Search - The Killer Angels

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.

This book drew me in and when I was finished with it, I felt as though I had been there at Gettsyburg. Depicts the rawness of battle and both the stupidity and courage of men.

I thought it was a tad hard to follow all the characters -- unless you're a Civil War buff or paid better attention in History class than I did -- but this is a compelling story of the battle at Gettysburg as viewed from both sides. The dialogue follows what is historically known about these "players" without making it sound too "made up."

The books does not deal with the gruesome details of the battlefield, but depicts insight into the soldiers' feelings, the respect they had for their leaders, and the courage they faced in following those leaders' commands beyond all.

A definite must read.

An absolutely brilliant novel, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this book personalizes the Civil War in a way that had not been done before. The participant perspectives pioneered by the characterizations in this story are now commonplace, but it has never been done better. As much as I had read about the history of the Battle of Gettysburg, it was not until reading this that I felt I truly began to understand what happened. This is a MUST-read book!

A marvelous book on the battle of Gettysburg. Really humanizes the "cast" and into their thinking. Though this last is a lot of conjecture since they do not have those sorts of records. I have read my share of reports on this battle but none have been so down to earth. Well worth reading.

If you love history or even if you don't--this book is captivating!!