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▾Member reviews

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Showing 1-5 of 15 (next | show all)

I like this author, he took up where his father left off. (

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dharper1 | Nov 20, 2009 |

Where was this book when I was taking History in school?? This book and Killer Angels turned me on to American History like nothing else. Though a fiction, it brings realism to the lives of our heroes of wars past. The research done by Jeff Shaara and his father, Michael (Killer Angels) is amazing. It puts you there... it makes you sympathize with the generals on both sides of the fence. Awesome... (

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rmond45 | Oct 19, 2009 |

To learn more then one side of the Civil War in one book. This is a good book and to learn some of the personal lives of the generals. Right up there with his Dad's book "Killer Angels". (

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cindysprocket | Sep 14, 2009 |

Disappointing in its characterizations and dialogue. A pale imitation of his father's classic. (

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sjstuckey | Jun 6, 2009 |

I had read "The Killer Angels" several years ago, so I was hopeful that this book could live up to its predecessor. About halfway through, I realized that I was drawn into this book and into the lives of the characters even more. I think the glimpses of the lives of Lee, Hancock, Jackson and Chamberlain before they became household names took them out of history for me and made them people. I would recommend this book as a stand alone read or as the start of a wonderful trilogy for any reader interested in American or military history. (

)

Jthierer | Feb 19, 2009 |

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▾Common Knowledge

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Series (with order)

A Novel of the Civil War (1)

Canonical Title

Original publication date

People/Characters

Winfield Scott Hancock

James Longstreet

(show all 7 items)

Important places

Important events

American Civil War

Related movies

Gods and Generals (2003 | tt0279111)

Awards and honors

New York Times bestseller (Fiction, 1996)

Epigraph

Dedication

First words

Two extraordinary events occur in the mid-1840s. (Introduction)

The coach rolled through the small iron gates, up the slight rise, toward massive white columns. (Chapter 1 - Lee)

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

▾Book descriptions

Amazon.com (ISBN 0345422473, Mass Market Paperback)

In a prequel of sorts to his father Michael Shaara's 1974 epic novel The Killer Angels, Jeff Shaara explores the lives of Generals Lee, Hancock, Jackson and Chamberlain as the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg approaches. Shaara captures the disillusionment of both Lee and Hancock early in their careers, Lee's conflict with loyalty, Jackson's overwhelming Christian ethic and Chamberlain's total lack of experience, while illustrating how each compensated for shortcomings and failures when put to the test. The perspectives of the four men, particularly concerning the battles at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, make vivid the realities of war.

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:23 -0400)

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