The Killer Angels

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Summary: A MASTERPIECE
Review: There is nothing bad I can say about this extraordinary piece of work. Shaara has accurately and vividly described the actual events, lifestyles, and people of the Gettysburg campaign. This explains the many reasons why men would give their lives for a cause. Great dialogue compliments the plot with intimate characterization of the men who led from the rear or charged from the front line. ANY person would LOVE this book. A history bluff would be ADDICTED to it!

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Summary: Not just for history buffs
Review: As a middle-aged woman who lives in the midst of Civil War battlefields but has remained largely ignorant of the War and its battles, I asked a friend to suggest a book I could read about the topic. He recommended The Killer Angels, stating that it was the best book he had ever read about the Civil War, or any war for that matter. I was pleased to discover that the book was not dry, and despite one's knowledge of the outcome, it was still full of suspense. I couldn't put it down! It's exploration of the major combatants' feelings and fears was engrossing and I have gained a new appreciation of that awful conflict and its costs to all involved. After reading the book, I rented the film "Gettysburg". Many may not realize that its screenplay is based on this book. With book in hand, I enjoyed the film even more - I highly recommend the combination to readers of any age or gender.

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Summary: Killer Angels reveiw
Review: excellent book, I highly recommend it. It is full of great descriptions that transport you to one of the bloodies battle in history. You begin to feel how it felt to be there. It also shows such expression in the characters. The characters come from both sides and all over and it shows how different the emotions were at this time about the war. Nobody felt the same about these things, everything was up in the air, and nobody could agree.

Rating:
Summary: The Killer Angels
Review: A more than captivating novel, The Killer Angels, gives a factual, lifelike report of the Battle of Gettysburg. I was ten years old when I first picked up the novel and I have accumulated numerous copies over the years. Shaara puts life into the personalities of the men of both armies. Their thoughts and dialogue, though not entirely recorded at the battle demonstrate their personal fears and opinions. Particularly enchanting is Shaara's approach to General Lee. A great hero or a great mistake? Shaara has an interesting approach to both blue and grey. His novel is well researched, but enjoyable to read. For those looking for an introduction to the American Civil War look no further. For those seeking more information concerning the events surrounding the battle try Gods and Generals.

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Summary: a different look
Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read. It gives an interesting and personal view into the worst war in american history. I found myself understanding and admiring the men in blue and gray. Thought-provoking and mind numbing, whether a civil war buff or just mildly curious, it is both entertaining and educational. A must read.

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Summary: Personalities won and lost Gettysburg
Review: To understand history, you must understand the minds of the people who made it. It is this device that Shaara uses to tell the Gettysburg story. In Shaara's story, we feel the raw bravery and desperation that inspired Chamberlain to fix bayonettes on Little Round Top. We feel General Longstreet's moral agony as he carries out Lee's impossible order to attack the Union center. Finally, we understand Lee's religious view of warfare, which leads to his ultimate catastrophe. This book brought life to the sterile version of Gettysburg I learned in high school.

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Summary: Hardly fiction...
Review: Oops! I just posted a review for this book under Gods and Generals. Anyways, this is an excellent book that I think that anyone could enjoy. It's been called the best Civil War novel ever written and I would have to agree with that review.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: Though so many have written before me in praise of this splendid novel that my words must be redundant, I am still impelled to hit the keyboard as an act of homage. The writer's achievement must be almost unique in that he unites an accurate, hour by hour, depiction of an actual military event with a novelist's treatment of character and motivation. Other than the Borodino section of "War and Peace" it is difficult to think of any similar achievement. The depiction of the individual characters has an uncanny immediacy and realism, and it is character that dominates the action rather than vice versa. Two set pieces dominate the novel - Chamberlain's defence of Little Round Top on the second day of Gettysburg, and Pickett's Charge on the third. The description of the latter fearsome but heroic blunder, as seen through the eyes of the noble and doomed Lewis Armistead, is so powerful, terrible and yet beautiful that this reader at least was too moved to read on immediately. Though concentrated on the three days of the battle, the ultimate themes are not war and generalship, but rather of honour, courage, integrity and love. These themes are seldom treated with such seriousness and dignity in modern popular culture, and we are the worse for it. One comes to the end of the book with a feeling of catharsis, conscious that despite all that may be thrown against us, and regardless of how often we may stumble on the way, mankind is capable of greatness. A wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: History at it's best
Review: If you want a good picture about what it was like to defend Little Round Top, charge across a field during Pickett's Charge, or make critical decisions concerning the outcome of mens lives and the battle; READ THIS BOOK. It neither glorifies nor denounces war but focuses on the emotions and convictions of the men that fought the Battle of Gettysburg.

Rating:
Summary: A Memorable Battle
Review: The book "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara is the most realistic historical depiction of a battle that has ever crossed my path. The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War. Shaara explains in thorough detail the thoughts and actions of the important generals that fought long and hard. I realized all the things the men had to give up and how amazing it was to see that they still had hope they would win and be back home with their families soon. The novel is set up in chronological order of events that took place during the four days of the bloody and decisive battle of the Civil War. It is split up by the days and then into the main generals that fought. This way the readers can have a good mental picture of how each event came about. It even shows maps for the readers to understand each step the North and South took. I knew just where the battles were taking place and why the generals try to use the land for their own advantage. It was very interesting to read about the different strategies and tactics the generals utilized in the destruction of their enemies. The main generals for the South were Lee and Longstreet. For the North there was Buford and Chamberlain. These men truely believed in what they were fighting for and had praid to God for help. The battlefield sections of the novel were my favorite parts to read. Chamberlain's sight on Little Round Top was very moving and courageous. I enjoyed how the book made me feel like I was directly involved with the incidents that occurred. I could feel the love and impact each man had on one other. The men had big dreams and a huge desire in their hearts to win. This re-creation of the battle was amazing.