem quite to measure up but has introduced my son to Grant, whom he likes very much.
The Killer Angels is potentially life-changing. I may have a budding historian on my hands.
Book Review: surprising review
Summary: 5 Stars
Many years ago I entered my favorite Chicago bookstore, Abraham Lincoln Bookstore, shocked to find a large display of a new book The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. My personal grudge against Mike Shaara goes back to 1964 when we were both at Florida State University. What is my reason for relating all this? If I can change my attitude toward the author, anyone can give him a second chance. It still hurts me to give five stars to this work. But the following reasons make it necessary:
1. The book is very well written. Mike had many choices how to work the story. I probably would have made it unreadable by including too many characters. Mead was barely mentioned. John Hood could have been played up more considering his importance later in the war, but it didn't belong in this work.
2. I disagree with not only Mike but many professional historians that the Battle of Gettysburg is overrated. Considering this I'm surprised at how well the author related this story. I have no problem with the historic content of this book or the later movie.
3. The characterization in the book and the movie is superb. This is fiction, but excellently done fiction. If I had not been curious about this work I probably would never have picked it up. I am glad I did read it and even glad I saw the movie.
Book Review: One of the greatest historical war novels ever?
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the greatest historical war novels ever?
I was so moved by this novel that I wanted to read everything else written by Mr. Shaara. In 60 years of "bookish" reading of thousands of books and magazines, this book stands out: It's presently in my "Top 100". I would enjoy re-reading it.
Most highly recommended. The quality of the writing is wonderful, the tragic and heroic stories and lessons from this battle are most worthwhile, and in my opinion Mr. Shaara richly deserved the Pulitzer Prize awarded to him.
Book Review: Simply stunning recreation of the battle that formed our nation
Summary: 5 Stars
I've never considered myself a fan of historical fiction, but this is one of the best novels I've ever read. Epic in power and scope of the recreation of the leaders on both sides of the battle marking the end of the U.S's childhood as a nation, this novel is riveting and deeply moving. It does not glorify war, but marks it as something terrible we do.
It does emphasize the fallacy that in light of the fluidity of technological development military strategists ever could plan for success. In a particular section, one of the leaders marvels that Jackson--yes, Stonewall Jackson, long dead before the battle of Gettysburg--could have ordered thousands of pikes to be used against musket and cannon.
I don't know how accurate, it is, either, of course. It portrays Lee as an inspirational boob inspiring all who saw him while critically ignoring Longstreet's far more insightful view of tactical advantage at a terrible cost. In retrospect, of course, we know that we wouldn't have the nation we have if Lee hadn't.
Still, this is a powerful work, perhaps made more powerful by our knowledge of all the bloody conflicts still to come and all the birth pangs the U.S. to this day endures. But it's a great work, a tremendous achievement, and I appreciate that it was written.
Book Review: Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this as a Junior in High School, and still have fond memories of such a stellar book. Currently, I'm in college to become a History teacher and definitely plan on implementing this into my class. This book had a major impact on my interest not only in the Civil War, but history in general. This book is fascinating, and is one of my all time favorites.