The Killer Angels

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Summary: A Literary Masterpiece
Review: Killer Angels is a literary masterpiece written by Michael Shaara. This Pulitzer Prize winning novel is suitable for all mature readers. Shaara's work accurately describes the events of Gettysburg. The novel discusses things from the armies' weapontry to the lives of the soldiers. Shaara uses both fiction and history. The historical facts do not change, but things such as the dialogue and the emotion of the soldiers is fictional. In the first chapter, Shaara gives several brief biographies of the commanding officers of both sides. Beginning in the second chapter, the reader is given the name of the commander of either the north or south and then is given the view of the battle from that side. The next chapter is the same except in the perspective of the other side. Although this happens ever chapter, it is not hard to comprehend or follow. Even though the perspective changes, the novel remains in real time. If the north is advancing the south, the next chapter begins with the south defending their fortification. This allows us,the readers, to feel as if we were in the battle ourselves. I recommned this book for both the adventure reader and the history lover. It is able to accuratley show the horrible battle of Gettysburg with an adventurous spin.

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Summary: "Killer Angels"-Mr. Powell's English Class
Review: "Killer Angels" is an amazing Pulitzer Prize winning novel that depicts the Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in the Civil War. Michael Shaara, the author, portrays passion, loyalty, and drama in the most important three days of the Civil War. Shaara wrote "Killer Angels" so that he could let readers feel as though they were truly involved in the battle, what the weather was like, and the look on the men's faces, much like Stephen Crane did in "The Red Badge of Courage." He expertly avoided historical opinions and states the words of the men themselves instead. The novel captures the true experiences of the battle and tells the story from both sides--North and South. The reader is placed inside the minds of the generals, and you see the men fighting for different causes. The North, fighting for political reasons and trying to hold the Union together, believes that the Southern states are fighting over the slavery issue. The South states are actually fighting for their freedom and states rights, in general. This theme is briefly expressed throughout the novel. The vivid descriptions show various possible viewpoints of the military strategy, unique landscape, and even impressions from a foreign nation. Details of the war as well as the emotional aspects are strongly expressed, such as, Longstreet's heartbreaking struggle after the loss of his three children, the legacy of Old Man Lee in one of his last battles, and the tragedy of two best friends on opposing sides, Hancock and Armistead. At the beginning of the novel, there is a helpful foreword for people, such as myself, that do not know much about the facts of the Civil War up to this point and the background of the generals. The novel also closes with an interesting afterword to subdue the curiosities of the reader, who may not know about the events following Gettysburg and the life of the generals afterwards. I suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a new historical viewpoint of the Civil War.

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Summary: In the Battle
Review: Michael Shaara did an excellent job in describing in detail the Battle of Gettysburg without making it boring. His line by line account of the battle allows the reader to understand the emotions of the men fighting for their beliefs. Shaara shows the real men that fought, they weren't gods, just ordinary men who got homesick for their wives and children. While reading the book, the details create a vivid image that allows the reader to clearly understand the troubles of war. Food was scarce, weather was bad, and leaders were unreliable. The advantages in war were hard to obtain but lost so easily. Shaara also lets to reader into the minds of some of the key leaders at Gettysburg. Lee and Longstreet for the South, and Chamberlain and Buford for the North. Each man has a different view of the war, but each is equally interesting and important to the whole account of the battle. Overall the book was very good and captivating. It is easy to read, but informative. When looking for a detailed description of the Civil war, The Killer Angels is the book to read.

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Summary: "...Magnificence of War"
Review: Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-Winning Civil War Novel, The Killer Angels, is an in-depth view of three of the most important days of the Civil War. This novel gives you an up-close look at some of the most prominent generals and officers such as Lee, Longstreet, Chamberlin, and Meade as you follow them through their decisions and emotions during the Battle of Gettysburg. Shaara captures the sheer essence of war with many highly descriptive scenes and detailed dialog. He makes use of numerous idioms and dialects which bring to life the characters and emotions of the time. Shaara's eloquence and accuracy in writing places you right in the middle of the horror and magnificence of war, showing with frightening realism, the pains of defeat and exhilaration of victory. This informative, exhilarating novel relays one of the best ever accounts of one of the most important events in American History. A must-read for all history enthusiasts.

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Summary: the killer angles
Review: this book tells you everything a history major would want to know about what actualy happened in civil war battles.

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Summary: THE BEST BOOK
Review: I absolutly love this novel. It captured me and kept me feeling in the battle from cover to cover. I suggest it to anyone, especially Gettysburg-buffs.

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Summary: If there is one book I could call my favorite...
Review: it is "The Killer Angels". I have read this book many, many times in the past 10 years and always enjoy it. Shaara gives a very fact based account of the battle, but gives the historical figures involved a human edge that a standard textbook lacks. His writing style is utterly engrosing. You will not be able to put the book down

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Summary: best book I have ever read
Review: This book was truly amazing. I read it because I saw it had been the inspiration for the movie Gettysburg and now that I have read it I enjoyed it more than the movie. Honestly I could not put this book down.

Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: A truly amazing book. "The Killer Angels" gives you so much more than any textbook, I was able to actually get inside the heads of the influential leaders of the battle field. You should read this book, no matter whether you like history or not. I look forward to reading "Gods and Generals", and "The Last Full Measure".

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Summary: I've read it more than once...
Review: I wish I could understand why high school students thought the book was poor(most gave 1 or 2 stars). I like military and general history and I first read the book in high school. Shaara did a good job with the story and dialogue. The men seemed real and the battle scenes were done well. I liked how Shaara showed how Captain Chamberlain stopped the Confederated on Little Round Top and how Pickett so badly wanted to do battle and how clearly Longstreet saw that Pickett's charge would turn out. Plus, explaining what happened to all the characters at the end was a nice touch.