The Last Full Measure

Much like the first two in the trilogy (Gods & Generals, Killer Angels) this is a mostly solid book with pieces of brilliance and bits of dull military maneuvers.

I truly believe if I was a hardcore fan of the American Civil War, a huge history buff, this entire series would be a dream - the amount of research gone into the story is insane, the real life combat situations were educational and entertaining to read about, the characters felt real, the motivations and inner thoughts ranged from funny, to heartwarming, to tragic. I truly felt completely encompassed in both sides' psyches and I didn't expect that at the outset.

The ending is particularly poignant, with Chamberlain visiting Little Round Top made me tear up a bit. Shaara hits show more a lot of great notes, and I believe he improved from Gods & Generals.

The meetup of the surrender is a worthy climax. When Grant and Lee step into the same room, the book seems to shake and I felt how momentous the occasion was - amazing how historical fiction can make a meeting that took place over 150 years ago reverberate to a Canadian in 2019 in such a powerful way.

Still puzzled at the lack of inclusion of talk about slavery; it's mentioned piecemeal, and the story is about the Generals who are more focused on winning the War, rather than the politics behind it.

Overall, a terrific series, if overlong. The father/son author combo is a tremendous touch. show less

What an amazing conclusion to an amazing trilogy. Jeff Shaara’s, The Last Full Measure picks up where his father’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Killer Angels concludes which, combined with Jeff’s own prequel, Gods and Generals, creates perhaps the finest trilogy on the Civil War in the Eastern Theater presented as historical fiction thus far written.
The imagery his writing creates is stunning and breath-taking. While dramatic, it is not overdone. His imagination is fertile and well grounded in solid historical research. Anybody who has done much reading in the Civil War probably knows that Robert E. Lee’s final words just before his death were, “Strike the tent.” But, of course, no one is certain what must have been going show more through his mind that motivated that comment. However, Jeff Shaara’s representation of Lee’s final thoughts are highly plausible and totally in character with the man. It is as good a guess as any could be.
Although it is considered historical fiction, good, solid basic history is also presented. Before Ulysses S. Grant is given command of all Union armies in 1864 and moves his headquarters to the Army of the Potomac, all previous commanders of that army had tried to capture Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. Grant saw no value in that and decided to focus instead on destroying Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. And he was right. I have a Master’s Degree in U.S. History and taught that subject for 29 years and yet Jeff Shaara, a novelist, explained the historical importance of this decision by Grant in this piece of historical fiction as well as or better than any professional historian I have ever read.
Jeff Shaara is fully the equal to Michael Shaara, his Pulitzer Prize winning father in all respects. show less

Jeff Shaara wrote the prequel and the sequel to his father's Pulitzer prize winning 'The Killer Angels' -- this, of course, is the sequel and I thought it was fantastic. Whether it is because my interest in the subject matter has grown or an actual maturation in the author's writing style or most likely some combination of both - I enjoyed this as much as 'The Killer Angels' and much more than 'Gods and Generals'.

This is the story of the protracted end of The Civil War - mainly the battles in Virginia - The Wilderness, the defense of Richmond, Petersburg and finally Lee's surrender to Grant at Appamattox. As readers of the trilogy are now familar, the tale is told via alternating viewpoints from General Lee, to Colonel Chamberlain, to show more the new voice of General Ulysses Grant.

Perhaps because my imagination has been kindled by the preceeding novels as well as their excellent movie adaptations, I was gripped by these battles, seeing them unfold in my mind's eye, and often could not put the book down. I couldn't believe Lee and the Confederate army forged on in the face of starvation and overwhelming odds. There were many emotionally stirring moments --Jeb Stuart's last stand, Lee dressing in his finest to give himself and his men up to Grant; Chamberlain ordering the Union troops to salute the rebel army come to lay down their muskets.

I did think the prolonged ending cramming Grant, Chamberlain and Lee's postwar lives into a few chapters was less effective and took away from an otherwise superior ending to this collection. Shaara seemed to have found his stride though with this novel and I'll look forward to reading more of his work. I am also now officially hooked on Civil War literature and I do think I am ready to read Shelby Foote. show less

I finish off these books as dissatisfied as I began them, although I think I've figured out one of the reasons that I enjoy The Killer Angels so much more than the books written by Jeff Shaara. I think it's because The Killer Angels, by narrowing it's focus to the Battle of Gettysburg, gets to breath a little and spend more time with the characters. The other books cover years, and so must jump around more and never get the space to really relax and take their time.

Concluding the Civil War trilogy that began with his father Michael's Pulitzer-winning The Killer Angels, Shaara (Gods and Generals) chronicles Lee's retreat from Gettysburg and his valiant efforts to defend northern Virginia from Grant's superior, better-supplied forces. Seen alternately through the eyes of Lee, Grant, and Maine abolitionist Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the narrative begins with the successful Union ambush at Bristow Station in October 1863. It then details Lee's 18-month cat-and-mouse game as he outmaneuvers Grant, despite overwhelming odds and terrible deprivation, concludes with Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Impressively researched, this deeply affecting work can't be faulted for inaccuracy or lack of show more detail. But the occasionally coarse grain of Shaara's characterizations is a problem. Haunted by Stonewall Jackson's ghost, 56-year-old Lee frequently appears to be a semi-senile neurotic. Grant, more concerned about his supply of cigars than battle losses, comes across as a dolt. Some repetition can grind the progression of the story to a halt and differences in writing style between father and son are noticeable. Still for all its faults it is one of the best historical fiction novel series and family of writers in that genre out there. show less

This was the final book in [a:Jeff Shaara|14655|Jeff Shaara|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1277931532p2/14655.jpg] 's Civil War Trilogy. I read it slowly and thoughtfully and came away from the experience actually feeling heartbreak and sadness for Robert E. Lee and his men.

This is what makes Shaara's storytelling so unique: Through the entire series he never "took a side", he told the story of the Civil War through the eyes of the men that lived it, introduced you to their family and friends and made each soldier a human being that you felt you knew. I was sorry to turn the last page and now this journey was at end. Then, while on vacation last week, my husband commented that I had been reading this series since our first show more camping trip in May. Was it that good? And now, my husband-the non-reader(*English as a second language is hard for him*) has picked up Gods and Generals to begin the series, that makes me happy!

Shaara has written another series dubbed "The Western Front" (who knew that anything west of Virginia was called that?) of the Civil War. I look forward to starting it and learning more about Sherman and some others barely mentioned in this first series. show less

Very interesting to read after a visit to Petersburg VA and a trip at its famous "Crater" battlefield.

At the eve of the 100th Anniversary of WWI what strikes the reader is how the later part of the North against South conflict, from 1863 until the end at Appomattox Court House, foreshadows the first great industrial conflict of 1914-1918. The race to flank Lee's army of Northern Virginia by Ulysses S. Grant by marching South West has the two belligerent digging trenches more than 40 miles long, complete with forts and batteries, in response to Southern efforts to defend Petersburg and its vital railway line, the lifeline to Richmond.

Jeff Shaara is excellent at making the reader feel how close these armies were, at times not more than show more 10 feet apart.
The use of maps makes this book very clear to follow.

It does remind the famous WWI Race to the Sea Sept.-Nov. 1914, when after being stopped at the Marne river, the German Army tried to outflank the Franco-British army and, contrary to Grant, were unsucessful.
Shaara excels at picking vignettes of these combats, describing the chance encounter of a commander with one or a couple of combatants from both sides, while making clear the grand strategy and the emotions of his historical characters.

His rendition of the final surrender is truly moving. Well done! show less