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The Killer Angels
written by Michael Shaara
Studio : Ballantine Books
by Ballantine Books
Release Date : 1987-08-12
Publisher : Ballantine Books
Released : 1987-08-12
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780345348104
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 511 reviews)
List Price : $7.99
Our Price : $3.50
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Americancivilwar.com |
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This novel reveals more about the Battle of Gettysburg than any piece of learned nonfiction on the same subject. Michael Shaara's account of the three most important days of the Civil War features deft characterizations of all of the main actors, including Lee, Longstreet, Pickett, Buford, and Hancock. The most inspiring figure in the book, however, is Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, whose 20th Maine regiment of volunteers held the Union's left flank on the second day of the battle. This unit's bravery at Little Round Top helped turned the tide of the war against the rebels. There are also plenty of maps, which convey a complete sense of what happened July 1-3, 1863. Reading about the past is rarely so much fun as on these pages. |
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Product Description |
"My favorite historical novel...A superb re-creation of the Battle of Gettysburg, but its real importance is its insight into what the war was about, and what it meant."
JAMES M. McPHERSON
Author of BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM
Winner of the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for fiction
In the four most bloody and courageous days of our nation's history, two armies fought for two dreams. One dreamed of freedom, the other of a way of life. Far more than rifles and bullets were carried into battle. There were memories. There were promises. There was love. And far more than men fell on those Pennsylvania fields. Shattered futures, forgotten innocence, and crippled beauty were also the casualties of war. Unique, sweeping, an unforgettable, THE KILLER ANGELS is a dramatic re-creation of the battleground for America's destiny. |
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Leonardo Lee's review |
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If I would rate this book out of 5, I would definitely give it a 5 as the semi-fictional account (I enjoy a war book) was heartfelt and tragic, even if you knew what was going to happen. The Killer Angels is something that takes from fiction and non-fiction. All the people and their accounts are real, but it flows like a story and takes the perspectives of a few Generals. The generals' names are: Chamberlain, Lee, Buford, and Longstreet. The author was careful in their research, taking the diaries of the respective men he carved out a story portraying both sides of the war and used only what they knew. He added nothing except maybe the personalities of the commanders. He spends sometime in solidifying the ideologies behind the war. He makes no side the enemy, just to conflicting ideals union and of having the right to govern themselves. He makes this clear; the south was not fighting for their slaves but their freedom of property and choice. This is signified when Tom Chamberlain the brother of Joshua Chamberlain one of the commanders laughs as he said some of the prisoners say that they are fighting for their "rats", misunderstood by Tom as the accents are different. Confusion in the story is quite clear as you take on the aspects of the character that you are reading of only knowing what they know, feeling for instance Longstreet a surviving general whom is the South's last great general after the death of Jackson. Longstreet was forced to follow orders as part of an en echelon attack to flank the Union to break through and decimate the Union army. It was an inevitable failure as the men and their captains were getting nervous as one lieutenant put it with a hint of desperation "General will you look at the ground? We can't even mount artillery" (200). This was due to the longing to end the war, Lee who was the general saw Gettysburg as an opportunity, and everyone knew the war was going to end, but Gettysburg determined it all. One more interesting this was how it was generalized and not full of logistics. The Confederate troops barely heard about Vicksburg from where they were in Pennsylvania. It did not go into depth about logistics as the textbook did but it was informative about lives and how they went in the war. I would give it a 5 for it gave an accurate account most of the time, the personalities being fabrications as well as only adding the significant battles and not all of them made the account less accurate but gave it a good flow like a story should have. |
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A review of the audiobook (a history teacher's review) |
Way back in 1989 I had to read this book as part of a American Military History class. Since then I've read it 3 or 4 more times and I've recommended it to countless friends and students. Surprisingly, the audiobook was an entirely new experience for me - it was much more powerful than I remembered.
The audiobook was brilliantly read by George Hearn and uses music from the 1993 movie adaptation of the book. This really is a beautiful production. More than once I had to stop it for the tears that came to my eyes due to the tragedy and spectacle of the battle (I am a Civil War softy - I tear up every time I watch Glory as well). It lasts about 6 hours and is well worth the purchase.
Highest recommendation. |
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Gettysburg's Story |
The author takes Chamberlain and Buford of the Grant's army and Pickett, Armistead, and Longstreet of Lee's arm and gives them a personality of the men they were rather then the legends. If Early had reported to Lee that Grant was on the move. Lee may have been able to take Gettysburg, but Washington would never have fallen to Lee's efforts. The outcome of the war would not have changed. This is a great book for students of the Civil War to read, because they can see the human side of these Generals and not just the facts of the textbook page. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"
Writing as a Small BusinessQualifying Laps: A Brewster County NovelSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelTravelersThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early SettlersNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil War
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Perhaps the Greatest Novel of the Civil War |
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I admit that I wanted something else when I got this. What I expected was your typical history on the Battle of Gettysburg. What I got, was something much better. Mike Shaara has written a marvelous novel. When I read this book, I knew the basics of how the Battle of Gettysburg went, but here, it came to life. Mike Shaara has a beautiful way of putting you inside the minds of men like James Longstreet, Robert E. Lee, Joshua Chamberlain, and several others. You feel like you are actually there and are defending Little Round Top, spying on the Union position, leading Picket's Charge, or discussing battle plans for the next day. All I can say to sum it up is that this is an execellent book that is great for Civil War buffs, or anyone who is looking for a good book to read. Trust me, you will love this book. |
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Really good! Plus fast shipping for standard |
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the book was brand new and i love it. the book came really fast. faster than i expected. this is probably the fastest thing to be shipped to me on amazon. |
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