Rating: 
Summary: Well done, very good historical fiction.
Review: I am very impressed with Jeff Shaara's novel. I learned a great deal of history and couldn't put it down. Certain aspects of the campaign are neglected but everything is at least touched on.
Rating:
Summary: Facinating and enjoyable read
Review: I have read all of Mr. Shaara's novels, this one is a bit below them since it does not flow as smooth, and I got the feeling that he took too much "liberties" with the characters. There is no way for us to know exactly what was said, and who was thinking what, but I felt he went a little beyond his "Gods and Generals", and "The Last Full Measure" being much more free with historical characters.Mr. Shaara did justice to General Scott, who to this day does not get the credit he deserved, but I think he got a bit confused with the character of R.E. Lee in his youth. All in all, I really enjoyed reading the book and if you enjoyed this author's previous works, you'll enjoy this one also.
Rating: 
Summary: An Apprenticeship for Generals
Review: Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels won the Pulitzer Prize and became the television movie Gettysburg. The book gave a detailed recounting of the battle itself, but more than that it got into the heads, and souls, of some of the real people who took part. After his father died, Jeff Shaara continued in his father's style, writing Gods and Generals, leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, and The Last Full Measure, continuing the story, and the characters, until the end of the Civil War. The American Civil War was a major event in United States history. It settled the issue of "states' rights" and the balance of power between the several states and the central government. It settled the issue of slavery, and as an outgrowth of that established a firm basis for due process and civil rights of both individuals and enterprise. This made possible the economic development and capital structure which has made the United States the predominant economic engine of the entire glove. Because the Civil War was so important, and because we were both winners and losers, it tends to dominate consideration of the entire period from the War of 1812, when American independence was confirmed, and World War One, when America moved into the world arena. However, there were two other "little" wars in that period which were very important. The Mexican War settled the southern national boundary and moved the western boundary from one shining sea to the other. The Spanish-American War substantially removed European interests from the Americas and gave the United States as least quasi-colonial interests in other parts of the world. In Gone For Soldiers Jeff Shaara takes us back to the period 1846 to 1848, especially from March, 1847 until the end of the war. In the early part of the war General Zachary Taylor stabilized the Rio Grand front, but was unable to advance and bring the war to a conclusion. General Winfield Scott took a small army by ship to Vera Cruz, landed his entire army on a hostile shore, and proceeded to win one battle after another against the "Napoleon of the West" Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Finally, Santa Anna was defeated at the gates of Mexico City (the Halls of Montezuma of the Marine Hymn) and ousted by the government and a peace treaty is concluded-one that gave the United States what is now the southern part of Texas, California, and everything in between. As in his previous books, Shaara is excellent both in his descriptions of the action and in his depictions of the participants and their emotions. All Civil War buffs know that Lee, Grant, Joe Johnston, Beauregard, Longstreet, Jackson, Pickett, and others fought in the Mexican War, that this was where, as junior officers they "learned the trade" thay practiced with such skill with and against each other as senior officers a few years later. Shaara shows us some of the potential for comradeship and even friendship which existed among them. He also presents an explanation for Lee's rapid advancement. A 40-year old captain of engineers on Scott's staff, Lee (in the story at least) demonstrates his instinct for terrain, strategy, and tactics that his previous career on staff and as a builder of forts had not shown. The relationship between Lee and Winfield Scott which develops in this story provides one explanation for Scott choosing Lee to put down the John Brown insurgence and offering Lee the top field command in the Union army, which Lee declined in order to place his loyalty with seceding Virginia. This is an excellent book and well worth the time for both Civil War buffs and for readers who enjoy interesting relationships among historical figures.
Rating: 
Summary: I Expected Much More
Review: This novel was a major disappointment. I finish what I start, but this was painful. I kept expecting it to get better, but it didn't. The premise was very promising, involving people extremely important to the history of the U.S. all together during a not very well known episode of American history. The history was, in fact, interesting, but the characterizations, especially of Lee were downright annoying. I am a fan of the three civil war books, but cannot recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: Shaara Rediscovers The Battlefield
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Jeff Shaara's "Gone For Soldiers," His perspectives about the Mexican War rediscovered the balance between action and inner-thoughts projected in "Gods & Generals", but lost in "The Last Full Measure." Especially interesting is Lee's struggle to overcome modesty in order to discover and enjoy his leadership capabilities. Scott is a thoroughly enjoyable character with a clear idea of his own greatness and failings, trying hard to temper both. Early on Grant, Jackson and Longstreet make quick guest appearances like they were aboard a "Love Boat" episode. Shaara justifies these glimpses as he ties the final battle together. The only shortcoming of the book is that it starts out a little slow and lingers too long after the last battle. In between you will find an excellent and balanced view of a forgotten war that accellerated the learning curves of many Civil War leaders.
Rating:
Summary: A Story Worth Telling
Review: If you can't get enough of the U.S. Civil War, but are tired of the same old stories, you will enjoy this tale. Even among my history-buff friends, very little is known of the Mexican war, and little still of the future Civil War heroes that fought there. This book offers an excellent introduction to that conflict and those heroes. The story focuses mostly on General Winfield Scott, the Mexican War commander and Captain Robert E. Lee, who would find distinction here and elsewhere. Scott has been a veteran since the War of 1812 and has great disdain for the many politicians that he sees getting in the way of war fighting. Lee is a 40 year-old Army Engineer who has never seen combat. Lee's bravery and honor shine through and the story gives him much credit for the eventual victory. I wasn't a partisan of Shaara's first work GODS AND GENERALS. I think I was expecting it to be as good as his father's classic, THE KILLER ANGELS. It wasn't a fair comparison for me to make. Now that I have read and enjoyed GONE FOR SOLDIERS, I have re-thought my earlier opinion and hope that Shaara continues to write such gems.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read but could have been better.
Review: Jeff Shaara's new novel''Gone for Soldiers'' is a great read but at the same time inferior to His two previous novels. This is partly because the Civil War is missing.Also with the exception of Winfield Scott who is masterfully portrayed here the other characters are not as fully developed as they might be. Robert E. Lee comes off like a teen-ager just out of West Point when in reality He was almost 40 and a twenty year veteran of the Corps of Engineers. Also some of the other characters simply cry out for more attention especially Grant, Longstreet, Beauregard, Pickett etc. But despite these criticisms this is a basically good novel and it has apparently led to some serious study of the Mexican war.An episode in our history that most Americans know very little about.I eagerly await Jeff Shaara's next novel.
Rating:
Summary: Jeff Shaara scores again
Review: This is a good book about the characters that most of us have known only in the context of the Civil War. It does not detail the Mexican War in it's entirety, but that's really not the purpose of this book. If you want a history of the Mexican War, this is not the book to read. If you have ever wondered what General Lee was like before the Civil War or how the generals of the opposing sides of the Civil War interacted with each other before they were trying to best each other, then "Gone For Soldiers" is for you. This book, as well as the others in the series, never claimed to be 100% historicly accurate - they are entertainment after all. I must say that I disagree with those who say that Jeff Shaara is "riding on his father's coattails". He is a talented writer who obviously puts much effort into his works. The senior Shaara was a tough act to follow and I think that Jeff Shaara does an admirable job of it.
Rating:
Summary: A well written historical novel about a lesser known period
Review: I tremendously enjoyed Jeff Shaara's novel of the Mexical American War. My education was lacking in this period of history and I was appreciative to have some of the gaps filled.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a Chip Off the Old Block
Review: Although written in the manner mastered so beautifully by his father in "Killer Angels" Jeff Shaara's books come nowhere near the excellence of it. However, probably few could match this best of historical novels. "Gone for Soldiers" is a good read particularly to history buffs such as myself and gives us some insight into a little known part of our history. It does bog down now and then with internal musings but overall was enjoyable.
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