Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Conclusion to A Magnificent Series
Review: "The Last Full Measure" has a much more difficult task to undertake than did the original book in the series, "The Killer Angels" by Mr. Shaara's father, Michael Shaara. This book covers the Civil War from the close of the battle at Gettysburg until shortly after the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, some 3 years, whereas "The Killer Angels" covered only a period of 4 days. Nonetheless, the author does an outstanding job of taking us into the heads of the major players in the war, and as always, does a particularly outstanding job with Confederate General Robert E. Lee. As in his other books, the author writes from the viewpoints of several of the critical individuals who were around at this point in the War.I read this book after having read "Personal Memoirs" of Union General and former President Ulysses S. Grant, and was somewhat concerned that the sections written from Grant's point of view would be redundant. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were not, and in the end these were some of my favorite parts of the text. It is amazing how informative this book is, and how much effort the author makes to accurately portray the characters and educate the reader about the many interesting aspects of the war. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the Second Battle of the Wilderness, the description of the earthworks and the men who guarded them around Richmond and Petersburg, VA and the fast-paced action that led to Lee's ultimate surrender. This is a very well-written conclusion to this series. The author covers a lot of ground, but manages to not overwhelm the reader and keep them very engaged. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Worthy Effort
Review: I've always been leery of historical works of fiction in which an author attempts to put words and thoughts into an established historical figure. This is treacherous territory. If the reader is lucky the author strikes fairly close to the mark. The other side of the coin, however, is when the reader comes across a passage and thinks, "Now where in the world did the author come up with that!" "The Last Full Measure" has both elements. On one hand Jeff Shaara appears to have bought into the Lee-as-suffering-saint syndrome. If it were Stonewall Jackson Shaara were writing about it would have been a bit easier to digest. On the other his portraits of Grant and Chamberlain ring fairly true although Ambrose Burnside comes off more as a caricature than a living breathing person. These minor criticisms notwithstanding, the book is good read which most Civil War buffs will certainly enjoy and any one looking for a good read should give a try.
Rating: 
Summary: Shaara's masterpiece
Review: The Last Full Measure capstones the story of the Civil War told through the eyes of the people who experienced it. In this endeavor, Jeff Shaara continues the awe-inspiring writing of his father, who wrote the Killer Angles. His history is flawlessly accurate, the characters are real people, and his battle scenes, such as the wonderful Crater explosion description, are engrossing. Jeff Shaara's Civil War work is exceptional for someone who was not even trained as a writer, and without any prior experience. Jeff Shaara's Last Full Measure is a welcome addition to any Civil War buff's library.
Rating:
Summary: Too much attempted at once
Review: While others are praising this book I couldn't keep from comparing it to The Killer Angels and finding it wanting. While the writing is decent and the editting acceptable I missed the narrow focus and careful character study. It seemed to me that if the author had focused upon a smaller time frame with more in depth information and created two books things would have come out better. Rarely do we really get a glimpse of the men's souls. The book is a solid Historical retelling of history, but it is not the way his father treated the subject in The Killer Angels and perhaps such treatment of these later events was impossible, however, as a sequel, I found the style differences very noticable.
Standing on it own it is a solid piece of work although not a fantastic book. As a sequel I found it lacking the deeply person characteristics of his Father's writing.
Rating:
Summary: Life-like Conclusion to the Civil War
Review: Jeff Shaara follows in his father's footsteps ... big shoes to fill indeed! He does a highly admirable job of researching and writing about the heroes, both North and South, who fought during the last two years of the Civil War. This book provides the reader a ring-side seat to key battles and positions, as each side fights to their last full measure of strength. The reader is provided personal information about the lives of the major players: General Robert E. Lee, General Ulysses S. Grant, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. We get inside the hearts and minds of these soldiers and although fiction it rings true to life. Historical fiction is a marvelous method to learn about detailed and important battles which became turning points in this most fundamental war in the history of the United States.
Most impressive descriptions are provided as General Robert E. Lee struggles in his heart and soul to send his valorous troops against the much better equipped Northern soldiers. We learn how strategy and insight gave the South advantages over technology and numbers, in the beginning. We learn that after Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was given command of the North, the tides turned ... and the reasons why. Maps are provided which give proper visualization to the word descriptions of strategic locations and key battles. Divided into four parts, the prolog to each section uses the words of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address very effectively. Each section includes descriptions of a wide range of events, thorough analysis, and human emotions for the years of the war and post war events that it covers.
The book goes beyond the war to include descriptons of when President Lincoln is shot. It concludes with an afterward that gives a wonderful summary of the post-war lives of major participants both Blue and the Gray. Reading this book was truly an eye-opening experience, filled with illuminating moments and unforgettable real people. It leaves the reader hungry to read more about the subject It compelled me to buy more books by this author - for example, "Gone for Soldiers" (the Mexican War) and "Rise to Rebellion" (the American Revolutionary War). Erika Borsos (erikab93)
Rating:
Summary: Jeff Shaara Measures Up
Review: The book The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara vividly depicts the last two years of the Civil War. Describing the traits and decisions made by the three main characters Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Shaara presents a wonderful piece of writing telling all about the last battles of the Civil War. Shaara's writing is clear and delivered spiritedly with a professional command for detail and emotion. He accurately shows Lee's faith in God slowly crumble around him as he stubbornly believes God is with him. He shows Grant's dogged pursuit of the Confederates and his faith in his unfaltering provision lines rather than in an "All Powerful Being." Also Shaara depicts how a teacher, Chamberlain, could overcome his fears of battle and become the hero of the war. Feelings and beliefs make us into who we really are and Shaara portrays to us a vivid word image of just what makes up leading characters. Shaara has made a huge accomplishment in writing that separates this book from the other Civil War books that I have read, such as the Red Badge of Courage because he tells you what the characters are thinking and feeling, not just what they are doing. He has written a masterpiece that equalizes it with the best novels of the year.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful historical fiction!
Review: It's hard to classify this as fiction when the research is so accurate and the "characters" so true to life. Shaara gives a balanced view of the war, the men who fought it, and the reasons why they did while creating a scene so real the reader feels a part of the action. Fans of Shaara's father will find it hard to tell the difference between father and son's writing!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: Jeff Shaara out did himself on this novel. The perspective he provides on the players in the final moments of the War is truly amazing. He is able to bring a human face to Lee and Grant and bring you into their thought processes, pride, and feelings. Not only does he put a face on the upper echelon of the armies of Lee and Grant but he also provides a perspective from the front lines and the officers charged to command those troops. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially a younger individual. These men were men of courage and honor, their actions should be learned and studied.
Rating:
Summary: Poignant Finale to the Civil War Trilogy
Review: The Last Full Measure ends the Civil War trilogy of Gods and Generals and The Killer Angels. Jeff Shaara continues his father's work with a novel that is as heartwrenching as it is historically accurate. It was interesting, but when I first read the novel, I happened to be visiting the areas described like Spotsylvania, the Wilderness and Petersburg, and Shaara brings those fight vividly to life. This time he focusses on 3 main characters, Joshua Chamberlain, Robert E. Lee & US Grant, picking up right after Gettysburg. As the war rages on to its 3rd year, Shaara accurately plays out the desperation of the Confederacy and the despair of Lee as he struggles to equip an army without food or equipment available. He also shows Grant in the light that many had never seen before, showing him as both the military genius and capable of making mistakes. Yet it is his characterization of Chamberlain that is masterful, showing the schoolteachers final evolution from good officer to excellent general, and from battlefield commander to dreadfully wounded casualty. The Last Full Measure is a masterful work by an author who is taking the field of historical fiction by storm.
Rating:
Summary: The World Will Little Note What we Say Here
Review: Over 100 reviews of this work have been written to date - and many more relating to the other works of this trilogy - leaving not much unsaid. Nonetheless, The Last Full Measure stacks up well against Jeff Shaara's previous work in Gods & Generals. Like that work, this approaches the quality of The Killer Angels, which still stands alone in the area of Civil War literature. Also, similar to G&G, The LFM would have benefitted from the inlcusion of more maps.
| 
