The Killer Angels
by Michael Shaara
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Book Reviews of The Killer Angels
Book Review: Great, Wonderful, Moving, Excellent!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is truly one of the best books about the American Civil War ,fiction or nonfiction. I was already a Civil War buff when I read it the first time but it still blew me away. I had to read it again. And I have returned to it often, usually once a year. Shaara bring these characters to life. His depiction of Longstreet is great and very human, funny, and tragic. I like his very lifelike Robert E. Lee, his John Buford (so wonderfully realized in the movie 'Gettysburg' by Sam Elliott), and of course his now legendary portrait of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (also excellently played by Jeff Daniels in the movie). Shaara's descriptions of the characters thoughts and actions are sketched in a very absorbing fashion. It really is like he was there. This is a book I recommend to all Americans as this is our shared history and the book really depicts the triumph and tragedy of our Civil War through the prism of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Really one of the greatest novels on war ever written.
Highly recommended!
Book Review: Wonderful work of historical fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
I can only echo the applause of previous reviewers.
An excellent balance of fact and fiction, this book carefully builds up to the Civil War battle of Gettysburg and carries the reader through the action on both sides. Kept me up late many nights.
I note that this war novel is told exclusively from the perspective of the generals and colonels (as opposed to, say, Leon Uris' Battle Cry, told by the privates and sergeants). The map illustrations of the battle situations were of great help in enjoying the book. I read from a cheap mm paperback edition - I would recommend obtaining a hardcover or trade size paperback, so as to get more legible maps.
I think I detected a slight bent by Shaara in favor of the South (he seems sypathetic to their cause and admires their culture). Justified? . . . I'm not sure. But it does not present a problem either way.
Just a tremendous read and one that I highly recommend.
Book Review: brilliant, engaging
Summary: 5 Stars
I cannot estimate how favorably hard-core Civil War buffs would receive this historical novel, but as someone with limited knowledge around historical context, battle strategies, major players, and sequence of events, this book has truly whet the appetite. The book is not packed full of technical details. Rather, it offers an engaging (but not exhaustive) description of events in the battle of Gettysburg, descriptions that are provided from the perspective of several major players (Lee, Longstreet, Chamberlain, Buford). It provides insight not simply into the chain of events that transpired, but also into the proclivities, thought processes, and characters of the Generals that played a major role in these events. The book focuses on the events over a 5-day period, June 29-July 3, 1863. Absolutely brilliant piece of work. I borrowed it from my brother--if/when I return it to him I will be buying a copy for myself.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: 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.