Gods and Generals

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Summary: Faith in War
Review: As a wonderful window into the lives, times, and faiths of the Civil War, Gods and Generals is a priceless novel about the efforts of the men who conducted the civil war. Through the eyes of various generals and officers who fought the war, this timeless story show deep into the very souls of soldiers on both sides of the war, revealing their perseverance and trust in their religion. As the war begins, the reader is transported into the dilemmas that the numerous men of the North and of the South encountered. Dilemmas such as the choice between one's home and what they believed their common brother, though of different appearance, deserved.

When Lincoln was elected into office, delegates of the South convened to discuss the ever-growing notion of secession. To protect the Union from an inevitable civil war, Lincoln calls upon the renowned general Robert E. Lee to lead his troops, which far outnumbered the troops of the South, but he declines his over, stating that his first loyalty was to his home in the South. Many other brilliant strategists, even some against the slavery system, sided with their home in the South, leaving the Union with a sufficient sized army, but with poor leadership. Because of this, the Civil war was a long, drawn-out conflict, claiming the lives of thousands of American lives, whether they are Confederate or Union.

This testimony of the hardships and decisions of the leaders of the military forces that fought in the Civil War, Gods and Generals is a well-written, vivid piece of literature. By continuing to write about American history, Jeff Shaara has continued the legacy of the legendary Michael Shaara.

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Summary: Gods and Generals book review
Review: In this prequel to Killer Angels, Gods and Generals keeps you reading as it explores the lives of Generals Lee, Hancock, Jackson and Chamberlain. Jeff Shaara shows every aspect of their lives, including Lee's conflict with loyalty, and even the inexperience of Chamberlain, as the battle of Gettysburg is coming.The main person in each alternating chapter moves the story toward the bloody battles of the Wilderness and Chancellorsville, and finally to the day before Ghettysburg. Although it doesnt lead into what happened at Ghettysburg, it makes you want to read its sequal, written by Jeff's father Michael, The Killer Angels. However, i thought the book started off very slow and kind of boring, but it made up for it later during the wars. This is a must have book, and will be enjoyed by anybody.

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Summary: Not bad for a book with educational value- Brooke M.
Review: Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara was one of the better historically-based novels I have read. It had the typical blood and gore battle content, which was intriguing, but it also gave you a feel of the men in the war as humans, not just killing machines. It showed how even the most brutal of generals was hurt by problems within their families. I also thought that it was interesting when they portrayed the real emotions of the men fighting in the fields. I learned a ton about strategies of war and about Civil War generals and the military. The novel switched to a different person every chapter so it never really got too boring. The only part that lost me were when they discussed a battle plan in great depth or used military terms to describe stuff. Gods and Generals is definitely a good choice if you're required to read a novel on the Civil War.

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Summary: Gods and Generals
Review: In the year of 1861, as President Lincoln steps into office, the nation is in one of the largest turmoils it has, or ever will, face. The south slowly but steadily begins to remove itself from the nation, and eventually, even appoints its own leader, President Davis. After the south's attack on Fort Sumter, the Union and the Confederacy break out into war. The Confederacy is led by one of the greatest generals on either side, General Lee. The Union is led by a slow and uncertain general, General McDowell. As the fighting continues, McDowell is soon replaced by another general, McClellan. After McClellan fails to defeat General Lee, he is replaced with yet another general. Lee forces the Union out of Virginia. The north appears to be pulling Union generals out of a hat. Eventually, Lee decides to take a more aggressive approach, and attack Pensylvania. His army's numbers pale in comparison to the Union; his men are tired, and there are very few ways to get supplies to the soldiers. For protection, President Davis orders as many troops as possible to the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia. Will General Lee be able to get any reinforcements if the attack in Pennsylvania fails? The only way to discover the answer is to read Jeff Shaara's excellent portrayal of one of the most tramatizing times of this nation's history, Gods and Generals.

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Summary: Gods and Generals
Review: In the year of 1861, as President Lincoln steps into office, the nations is in one of the largest turmoils it has, or ever will, face. The south slowely but steadily begins to remove its self from the nation, and eventually, even appoints its own leader, President Davis. After the south's attack on Fort Sumter, the Union and the Confederacy break out into war. The Confederacy is led by one of the gratest generals on either side, General Lee. The Union is led by a slow and uncertain general, General McDowell. As the fighting continues, McDowell is soon replaced by another General, McClellan. And after McClellan fails to defeat General Lee, is replaced with another general. As General Lee forces the Union out of Virginia, and the Union Generals keep being pulled out of a hat, Lee decieds to take a more aggressive approach and attack Pensylvania. But his army's numbers pales in comparison to the Union's, and already his army is tiered and there are few was to get supplies to the men. With President Davis drawing any other troops around the capitol, will General Lee be able to get any reinforcements if the attack is to fail? The only way to discover the answer is to read Jeff Shaara's excellent portrayal of one of the most decieding time of this nation's history, Gos and Generals.

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Summary: An Average Book
Review: 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.

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Summary: The Trilogy is Now Complete
Review: In "Gods and Generals" Jeff Shaara follows up on his fabulous "The Last Full Measure," filling in the trilogy of civil war novels that includes his father's classic "The Killer Angels." Where "The Killer Angels" detailed the battle of Gettysburg and "The Last Full Measure" picks up Robert E. Lee's trail and follows him all the way to Appomattox, "Gods and Generals" chronicles some of the key Civil War events leading up to Gettysburg.

This is an odd way to complete a trilogy: write the first story last, the middle story first, and the last story second, but at least readers aren't required to read them in that order--and I suggest they don't. I recommend reading the stories in sequence with the war: "Gods" first, "Angels" second, and then the "Measure." One reason is the simple logic of following the natural progression of the characters and the war. Another is that in that order the writing goes from good to great. Reading the books in reverse order can lead to letdown.

While "Gods and Generals" is an excellent primer to the subsequent volumes, it is not on the same literary level. Shaara introduces the main characters, Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee, and a few key Union players in the war in the East, i.e., Hancock and Chamberlain, and follows their exploits from Bull Run I (Manassas) through the Peninsular Campaign, Jackson's 1862 Shenandoah campaign, Antietam (Sharpsburg), Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. He glosses over the early fights and builds tension by providing more detail of each subsequent battle, mostly won by the underdog but aggressive and brilliantly led rebels. Most of his specific battle-scene descriptions center on Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, where Stonewall Jackson receives his fatal friendly-fire wound. But for those who loved "Angels" for its detailed account of the Gettysburg battle, this book will be unsatisfying; the individual battles do not receive enough attention. For those who were moved by the climactic drama and powerful evocative writing in "Measure," this book will seem flat, uninspired, and aimless. On its own, the ending tends to fizzle out to nothing. Of course, it's not on its own, and was never intended to be. It is a strong foundation for one of the best historical war novel trilogies of all time. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of BIG ICE and WAKE UP DEAD.

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Summary: Great Book!
Review: Gods And Generals by Jeff Shaara is a great book. It ic a classic historical novel with plenty of class. Thiss book is a prequel to his fathers book "killer angels". this book illustrates the problems and tactics of the famous generals of the civil war, including "stonewall" Jackson and Robert E. Lee for the confederates and Joshua Chamberlain and Winfield Scott hancock for the union side. To the non- historical reader this may seem a bland and dull book, but with a little knowledge of our past, the book is magnificent. The book also cleverly changes point of views frequently to show all aspects of the situation. This is a must read for any history teacher.

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Summary: Very Confused
Review: Our 8th grade American History Class had to read a Civil War novel for our last quarter. I picked "Gods and Generals" hoping that because it was being made into a movie that I could read the book and then go see the movie. We hadn't started our Civil War unit yet and I had no clue as to what was going on in the story. I had to ask my friend who was reading the same book about what was happening. I didn't understand any of it. Now that we have started our Civil war unit, I understand a little bit more but not enough.
When I first started the book it was very fascinating to read and learn about all of the generals from the civil war. I loved all the drama and tragedy of each and every one of their lives. It was so sad when General Lee came home to his wife, and she was dying, but he had to go fight in the war and leave her there. Also, Chamberlain was out hunting, but he couldn't shoot a deer, yet he was going off to fight in a war.
You didn't really have to know anything about the Civil War to understand the first part of "Gods and Generals", but after the first couple chapters it started to lose my attention. I didn't know what was going on and I had to begin forcing myself to read it every day. When I read a book I don't want to have to force myself to read it.
Maybe your book was meant for people who already knew about the Civil War, but I think it would have attracted a lot more readers if their was more background about the war.
When I grow older and I have learned more about the Civil War I'll pick of this book once more and give it another go, but until then I am going to remain clueless to almost everything in that book.

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Summary: Gods and Generals
Review: I read this book before reading Robertson's biography of "Stonewall" Jackson. . . .this reading led me, after-the-fact, to be disappointed in some of Shaara's depictions of Jackson. . . the fascination with lemons myth for one. Also, Jackson's relationship with God is not as what Shaara depicts. Still, an excellent book which piqued my interest in learning more about Jackson. . .and for that I am grateful. Review within a review. . . Robertson's book is one of the best I have ever read and I recommend it to everyone who has an interest in history and biographies.