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The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
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The Killer Angels (original 1974; edition 1974)

by Michael Shaara

Series: Civil War trilogy (2)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
8,745189940 (4.3)410
This Pulitzer Prize-winning classic is the finest historical dramatization of the Civil War. The book centers around the key battle of the war: the battle of Gettysburg. In July of 1863, the Confederate Army, led by General Robert E. Lee, invaded the North, in order to deal a fatal blow to the Union Army. Lee's right hand man was the loyal General Longstreet. Opposing them was General George Meade, an unknown quantity at best. In the four most bloody and courageous days of the Civil War, their armies fought, one side for freedom and the other side for tradition. As the bodies piled up on the gory field, so did the dreams and hopes of the dead. Their futures were the ultimate casualties of war.… (more)
Member:naylands
Title:The Killer Angels
Authors:Michael Shaara
Info:David McKay (1974), Edition: Second Printing, Hardcover
Collections:Your library
Rating:*****
Tags:Great novel of the War between the States.

Work Information

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (1974)

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English (187)  Spanish (1)  All languages (188)
Showing 1-5 of 187 (next | show all)
A very satisfying and engaging page-turner.

This novel has great characters and descriptions of the battle without getting too bogged down for non-military readers. I found myself wanting a bit more detail on the tactics and strategy, as well as the basic events of the battle that were taking place away from the main characters, but the characters and engagements that received focus were extremely well presented.

I enjoyed the literary device of each chapter being in the voice and inner thoughts of a different character, which provided more insight than was possible in the movie Gettysburg. For example, in the movie Chamberlain is talking to Kilrain and brings up the quote from Hamlet, "how like an angel" and Kilrain retorts "killer angel". In the book, it was a memory of his days as a student studying Shakespeare and he had written a speech about this quote and shared it with his father, who retorted "murderous angel" and he had then revised his speech around that idea and gave the speech with great success, and his father was very proud of him. Later he feels this same sense of pride after his actions on Little Round Top on Day 2.

The novel also does so much than the movie can to show the inner anguish of Longstreet.

There are other notable differences with the film, which makes it seem like Reynolds and the 1st Corps were already well on their way on June 30th to support Buford, when the book makes it clear no one is coming until Buford sends urgent messages, and another officer besides Reynolds might have not hurried so quickly which would have led to an entirely different outcome of the battle.

A very satisfying read. ( )
  bballard74 | Feb 29, 2024 |
hist-fict
  vorefamily | Feb 22, 2024 |
Gettysburg novel, very good.
  derailer | Jan 25, 2024 |
One of the best civil war noels ever. ( )
  bookman09919 | Aug 2, 2023 |
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Extraordinary. Michael Shaara takes us into the minds of the Generals and soldiers on the eve of and during the Battle of Gettysburg. I learned more about history than ever I had in school. And the philosophy! Why they acted as they did, the emotional toil on them as they made the decision to attack or defend to the death, the anguish of duty vs friendship (Armistead vs Hancock). Beautifully written. ( )
  BookConcierge | Jul 19, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 187 (next | show all)
This is an account of how the book came to be written...
added by danielx | editNew York times, Paul Leigh (Jun 29, 2013)
 

» Add other authors (7 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Michael Shaaraprimary authorall editionscalculated
Hoye, StephenNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
"When men take up arms to set other men free, there is something sacred and holy in the warfare."

- Woodrow Wilson
"I hate the idea of causes, and if I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country."

- E. M. Forster
"With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore resigned my commission in the Army. . . ."

- from a letter of Robert E. Lee
Mr. Mason: How do you justify your acts?
John Brown: I think, my friend, you are guilty of a great wrong against God and humanity---I say it without wishing to be offensive---and it would be perfectly right for anyone to interfere with you so far as to free those you willfully and wickedly hold in bondage. I do not say this insultingly.
Mr. Mason: I understand that.

- from an interview with John Brown after his capture
Mine eyes have seen the glory . . .
Dedication
To Lila (old George)
. . . in whom I am well pleased
First words
1. THE SPY

He rode into the dark of the woods and dismounted.
Quotations
...Chamberlain remembered it still: "What a piece of work is man...in action how like an angel!" And the old man, grinning, had scratched his head an then said stiffly, "Well, boy, if he's an angel, he's sure a murderin' angel."
…[W]e have a country here where the past cannot keep a good man in chains, and that's the nature of the war.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Publisher's editors
Blurbers
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Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (3)

This Pulitzer Prize-winning classic is the finest historical dramatization of the Civil War. The book centers around the key battle of the war: the battle of Gettysburg. In July of 1863, the Confederate Army, led by General Robert E. Lee, invaded the North, in order to deal a fatal blow to the Union Army. Lee's right hand man was the loyal General Longstreet. Opposing them was General George Meade, an unknown quantity at best. In the four most bloody and courageous days of the Civil War, their armies fought, one side for freedom and the other side for tradition. As the bodies piled up on the gory field, so did the dreams and hopes of the dead. Their futures were the ultimate casualties of war.

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Book description
The book tells the story of four days of the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War: June 30, 1863, as the troops of both the Union and the Confederacy move into battle around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and July 1, July 2, and July 3, when the battle was fought. The story is character driven and told from the perspective of various protagonists.

AR 4.7, 15 Pts
Haiku summary
In the Civil War
the battle of Gettysburg
is where many die.
(marcusbrutus)

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