A Chain of Thunder: A Novel of the Siege of Vicksburg

This is the first book by Jeff Shaara I have read. It is deeply researched, profoundly detailed, and makes the excellent case that the Vicksburg campaing was at least as important as Gettysberg. Yet the book is also disappointing. The author does not write as well as his famous father. For instance, Mr. Shaara is extremely fond of the comma splice, the rapid succession of thought, the technique suggesting speed of thought. In fact, it suggests a lack of conciseness and a need to choose the one word that conveys meaning. There are also better ways to convey the rapid flow of thought or circumstance.
But is the book any good? Its recreation of the campaigns in Mississippi in May, 1863 and of the siege of Vicksburg are excellent in its show more portrayal of detail and its mastery of everyday life for soldier and civilian alike. The chapters on the civilians caught in the siege are quite good.
For my taste, however, the book moves a bit too much in lockstep: personal narrative, omniscient narrative that advances the action, followed by another personal narrative. The result is that the reader is rarely carried along by any one character's story. I guess that I found no one in this book to identify with. Perhaps that's why I'm ambivalent about the book itself. show less

Jeff Shaara has written a number of books, all focusing on wars or specific battles, usually involving the Civil War. The subject of this work is the Siege of Vicksburg and the various skirmishes and strategies leading up to it. The action in this piece of historical fiction flows up on his earlier novel, A Blaze of Glory, which detailed the Battle of Shiloh.

Shaara tells the story through the eyes of several characters, from commanding generals to front line troops (and in this case, a young woman inhabitant of Vicksburg), a device first used so successfully by his father Michael Shaara in Killer Angels, a dramatized look at the Battle of Gettysburg and one of the best books I’ve ever read. Sadly, the father overshadows the son, and show more though this is a good summary of the events leading up to and through the Siege of Vicksburg, it pales in comparison to Killer Angels (possibly, in part, because the Battle of Gettysburg provides a richer cast of characters and events).

Nevertheless, it is a good history lesson for those interested in Civil War history or some of the major characters active in the western theater of the war. show less

Historical fiction generally is not my favorite. I happily make an exception for Jeff Shaara and A Chain Of Thunder.

This is a hearty book. The characters are believable because Shaara has taken care to characterize them in the historical context; he does not demonize or lionize any of the well-known players.

Of course most readers will generally know the plot: Grant's western armies invested, besieged and finally captured the centrally important city of Vicksburg, a strategic triumph for the North. Then and now, the triumph was adumbrated by the events at a little town in south-central Pennsylvania in early July, 1863.

Shaara draws the reader in to the dull horror of the siege, and avoids the error of cloaking the hardships and the show more desperation with heroics.

Grant was intent on gruesome business, Pemberton strove to be valiant, and the troops and the citizens of Vicksburg suffered with a kind of good grace that seems almost completely foreign to the modern mind.

Shaara makes war all too real, all too personal, without the hot sauce and without much of a hint of regret.

A Chain Of Thunder is compelling, and devastating.

Read more on my blog: http://barleyliterate.blogspot.com show less

A Chain of Thunder (Civil War: 1861-1865, Western Theater #2) by Jeff Shaara is a historical fiction book from this bestselling author. I have read several of Mr. Shaara’s books previously and was delighted to find this one in my local library even though I did not read the first book in the series.

Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton took his army and retreated to Vicksburg fortifying it and getting ready to defend it.

Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant, after finally crossing the Mississippi River pushing Pemberton’s army into Vicksburg. The Union sustains many casualties during their attempts to enter the city and General Grant reluctantly lays siege to Vicksburg.

A Chain of Thunder (Civil War: 1861-1865, Western show more Theater #2) by Jeff Shaara takes place in and around Vicksburg, Mississippi during the American Civil War. The first book, I understand, focuses on the Battle of Shiloh, which is referenced in A Chain of Thunder, however I did not feel I missed anything by not reading it first.

As with other books by the author, every chapter is told from the point of view of a different character, most historical figures, but others not. The cast of characters is varied, from Generals Grant, Sherman, and Pemberton to simple soldiers and civilians.

I enjoyed the dialog Mr. Shaara puts in the mouth of his characters, especially the local dialect and local flavors. The characters in the book are well written, both historical and fictionalized come to life, we learn about their struggles, their demons, and their success. The author describes very well what it is like to be under siege, and the ones trying to break the siege, the small communities within communities the form whenever a dark turn takes a whole population, whether citizens or soldiers, into a place they’ll never thought they’ll be.

The research in this book, as with the author’s other books, demands special recognition. While the book is condensed, almost like a history book, it is very readable and interesting. The Battle of Vicksburg is one that I knew very little about, so it was very interesting to learn more about the battle.

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I have read all of the Shaara books (father and son) and this is one of the best. I was engrossed in the story of the embattled town of Vicksburg and was impressed with the development of new characters. CSA Commanding General John Pemberton is shown to have leadership flaws, but it is done subtly, the reader is allowed to pick up on his wavering and indecisiveness without having it shoved in your face. Another nice touch was to include civilian perspectives rather than just the military.
It is true that Shaara follows a formula for each of his books, but it is a formula that works and his development of a story line while following historical truth is still very engaging.
I am glad to see this series on the western theater of the Civil show more War as it was hugely significant to the outcome but is constantly overshadowed by the horrific battles in the east. I look forward to the third book in the series.
I would give this book 4 1/2 stars. show less

Another exciting installment in Jeff Shaara's account of the Civil War's Western Theater, A Chain of Thunder concentrate's on Ulysses Grant's brilliant Vicksburg Campaign and, like his other historical fiction novels in these series, is related through the eyes of several of the individual participants, both North and South, military and civilian. And he does so with an expertise that turns what might be a burdensome challenge to some writers into a piece of art that flows expertly through the campaign. Whether viewing the action through Northern eyes or Southern eyes Jeff Shaara does so without revealing the slightest hint of favoritism in his treatment of the characters. Historical fiction at its finest.

I am a history fan, and a fan of the Jeff Shaara books in general. This one is again about the Civil War, as it is about the Vicksburg campaign, a period of roughly 8 months in 1863. The book features Ulysses Grant, William Sherman, and a private, Fritz Bauer; all for the North, and Joe Johnston (briefly), Gen. Pemberton and Lucy Spence, a civilian. The Vicksburg campaign was a great victory for the North, and one of strategic consequences.
Shaara claims in the introduction that he is not writing a history book, but writing a novel with historical characters. Like all of his books he does not focus as much on 'how' but on who and when. The personal point of view of the generals is quite fascinating. Unfortunately, most of it is from show more Sherman and Pemberton, not nearly as much of Grant and very little Johnston. Even so, I thought this was an accurate, interesting portrayal of a Civil War campaign from a first person perspective. I do sometimes wish he tied the local battle into the larger conflict more, but that doesn't make this any less interesting. show less