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The Civil War Trilogy #1
Gods and Generals
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.
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.
498 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 1996
1809 people are currently reading
28375 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Shaara
79 books2,125 followersJEFF SHAARA is the award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of seventeen novels, including Rise to Rebellion and The Rising Tide, as well as Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure—two novels that complete his father's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, The Killer Angels. Shaara was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and lives in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,044 reviews
March 9, 2017
For those who may not know, Jeff Shaara is the son of Michael Shaara who wrote The Killer Angels. Without that great book, there would be no Gods and Generals, or the many other books Jeff has written since this first one.
Let me first talk about The Killer Angels. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1975, it did not receive the public recognition it deserved until after Michael Shaara’s death at age 50. That’s sad to me, because it is such a good book. The recognition finally came when the movie Gettysburg, based on the book, was released in 1993. Shaara didn’t get to realize this, but his son did. I had just assumed it was Jeff’s idea to continue his dad’s work, creating the two books that would sandwich his dad’s novel. In actuality the idea for those two books came from the publishers. Jeff had never even attempted writing. This would be his first book. Well, I think writing is in the family genes. I have read that he doesn’t quite write with the prose that his dad did. It’s been too long since reading The Killer Angels for me to judge. I just know that the story he created here in Gods and Generals is very good.
Gods and Generals is a “personalized historical novel”. Like The Killer Angels, it is a character driven story, wholly based on the detailed facts of our country’s Civil War. What’s so good about these books is the getting to know the soldiers. Each man struggled with fear, and hoped for the life on the other side of this war, knowing this certain day of battle may be their last. If you’ve ever watched Ken Burns’ The Civil War documentary, then you’ll know what I’m saying. It’s like seeing men and women from the past. Chamberlain was a school teacher who volunteered for war because believed in his country. Hancock was a brave leader hampered by the generals above his status. Jackson was a brilliant strategist, and devout Christian with a soft heart that I didn’t know about. Lee never wanted the war, did not believe in slavery, but like each man brought to war he would defend the state he called home.
So, I didn’t love it like I did The Killer Angels, but I liked it very much. I liked going back to this pivotal period of time and our country’s fate. All wars suck. This war was so devastating to so many. It can’t be forgotten.
Let me first talk about The Killer Angels. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1975, it did not receive the public recognition it deserved until after Michael Shaara’s death at age 50. That’s sad to me, because it is such a good book. The recognition finally came when the movie Gettysburg, based on the book, was released in 1993. Shaara didn’t get to realize this, but his son did. I had just assumed it was Jeff’s idea to continue his dad’s work, creating the two books that would sandwich his dad’s novel. In actuality the idea for those two books came from the publishers. Jeff had never even attempted writing. This would be his first book. Well, I think writing is in the family genes. I have read that he doesn’t quite write with the prose that his dad did. It’s been too long since reading The Killer Angels for me to judge. I just know that the story he created here in Gods and Generals is very good.
Gods and Generals is a “personalized historical novel”. Like The Killer Angels, it is a character driven story, wholly based on the detailed facts of our country’s Civil War. What’s so good about these books is the getting to know the soldiers. Each man struggled with fear, and hoped for the life on the other side of this war, knowing this certain day of battle may be their last. If you’ve ever watched Ken Burns’ The Civil War documentary, then you’ll know what I’m saying. It’s like seeing men and women from the past. Chamberlain was a school teacher who volunteered for war because believed in his country. Hancock was a brave leader hampered by the generals above his status. Jackson was a brilliant strategist, and devout Christian with a soft heart that I didn’t know about. Lee never wanted the war, did not believe in slavery, but like each man brought to war he would defend the state he called home.
So, I didn’t love it like I did The Killer Angels, but I liked it very much. I liked going back to this pivotal period of time and our country’s fate. All wars suck. This war was so devastating to so many. It can’t be forgotten.
June 3, 2010
I love how Jeff Shaara writes. It takes some getting used to, yes, but once you get used to it...Brilliant! Outstanding!!!!!! I especially love how he focuses on the army, barely touches the political side of the war-and when the political side is touched, it's mostly negative.
I'd never thought to deeply about the Civil war until this school year. Now, with this book coming to top off my school year, I must say
history is a whole lot more complicated then I thought.
The story begins in 1858 (57??? not sure which) with some background information on the men the story focused on: Robert E. Lee, Winfeild Scott Hancock, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, and Joshua Lauwrence Chamberlain. These four men and their experiences in the Civil War form the main story.
I knew most of the battle's outcomes due to reading "Stonewall Jackson: a portrait of a soldier," right before reading "Gods and Generals." But all the same, the masterful way Shaara wove the story...It was amazing. Actually, though, the thing that fascinated me the most was the Generals of the North. A parade of men going through. President Lincoln really didn't have much luck at all choosing a commander. I lost track of how many generals had been in command and had to look it up. I think by the Battle of Chancellorsville, there'd been at least 4 different commanders.
I wish highschools would teach history like this. Most of my friends hate social studies, but I ADORE history.
Read this book! One of the most wonderful books on the main Civil War battles I've read in a long time.
I'd never thought to deeply about the Civil war until this school year. Now, with this book coming to top off my school year, I must say
history is a whole lot more complicated then I thought.
The story begins in 1858 (57??? not sure which) with some background information on the men the story focused on: Robert E. Lee, Winfeild Scott Hancock, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, and Joshua Lauwrence Chamberlain. These four men and their experiences in the Civil War form the main story.
I knew most of the battle's outcomes due to reading "Stonewall Jackson: a portrait of a soldier," right before reading "Gods and Generals." But all the same, the masterful way Shaara wove the story...It was amazing. Actually, though, the thing that fascinated me the most was the Generals of the North. A parade of men going through. President Lincoln really didn't have much luck at all choosing a commander. I lost track of how many generals had been in command and had to look it up. I think by the Battle of Chancellorsville, there'd been at least 4 different commanders.
I wish highschools would teach history like this. Most of my friends hate social studies, but I ADORE history.
Read this book! One of the most wonderful books on the main Civil War battles I've read in a long time.
July 30, 2018
Dislike. A complete and total dislike. The description was good. The characters were good. The story line was fine. Just. Don't. Like. It.
That's all I have to say...........
That's all I have to say...........
August 7, 2021
The Civil War has never been my favorite era, so I picked this up mainly because I enjoy Shaara's writing style and had read The Killer Angels. The writing style did not disappoint, and this book did an excellent job of portraying ordinary Americans trying to do what they believed was best. Readers who are interested in the Civil War may want to add a star to my rating. I can't comment to the historicity of the actual battle scenes, but in all honesty, I skimmed a lot of those parts because I wanted the "feel" of the writing more than the history. I read this book in fits and starts, so I didn't always do well at following the big picture, but it was interesting to read it with the knowledge of what happened to the characters later in The Killer Angels.
Perhaps the thing that concerned me most was Shaara's portrayal of the Christian faith held by both Lee and Jackson (especially Jackson). The outlook was a grim view of constantly striving to please a distant God who was never quite satisfied and might arbitrarily punish His people if they stepped out of line. God's "plan" was acknowledged, but with a sort of emotionless resignation. This is not the God of power and grace who may correct His children but is always working for the good of those who have placed their faith in His Son. I'm not an authority on Jackson, but this view doesn't seem to jibe with other things I've read about his faith. There was also a reinterpreting of his final words, making the emphasis his wife (I think) instead of God. I don't fault Mr. Shaara for this, because to the best of my knowledge he is not himself a believer. I had just hoped for more accurate things where characters' faith was concerned.
What struck me most about this book was how human nature never changes. Shaara shows us good and bad, wise and stupid, deceived and deceivers—on both sides. I started reading this during the polarizing events of last year, and I couldn't help thinking how relevant it was that so much of the war's beginnings was shrouded in rumor and anger and accusation—again, on both sides. It was a stark reminder of what can happen when we act before seeking out the truth.
To sum up, I enjoyed Shaara's Revolutionary War books more than this one, but his even-handed approach to the Civil War made me enjoy it more than I expected.
Perhaps the thing that concerned me most was Shaara's portrayal of the Christian faith held by both Lee and Jackson (especially Jackson). The outlook was a grim view of constantly striving to please a distant God who was never quite satisfied and might arbitrarily punish His people if they stepped out of line. God's "plan" was acknowledged, but with a sort of emotionless resignation. This is not the God of power and grace who may correct His children but is always working for the good of those who have placed their faith in His Son. I'm not an authority on Jackson, but this view doesn't seem to jibe with other things I've read about his faith. There was also a reinterpreting of his final words, making the emphasis his wife (I think) instead of God. I don't fault Mr. Shaara for this, because to the best of my knowledge he is not himself a believer. I had just hoped for more accurate things where characters' faith was concerned.
What struck me most about this book was how human nature never changes. Shaara shows us good and bad, wise and stupid, deceived and deceivers—on both sides. I started reading this during the polarizing events of last year, and I couldn't help thinking how relevant it was that so much of the war's beginnings was shrouded in rumor and anger and accusation—again, on both sides. It was a stark reminder of what can happen when we act before seeking out the truth.
To sum up, I enjoyed Shaara's Revolutionary War books more than this one, but his even-handed approach to the Civil War made me enjoy it more than I expected.
October 11, 2018
A Civil War book, fictionalizing several different sectors of society. Set mostly in the time it seemed possible the South would actually win the war.
Not bad, but I'm not entirely convinced of the historiosity.
Not bad, but I'm not entirely convinced of the historiosity.
June 25, 2019
This book was given to me by a good friend, who was so sure i would enjoy as he had. Sadly, I felt it did not live up to my expectations of a good book on the American Civil War.
Amongst the books many failings are: -
* A complete lack of any explanation of the causes of the war, or why the main characters chose to fight for which side. Slavery is dismissed with one character saying "It's gods will your a slave" with no further discussion. One character actually states he's fighting because he believes in the union but for the rest the talk is vaguely of duty with no explanation of what that duty is and to whom it is owed.
* As you would expect of a book written from the viewpoint of the Generals the description is clinical and about troop movements. The actual carnage of one of the bloodiest wars in history is virtually forgotten. At one point the battle of Antietam, one of the bloodiest battles in US history is told from the viewpoint of someone held in reserve who saw none of the fighting!
*The Union Generals are all incompetent with no thought given as to why at crucial moments McClennan and Burnside acted with such caution. By contrast all the Confederate leaders are lantern jawed men of dash and vigour, with a clear view of a battle and sustained by their faith in God.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who wants some insight into the American Civil War.
Amongst the books many failings are: -
* A complete lack of any explanation of the causes of the war, or why the main characters chose to fight for which side. Slavery is dismissed with one character saying "It's gods will your a slave" with no further discussion. One character actually states he's fighting because he believes in the union but for the rest the talk is vaguely of duty with no explanation of what that duty is and to whom it is owed.
* As you would expect of a book written from the viewpoint of the Generals the description is clinical and about troop movements. The actual carnage of one of the bloodiest wars in history is virtually forgotten. At one point the battle of Antietam, one of the bloodiest battles in US history is told from the viewpoint of someone held in reserve who saw none of the fighting!
*The Union Generals are all incompetent with no thought given as to why at crucial moments McClennan and Burnside acted with such caution. By contrast all the Confederate leaders are lantern jawed men of dash and vigour, with a clear view of a battle and sustained by their faith in God.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who wants some insight into the American Civil War.
November 25, 2011
This book could be considered the prequel to THE KILLER ANGELS (reviewed separately), written by Mr. Shaara’s father. This book takes a unique perspective leading up to the Civil War, introducing us to the notable historical figures in that confrontation. Mr. Shaara shares with the reader, through excellent characterization and dialogue why the Civil war was so important to these men. The author manages to bring to life the years leading up to the Civil War. Seemingly historically accurate, this book answered many of my questions about why this battle even happened. Obviously, the dialogue and innermost thoughts expressed by the “characters” in this book are speculation but the book did serve it’s purpose for me. It did answer any questions in my mind in a colorful, non-textbook way.
Although, as mentioned, I generally shy away from “war” books, I do enjoy historical fiction and in my opinion, this was historical fiction at its best.
Although, as mentioned, I generally shy away from “war” books, I do enjoy historical fiction and in my opinion, this was historical fiction at its best.
June 27, 2019
Seeking quality historical novels about the American Civil War, I came to this trilogy which, I see, is particularly popular. From the beginning, however, I was troubled by the order in which I should read them, if I should read them in chronological order, in the order they were written or based on their quality. Because I also read a historical book on the American Civil War I chose the chronological order and I think it was the best choice.
In the first chronological book of the series we are transported to the last few years before the start of the war and we continue until the spring of 1863, having followed closely all the fighting in the main theater of operations in Virginia. Expectantly the issue that dominates are these war conflicts and I can say that the author does really amazing work in this area. The way he describes the battles is very exciting and manages to put the reader in their hearts, making the reader to be next to the participants, knowing all the emotions caused by the intensity of the battle while at the same time the author gives the very important historical details for them, making us understand them better. Reading about these battles at the same time, I understand that this description is very accurate, which of course I highly appreciate.
However, in fact, all of this is not particularly difficult for a writer, and there are certainly many books describing battles from each period of history in a satisfactory way. But what makes this book stand out is this deepening in the feelings of the protagonists, some of them having the greatest weight in deciding for what has been done. It is amazing how the writer animates these protagonists in front of our eyes, thus showing us the human dimension of this war. This gives us an insight into their motivations, the reasons for these decisions, their doubts and the thoughts about their loved ones. Thus, having on one hand the exact description of the historical events and the big and small battles and on the other hand the vivid description of the sentiments of the protagonists, the reader has a very intense and comprehensive experience for this historical period. So in the end I can only say that this is a very high-quality historical novel.
Αναζητώντας ποιοτικά ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα για τον Αμερικανικό εμφύλιο πόλεμο έφτασα σε αυτήν την τριλογία που από ότι βλέπω είναι ιδιαίτερα δημοφιλής. Από την αρχή, όμως, με προβλημάτισε η σειρά με την οποία θα έπρεπε να τα διαβάσω, αν θα έπρεπε να τα διαβάσω με την χρονολογική σειρά, με τη σειρά που γράφτηκαν ή με βάση την ποιότητα τους. Επειδή παράλληλα διαβάζω και ένα ιστορικό βιβλίο για τον Αμερικανικό εμφύλιο πόλεμο επέλεξα τη χρονολογική σειρά και νομίζω ότι ήταν η καλύτερη επιλογή.
Στο πρώτο χρονολογικά βιβλίο της σειράς μεταφερόμαστε στα τελευταία χρόνια πριν από την έναρξη του πολέμου και φτάνουμε μέχρι την άνοιξη του 1863, έχοντας παρακολουθήσει από κοντά όλες τις πολεμικές αναμετρήσεις στο κύριο θέατρο των επιχειρήσεων, στη Βιρτζίνια. Αναμ��νόμενα το θέμα που κυριαρχεί είναι αυτές πολεμικές συγκρούσεις και μπορώ να πω ότι ο συγγραφέας κάνει πραγματικά καταπληκτική δουλειά σε αυτόν τον τομέα. Ο τρόπος που περιγράφει τις μάχες είναι τρομερά συναρπαστικός και καταφέρει να βάζει τον αναγνώστη στην καρδιά τους, κάνοντας τον αναγνώστη να βρίσκεται δίπλα στους συμμετέχοντες, γνωρίζοντας όλα τα συναισθήματα που προκαλεί η ένταση της μάχης ενώ την ίδια ώρα ο συγγραφέας δίνει τις πολύ σημαντικές ιστορικές λεπτομέρειες για αυτές, κάνοντάς μας να τις κατανοήσουμε καλύτερα. Διαβάζοντας παράλληλα για αυτές τις μάχες καταλαβαίνω ότι αυτή η περιγραφή έχει πολύ μεγάλη ακρίβεια, κάτι που φυσικά εκτιμώ ιδιαίτερα.
Φυσικά στην πραγματικότητα όλα αυτά δεν είναι κάτι το ιδιαίτερα δύσκολο για έναν συγγραφέα και σίγουρα υπάρχουν πολλά βιβλία που περιγράφουν μάχες από κάθε περίοδο της ιστορίας με έναν ικανοποιητικό τρόπο. Αυτό, όμως, που κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο να ξεχωρίζει είναι αυτή η εμβάθυνση που γίνεται στα συναισθήματα των πρωταγωνιστών, που κάποιοι από αυτούς είχαν το μεγαλύτερο βάρος των αποφάσεων για όλα όσα έγιναν. Είναι πολύ ωραίος ο τρόπος που ο συγγραφέας ζωντανεύει αυτούς τους πρωταγωνιστές μπροστά στα μάτια μας, δείχνοντάς μας έτσι την ανθρώπινη διάσταση αυτού του πολέμου. Έτσι μας δίνει μία εικόνα για τα κίνητρά τους, τους λόγους που πήραν αυτές τις αποφάσεις, τις αμφιβολίες τους αλλά και τις σκέψεις για τα αγαπημένα τους πρόσωπα. Έτσι, έχοντας από τη μία την ακριβή περιγραφή των ιστορικών γεγονότων και των μεγάλων και μικρών μαχών και από την άλλη τη ζωηρή περιγραφή των συναισθημάτων των πρωταγωνιστών, ο αναγνώστης έχει μία πολύ έντονη και ολοκληρωμένη εμπειρία για αυτή την ιστορική περίοδο. Οπότε στο τέλος δεν μπορώ παρά να πω ότι πρόκειται για ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα πολύ υψηλής ποιότητας.
In the first chronological book of the series we are transported to the last few years before the start of the war and we continue until the spring of 1863, having followed closely all the fighting in the main theater of operations in Virginia. Expectantly the issue that dominates are these war conflicts and I can say that the author does really amazing work in this area. The way he describes the battles is very exciting and manages to put the reader in their hearts, making the reader to be next to the participants, knowing all the emotions caused by the intensity of the battle while at the same time the author gives the very important historical details for them, making us understand them better. Reading about these battles at the same time, I understand that this description is very accurate, which of course I highly appreciate.
However, in fact, all of this is not particularly difficult for a writer, and there are certainly many books describing battles from each period of history in a satisfactory way. But what makes this book stand out is this deepening in the feelings of the protagonists, some of them having the greatest weight in deciding for what has been done. It is amazing how the writer animates these protagonists in front of our eyes, thus showing us the human dimension of this war. This gives us an insight into their motivations, the reasons for these decisions, their doubts and the thoughts about their loved ones. Thus, having on one hand the exact description of the historical events and the big and small battles and on the other hand the vivid description of the sentiments of the protagonists, the reader has a very intense and comprehensive experience for this historical period. So in the end I can only say that this is a very high-quality historical novel.
Αναζητώντας ποιοτικά ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα για τον Αμερικανικό εμφύλιο πόλεμο έφτασα σε αυτήν την τριλογία που από ότι βλέπω είναι ιδιαίτερα δημοφιλής. Από την αρχή, όμως, με προβλημάτισε η σειρά με την οποία θα έπρεπε να τα διαβάσω, αν θα έπρεπε να τα διαβάσω με την χρονολογική σειρά, με τη σειρά που γράφτηκαν ή με βάση την ποιότητα τους. Επειδή παράλληλα διαβάζω και ένα ιστορικό βιβλίο για τον Αμερικανικό εμφύλιο πόλεμο επέλεξα τη χρονολογική σειρά και νομίζω ότι ήταν η καλύτερη επιλογή.
Στο πρώτο χρονολογικά βιβλίο της σειράς μεταφερόμαστε στα τελευταία χρόνια πριν από την έναρξη του πολέμου και φτάνουμε μέχρι την άνοιξη του 1863, έχοντας παρακολουθήσει από κοντά όλες τις πολεμικές αναμετρήσεις στο κύριο θέατρο των επιχειρήσεων, στη Βιρτζίνια. Αναμ��νόμενα το θέμα που κυριαρχεί είναι αυτές πολεμικές συγκρούσεις και μπορώ να πω ότι ο συγγραφέας κάνει πραγματικά καταπληκτική δουλειά σε αυτόν τον τομέα. Ο τρόπος που περιγράφει τις μάχες είναι τρομερά συναρπαστικός και καταφέρει να βάζει τον αναγνώστη στην καρδιά τους, κάνοντας τον αναγνώστη να βρίσκεται δίπλα στους συμμετέχοντες, γνωρίζοντας όλα τα συναισθήματα που προκαλεί η ένταση της μάχης ενώ την ίδια ώρα ο συγγραφέας δίνει τις πολύ σημαντικές ιστορικές λεπτομέρειες για αυτές, κάνοντάς μας να τις κατανοήσουμε καλύτερα. Διαβάζοντας παράλληλα για αυτές τις μάχες καταλαβαίνω ότι αυτή η περιγραφή έχει πολύ μεγάλη ακρίβεια, κάτι που φυσικά εκτιμώ ιδιαίτερα.
Φυσικά στην πραγματικότητα όλα αυτά δεν είναι κάτι το ιδιαίτερα δύσκολο για έναν συγγραφέα και σίγουρα υπάρχουν πολλά βιβλία που περιγράφουν μάχες από κάθε περίοδο της ιστορίας με έναν ικανοποιητικό τρόπο. Αυτό, όμως, που κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο να ξεχωρίζει είναι αυτή η εμβάθυνση που γίνεται στα συναισθήματα των πρωταγωνιστών, που κάποιοι από αυτούς είχαν το μεγαλύτερο βάρος των αποφάσεων για όλα όσα έγιναν. Είναι πολύ ωραίος ο τρόπος που ο συγγραφέας ζωντανεύει αυτούς τους πρωταγωνιστές μπροστά στα μάτια μας, δείχνοντάς μας έτσι την ανθρώπινη διάσταση αυτού του πολέμου. Έτσι μας δίνει μία εικόνα για τα κίνητρά τους, τους λόγους που πήραν αυτές τις αποφάσεις, τις αμφιβολίες τους αλλά και τις σκέψεις για τα αγαπημένα τους πρόσωπα. Έτσι, έχοντας από τη μία την ακριβή περιγραφή των ιστορικών γεγονότων και των μεγάλων και μικρών μαχών και από την άλλη τη ζωηρή περιγραφή των συναισθημάτων των πρωταγωνιστών, ο αναγνώστης έχει μία πολύ έντονη και ολοκληρωμένη εμπειρία για αυτή την ιστορική περίοδο. Οπότε στο τέλος δεν μπορώ παρά να πω ότι πρόκειται για ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα πολύ υψηλής ποιότητας.
August 24, 2025
“The heavy round face was looking at him, the hard look of a man who also understood, who had seen all the stupidity, who knew after all, that the gold stars were often mindless decoration, that the army was led not by symbols, but by the fallible egos and blind fantasies of men.”
There’s so much I have to say, want to say, but I don’t know that I can get any of it out so I’ll leave it at the fact that we as Americans are so incredibly lucky to have Jeff and Michael Shaara tell our stories. And the remarkable courage Jeff had to take up the mantle of writing the prequel and sequel to his late father’s book, perhaps the most iconic and revered book about the American Civil War… well, I’m so grateful he did. Masterful does not begin to describe it. Never have I read a book where I needed to stop after every chapter to absorb and reflect - where it forced me to move slowly so I did not miss a single moment. The narrative is so striking, and it just becomes more of a punch to the gut remembering this is all really how it happened. My only regret is it took me this long to get to Shaara’s Civil War writing.
There’s so much I have to say, want to say, but I don’t know that I can get any of it out so I’ll leave it at the fact that we as Americans are so incredibly lucky to have Jeff and Michael Shaara tell our stories. And the remarkable courage Jeff had to take up the mantle of writing the prequel and sequel to his late father’s book, perhaps the most iconic and revered book about the American Civil War… well, I’m so grateful he did. Masterful does not begin to describe it. Never have I read a book where I needed to stop after every chapter to absorb and reflect - where it forced me to move slowly so I did not miss a single moment. The narrative is so striking, and it just becomes more of a punch to the gut remembering this is all really how it happened. My only regret is it took me this long to get to Shaara’s Civil War writing.
April 30, 2014
Corny dialogue, very stilted. This book and the series of three novels about the Civil War was highly recommended, so I was very disappointed.I couldn't even finish it. I remembered why I really dislike so many historical novels--they try too hard and sound like a low budget movie.
December 11, 2017
I'm going to quote the words of Jason Mraz and say:
" I won't give up on us
God knows I'm tough enough
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it."
Well it turns out I'm not tough enough and this book wasn't worth it. Oh, and I'm totally giving up on us.
Rating: 2.75 stars
This book is the story of 4 generals (or maybe more. I seriously don't know) and what they went through during the Civil war.
Seems exciting enough.
The problem is I don't read historical fiction but this book was so cheap: I just couldn't help myself.
This book was like a map and I'm horrible with directions. Also, I'm not American so I didn't know half of the places the author was talking about.
Why 2.75 stars?
The good:
*The writing was pretty great.
*I liked some of the characters and understood their decisions regarding which side they supported: North or South.
*The character's stories, background and difference in faith was enjoyable to read about.
The bad:
*Description, description and did I mention the description?
*I liked the characters but I didn't LIKE the characters.
*War startegies and politics. So hard to understand.
*Slow P..A...C....E
If you like politics and historical fiction, you will really like this book.
Maybe when I'm wiser and older, I will finish reading it and like it.
Probably not: about being wiser and finishing the book
" I won't give up on us
God knows I'm tough enough
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it."
Well it turns out I'm not tough enough and this book wasn't worth it. Oh, and I'm totally giving up on us.
Rating: 2.75 stars
This book is the story of 4 generals (or maybe more. I seriously don't know) and what they went through during the Civil war.
Seems exciting enough.
The problem is I don't read historical fiction but this book was so cheap: I just couldn't help myself.
This book was like a map and I'm horrible with directions. Also, I'm not American so I didn't know half of the places the author was talking about.
Why 2.75 stars?
The good:
*The writing was pretty great.
*I liked some of the characters and understood their decisions regarding which side they supported: North or South.
*The character's stories, background and difference in faith was enjoyable to read about.
The bad:
*Description, description and did I mention the description?
*I liked the characters but I didn't LIKE the characters.
*War startegies and politics. So hard to understand.
*Slow P..A...C....E
If you like politics and historical fiction, you will really like this book.
Maybe when I'm wiser and older, I will finish reading it and like it.
Probably not: about being wiser and finishing the book
November 17, 2014
This was a fairly lame book. I think it didn't require much more than Junior year of college level research. It was not very riveting. Without looking into it, I believe the author is pretty much a confederate apologist. He idolizes men like Lee, Jackson and Longstreet. His descriptions of them are glowing; they are the heroes while the union generals are buffoons and the union fighting men victims of inept leadership-that last part is fairly accurate. I know that a story like this should not take a political stance but it is difficult not to with such a polarizing chain of events. Lee is portrayed as burdened by his decision to join the southern cause because of how much he believes in the federal US government and system, yet doesn't seem to hesitate much in killing thousands of his countrymen. He popularizes the idea that the slave masters-of which group he is included-"took care" of their slaves like fathers to petulant, directionless sons. He fought to retain slavery in the south and his slaves in particular. If he was so good and righteous like this book demands us believe, then he wouldn't have lost the war and the God that he refers to throughout his "scenes" wouldn't have abandoned him and his cause. This book perpetuates civil war mythology.
September 29, 2023
Look, I loved the Gettysburg movie (and the pulitzer-prize winning Killer Angels on which it was based), so it was with a desperate DESIRE to love it that I watched the 2003 trainwreck of Gods and Generals...several times. I kept thinking, this'll get better, right? You're just missing something. It is not. It's just objectively terrible. I said to myself, well of course it's pro-confederate, because it's covering the pre-gettysburg part of the Civil War and it's hard to tell a good story where your protagonists lose ALL THE TIME, so by default your protagonists have to be Confederates for this time period. But it does not hold. Even so, I still loved the book -- it's well-written all the way through, and this is a book review, not a movie review.
Shaara has gone on record saying he thought the movie was trash and a poor adaptation of his book. But...was it though? One of the main criticisms of the movie is about how it handles slavery -- there are three black characters and they all seem quite content to be slaves and one of them even turns away Union soldiers from her massa's house in Fredericksburg by pretending to own it after the owner have fled, thus saving their property from them godless Yankees. The book should be better, but it isn't. Sure, at least in page-time, both sides get equal play, which is a massive improvement over the books, but what you say by not saying is just as important as what you say outright, and what Shaara does with the Confederate chapters is not talk about slavery AT ALL. Lee & Jackson talk about a Higher Cause, or a Noble Cause (or, in a telling afterword in the author's voice instead of the character's point of view, the Glorious Cause), but they never go beyond that to talk about what that cause is, which is the right to own human beings as chattel slaves. PARTICULARLY as both of these men are members of the planter aristocracy, it beggars belief to pretend that even wrapped up in conducting a war that slavery would never drift across their thought processes while they were doing so.
It's a shame because the Union parts of the book are actually really fascinating -- and puts the lie to my youthful hypothesis that you can't make a story where your protagonists lose. Hancock's chapters in particular are heartbreakingly frustrating, as he can see clearly what needs to be done over and over again, and is constantly overruled or ignored or not even asked his opinion by a succession of idiot generals. I love two short scenes about Burnside in particular. First, this one by Hancock leading up to the battle of Fredericksburg, talking with his immediate superior :
And I don't mean to single Burnside out, because there was a lot of incompetence to go around, but I also enjoyed this one, from the infamous "Mud March" after Fredericksburg, this time from Chamberlain's point of view :
How do you hang on? How do you keep going, and fighting, and dying, even when you KNOW your commanders are idiots? I think the answer is because these are men who believed in their cause strongly enough to override their despair at being used so poorly. And that IS a good story, inspiring and bleak at the same time. I wish we had seen that in the movie, instead of Lee & Jackson hogging 80% of the spotlight to preach turgidly about states' rights (again, because it bears repeating : rights to do what, again? Oh right, to own slaves).
Union parts, 5 stars. Confederate parts, 2 stars for wilful blindness. Compromise on three for the overall.
Shaara has gone on record saying he thought the movie was trash and a poor adaptation of his book. But...was it though? One of the main criticisms of the movie is about how it handles slavery -- there are three black characters and they all seem quite content to be slaves and one of them even turns away Union soldiers from her massa's house in Fredericksburg by pretending to own it after the owner have fled, thus saving their property from them godless Yankees. The book should be better, but it isn't. Sure, at least in page-time, both sides get equal play, which is a massive improvement over the books, but what you say by not saying is just as important as what you say outright, and what Shaara does with the Confederate chapters is not talk about slavery AT ALL. Lee & Jackson talk about a Higher Cause, or a Noble Cause (or, in a telling afterword in the author's voice instead of the character's point of view, the Glorious Cause), but they never go beyond that to talk about what that cause is, which is the right to own human beings as chattel slaves. PARTICULARLY as both of these men are members of the planter aristocracy, it beggars belief to pretend that even wrapped up in conducting a war that slavery would never drift across their thought processes while they were doing so.
It's a shame because the Union parts of the book are actually really fascinating -- and puts the lie to my youthful hypothesis that you can't make a story where your protagonists lose. Hancock's chapters in particular are heartbreakingly frustrating, as he can see clearly what needs to be done over and over again, and is constantly overruled or ignored or not even asked his opinion by a succession of idiot generals. I love two short scenes about Burnside in particular. First, this one by Hancock leading up to the battle of Fredericksburg, talking with his immediate superior :
Hancock paused, told himself to be careful. He knew he had better choose his words. "We might have a difficult time taking those hills, General."
"General Hancock, last week I showed General Burnside a map, given to me by one of the engineers. It showed a deep canal, cutting across that open field behind the town, the field we will have to cross. I pointed out the location of the canal, that it will present a difficult obstacle in the face of artillery fire. General Burnside looked at the map, then looked at me, and said there is no canal in that location, that the map was wrong. I thought, well, he could be right, I suppose he has better access to information than I do. So I came out here, stood on this spot with field glasses, and looked across the tops of those church steeples, and pretty plain I could see it, right where the engineer said it was. Now, General, what am I supposed to do? I have spent over forty years in this army accepting the word of my commander as gospel, carrying out my duty." He paused, wiped at his nose with a handkerchief. "The commanding general says we are to cross this river and take those heights. So, that is what we will do. (...) And if we are not successful, we can say, well, it was a good plan, but there were ... circumstances, and Mr. Lincoln and General Halleck and Secretary Stanton will pace in their offices and fret over what we should do next. And you, General, can one day go back to your hometown and tell the families of your men that they died doing their duty. And they might even believe you."
And I don't mean to single Burnside out, because there was a lot of incompetence to go around, but I also enjoyed this one, from the infamous "Mud March" after Fredericksburg, this time from Chamberlain's point of view :
Chamberlain walked toward them, stepped down off the surface of the road, and his feet slid suddenly away, slipped sideways into the depression that ran beside the road. He caught himself, one hand landing hard in the wetness, and Ames saw him. The other man said something, laughing, then rode away. (...) Chamberlain looked at Ames, said, "Just a clumsy fall, Colonel. These roads are a bit of a mess."
"No, they are not, Colonel. I have just been told -- that officer was Colonel Markey, of General Griffin's staff -- these roads are now ideal for a new and glorious advance of this army. That is, in so many words, part of General Burnside's orders. So, Colonel, you see, you did not slip in the mud. There is no mud."
Chamberlain stared at Ames, heard the bitterness, something new, looked at his hand again, the handkerchief. "No, sir. No mud here."
Ames abruptly turned his horse, rode away along the edge of the wet road.
Tom said, "He's in a fine spirit today, eh, Lawrence?"
How do you hang on? How do you keep going, and fighting, and dying, even when you KNOW your commanders are idiots? I think the answer is because these are men who believed in their cause strongly enough to override their despair at being used so poorly. And that IS a good story, inspiring and bleak at the same time. I wish we had seen that in the movie, instead of Lee & Jackson hogging 80% of the spotlight to preach turgidly about states' rights (again, because it bears repeating : rights to do what, again? Oh right, to own slaves).
Union parts, 5 stars. Confederate parts, 2 stars for wilful blindness. Compromise on three for the overall.
May 3, 2017
Meh. Didn't do much for me- Killer Angels is much better. Jeff also just doesn't have the voice his father did. And there's no Longstreet in this book :(
But two stars because you know. Civil War buff and unashamed. :)
But two stars because you know. Civil War buff and unashamed. :)
April 6, 2014
The first in the epic father/son Civil War trilogy (the next one is The Killer Angels by Jeff's father Michael Shaara, followed by Jeff's sequel The Last Full Measure). This was Jeff's first book, and it must have been intimidating writing a prequel to his father's book, which had won the Pulitzer prize and been made into the astonishingly good film, Gettysburg.
But Jeff rose to the challenge admirably and delivered a book similar in tone to his father's and carefully maintaining the air of tragedy that his father achieved in The Killer Angels.
For those who are new, Gods and Generals starts at the beginning of the American Civil War and follows four of the major commanders through the first three years of the war. What makes this trilogy so unique is its even-handedness to both sides of the battle, which makes the war itself something tragic. Highly recommended series.
This was made into a film of the same name, which deviated quite differently from the book. If they'd stuck to the book, it would have been an amazing film, instead it became a fascinating but flawed look at the American Civil War. Read the book instead.
But Jeff rose to the challenge admirably and delivered a book similar in tone to his father's and carefully maintaining the air of tragedy that his father achieved in The Killer Angels.
For those who are new, Gods and Generals starts at the beginning of the American Civil War and follows four of the major commanders through the first three years of the war. What makes this trilogy so unique is its even-handedness to both sides of the battle, which makes the war itself something tragic. Highly recommended series.
This was made into a film of the same name, which deviated quite differently from the book. If they'd stuck to the book, it would have been an amazing film, instead it became a fascinating but flawed look at the American Civil War. Read the book instead.
November 12, 2022
Audible credit 22 hours 38 min. Narrated by Mark Bramhall (A)
December 29, 2020
Jeff Shaara is not his dad, but he can imitate him pretty well. What I found most interesting about this book is that the younger Shaara replicated the fluid battle scene intensity of his father's popular masterpiece. What I found most disappointing is that this novel is basically a love letter to Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. For that, I cannot forgive the author.
Similar to every prequel ever attempted, the younger Shaara is trying to match tone and pace. So that may be why he doggedly sticks to the same characters, which anyone with even a thimble knowledge of the American Civil War knows means once again confronting the mythical status of Robert E. Lee.
Even his dad struggled with this one, which is why Michael Shaara probably vaulted Joshua Lawerence Chamberlain into a special (perhaps unwarranted?) literary hero in The Killer Angels as the only counterbalance to what I am now dubbing the Shaara-poetic Confederates. Yet before Little Round Top, Chamberlain wasn't a central figure in the war. So he has very little to do in this book. That is a definite loss.
Instead, as a main counter to the Confederate characters (cause that's what we've made them) we're left with a kick-some-rocks Winfield Hancock, who is eternally disappointed in the book. As he should be. The United States Army did not do well in this war until Gettysburg. But still, Hancock starts off really interesting and halfway through the book just turns into a narrator to catch up the reader on incompetence. If you took out the line "stared with anger in his eyes" out of this book, you'd have three lines of Hancock in the second half.
Which is ridiculous. Surely he had thoughts of his wife, his kids (who remain unnamed), and his friend Armistead. There were windows to make Hancock a real character. None of them are taken for the last two hundred pages. You know why? Cause all the family men in this book are Confederates. All the people with conflicted hearts, sentimental attachments, and fiery tempers were the men who fought for slavery. Longstreet's grief. Stuart's splash and vigor. Jackson's idiosyncratic, righteous racism!
Above all, the detail and care given to Jackson left me with a twisted face -- like a lemon, perhaps. I skimmed the entire last 10 pages of the book, which is written like an overly wrought Jackson memorial, with a "glad you died" vibe. This book was written in 1996 and Jackson is ven-er-rated. Dear god.
I get why the book is called Gods and Generals and the idea that Jackson and Lee were revered as gods on the battlefield. But this book is overly sympathetic to the rebels. We do not venerate Hitler or his squad's death like this bullshit. You know why? Cause he lost. Cause he killed lots of people. The Confederates were fighting to uphold the institution of slavery -- which killed lots of people.
Good example of a disastrously romantic scene is on pg. 72 in which Lee's former slave, "Big" Nate, who is characterized by his large body, deep voice, and "dark, rugged face" speaks in dialect to try to convince his former master (the person who used to own him!) to release all his brethren. Quite a burden for the character and also quite unlikely historically.
What Shaara is trying to do in this scene -- where the one Black character is reduced to a set piece -- is show the "conflict" of Lee with slavery and how he once historically labeled it as only solvable by Providence aka The Big Man Upstairs. Not my favorite use of a Black body to legitimize white feelings. Lee needed enslaved people to run his plantation. Done. Full stop.
Also pretty evident: The Confederates thought God was on their side. They did not want things to change, and they sought to ensure their right to own people (slavery). Which leads me to my take on this book. The Killer Angels did not need this book as a prequel. It has done nothing to help right the narrative. It has only confirmed that sympathies of the Lost Cause myth and introduced further proof that romanticizing our history of racial violence is dangerous for everyone.
Similar to every prequel ever attempted, the younger Shaara is trying to match tone and pace. So that may be why he doggedly sticks to the same characters, which anyone with even a thimble knowledge of the American Civil War knows means once again confronting the mythical status of Robert E. Lee.
Even his dad struggled with this one, which is why Michael Shaara probably vaulted Joshua Lawerence Chamberlain into a special (perhaps unwarranted?) literary hero in The Killer Angels as the only counterbalance to what I am now dubbing the Shaara-poetic Confederates. Yet before Little Round Top, Chamberlain wasn't a central figure in the war. So he has very little to do in this book. That is a definite loss.
Instead, as a main counter to the Confederate characters (cause that's what we've made them) we're left with a kick-some-rocks Winfield Hancock, who is eternally disappointed in the book. As he should be. The United States Army did not do well in this war until Gettysburg. But still, Hancock starts off really interesting and halfway through the book just turns into a narrator to catch up the reader on incompetence. If you took out the line "stared with anger in his eyes" out of this book, you'd have three lines of Hancock in the second half.
Which is ridiculous. Surely he had thoughts of his wife, his kids (who remain unnamed), and his friend Armistead. There were windows to make Hancock a real character. None of them are taken for the last two hundred pages. You know why? Cause all the family men in this book are Confederates. All the people with conflicted hearts, sentimental attachments, and fiery tempers were the men who fought for slavery. Longstreet's grief. Stuart's splash and vigor. Jackson's idiosyncratic, righteous racism!
Above all, the detail and care given to Jackson left me with a twisted face -- like a lemon, perhaps. I skimmed the entire last 10 pages of the book, which is written like an overly wrought Jackson memorial, with a "glad you died" vibe. This book was written in 1996 and Jackson is ven-er-rated. Dear god.
I get why the book is called Gods and Generals and the idea that Jackson and Lee were revered as gods on the battlefield. But this book is overly sympathetic to the rebels. We do not venerate Hitler or his squad's death like this bullshit. You know why? Cause he lost. Cause he killed lots of people. The Confederates were fighting to uphold the institution of slavery -- which killed lots of people.
Good example of a disastrously romantic scene is on pg. 72 in which Lee's former slave, "Big" Nate, who is characterized by his large body, deep voice, and "dark, rugged face" speaks in dialect to try to convince his former master (the person who used to own him!) to release all his brethren. Quite a burden for the character and also quite unlikely historically.
What Shaara is trying to do in this scene -- where the one Black character is reduced to a set piece -- is show the "conflict" of Lee with slavery and how he once historically labeled it as only solvable by Providence aka The Big Man Upstairs. Not my favorite use of a Black body to legitimize white feelings. Lee needed enslaved people to run his plantation. Done. Full stop.
Also pretty evident: The Confederates thought God was on their side. They did not want things to change, and they sought to ensure their right to own people (slavery). Which leads me to my take on this book. The Killer Angels did not need this book as a prequel. It has done nothing to help right the narrative. It has only confirmed that sympathies of the Lost Cause myth and introduced further proof that romanticizing our history of racial violence is dangerous for everyone.
April 28, 2020
I read The Killer Angels over a decade ago and finally read the "son-written prequel" in Gods and Generals. Better late than never, right? But, in my experience, sometimes those books you've "always meant to read" come to you at just the right time. This was one of those.
Reading a book on the Civil War during an epidemic and divisive election year has been interesting. While I'm not comparing any of the things we're currently experiencing to the atrocity of slavery, the division, the confusion, the anger, the blind loyalties, decisions being made by politicians far removed from situations, the media outrage, is all vaguely similar.
But back to the book. The thing I loved about The Killer Angels that is translated to this book is the storytelling. You get the perspectives of multiple characters. The author doesn't pass judgment on decisions, just tells the story as it unfolds. Is this a work of fiction? Yes. But the research shows on every page. The men, their thoughts and emotions, sympathies and beliefs all feel so very real. You'll learn more about the men who fought in the Civil War and feel the gravity of their decisions and actions so much deeper in this book than you will in a textbook stating facts and dates.
And that's what I love about historical fiction. Instead of knowing about Stonewall Jackson's death, you feel the blow it was to his friends and family. Instead of reading about how the Federal Army retreated for another time because they were led by an incompetent man, you feel the agony of the generals and soldiers who were forced to retreat from a battle they were winning--at the cost of additional lives.
If you like historical fiction that tells the story from multiple and conflicting angles, I highly recommend this one.
Reading a book on the Civil War during an epidemic and divisive election year has been interesting. While I'm not comparing any of the things we're currently experiencing to the atrocity of slavery, the division, the confusion, the anger, the blind loyalties, decisions being made by politicians far removed from situations, the media outrage, is all vaguely similar.
But back to the book. The thing I loved about The Killer Angels that is translated to this book is the storytelling. You get the perspectives of multiple characters. The author doesn't pass judgment on decisions, just tells the story as it unfolds. Is this a work of fiction? Yes. But the research shows on every page. The men, their thoughts and emotions, sympathies and beliefs all feel so very real. You'll learn more about the men who fought in the Civil War and feel the gravity of their decisions and actions so much deeper in this book than you will in a textbook stating facts and dates.
And that's what I love about historical fiction. Instead of knowing about Stonewall Jackson's death, you feel the blow it was to his friends and family. Instead of reading about how the Federal Army retreated for another time because they were led by an incompetent man, you feel the agony of the generals and soldiers who were forced to retreat from a battle they were winning--at the cost of additional lives.
If you like historical fiction that tells the story from multiple and conflicting angles, I highly recommend this one.
June 29, 2021
Alright, this is a hard book to review, so I'll just list what I liked and didn't like about it. 😉
What I liked:
* the writing style - it took a while to get used to it, but when I did, I loved it.
* the pov - I enjoyed the different pov's, the deeper look into each character's thoughts and feelings.
* the humor - even though this is an overall serious book, there were still a few humorous parts, and I enjoyed those.
What I did not like:
* the cussing and profanity - there was a decent amount of crude language which I would have marked out if it wasn't a borrowed book.
* the inaccuracies - while most of the story felt like it stayed true to the personalities of the historical characters, there were a few scenes that seemed to fictionalize it too much.
Altogether, I did enjoy reading this. If I had my own copy, I would mark out the language, though. As for the inaccuracies, I don't think they were big enough to be a major problem. The reader should just remember that it is a fiction book after all.
I would give this 5 stars if it wasn't for the language, but since there is so much, I'm going to give it 4 stars.
What I liked:
* the writing style - it took a while to get used to it, but when I did, I loved it.
* the pov - I enjoyed the different pov's, the deeper look into each character's thoughts and feelings.
* the humor - even though this is an overall serious book, there were still a few humorous parts, and I enjoyed those.
What I did not like:
* the cussing and profanity - there was a decent amount of crude language which I would have marked out if it wasn't a borrowed book.
* the inaccuracies - while most of the story felt like it stayed true to the personalities of the historical characters, there were a few scenes that seemed to fictionalize it too much.
Altogether, I did enjoy reading this. If I had my own copy, I would mark out the language, though. As for the inaccuracies, I don't think they were big enough to be a major problem. The reader should just remember that it is a fiction book after all.
I would give this 5 stars if it wasn't for the language, but since there is so much, I'm going to give it 4 stars.
October 17, 2015
I like historical fiction and picked up this book for that reason. However, it seems less like fiction and more like military history. This book seemed to me to be endless descriptions of what every general on both sides was doing during the Civil War--and not the whole Civil War, but just until 1863. This is the first book by either of the Shaaras that I have read, and I won't read another. Obviously, I didn't know what I was getting into because I know he is very well regarded by many people.
June 18, 2017
All of Shaara's books are excellent and he is an author whose books I collect. While his books are technically not histories the history is incredibly accurate and readable.
May 19, 2009
Jeff Shaara simply could not pull off what his father accomplished. I'm sure Mr. Shaara is a smart historian of sorts, but as a writer it just doesn't give the proper payload. Perhaps he simply tried to cram too much in the lead-up to the Battle at Gettysburg, unlike his father who concentrated all of his attention and efforts on just those three historic days? Either way, the writing is simply annoying (too many "..."s throughout), and the only thing interesting is the sprinkling of Jeff Shaara's father's lines within the "Gods and Generals". Apart from that, just stick to what's good - "The Killer Angels".
August 9, 2012
I really don't know what happened with Jeff Shaara from this book to his second attempt, The Last Full Measure, but I enjoyed this book more. There is still the rambling on, and the writing still has the same irritating problems, but not to the same extent as Measure. I still enjoy the historic events told in a comprehensible way; it fulfills my need to understand the order in which things happened. I must say, I could not read two pages where he goes on about the death of General Jackson, it is just too heart-wrenching. Even though I knew it was coming, I still was not able to read it. All in all, a much better read than his second novel.
July 9, 2019
Focus is on a few officers from both sides before Gettysburg.
January 23, 2024
Unique writing style that takes a bit to get used to. Great storytelling. And from the little I've learned about Civil War generals, he pegs their personalities and lifestyles. A good read.
September 29, 2014
I am a big fan of military histories - fact and fiction. For years my biggest gap was the American Civil War (War Between the States). I cannot tell you why this so because I do not know why. A friend, who is a big Civil war buff, finally shamed me into reading about it. My first venture was JEFF SHAARA's bestselling GODS AND GENERALS (ISBN 978-0345422477, paperback, $7.99).
In 1974 Jeff's father, MICHAEL SHAARA had his bestselling, Pulitzer Prize winning novel THE KILLER ANGELS, published. It was made into the movie GETTYSBURG a few years later. Michael died in 1988. His son Jeff was pressured into writing the prequel GODS AND GENERALS that was published in 1996. The third installment is THE LAST FULL MEASURE. I have not yet read books 2 and 3. There is also a second series that has two additional titles, A BLAZE OF GLORY and A CHAIN OF THUNDER.
I knew the names of the battlefields of Bull Run (1 and 2), Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. I did not know what happened there. I knew the names of Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and Winfield Scott Hancock but not what they did. Jeff Shaara focuses our attention on these battles and generals. The gods/generals are seen as people more than military heroes. They have our hopes and joys, our depression and sadness. They have families and very mixed emotions about the war. The writing is exceptionally good though it can be a challenge following who is where.
I have read other Jeff Shaara novels and they are all worth reading. And you will be learning history as well.
GO! BUY! READ!
In 1974 Jeff's father, MICHAEL SHAARA had his bestselling, Pulitzer Prize winning novel THE KILLER ANGELS, published. It was made into the movie GETTYSBURG a few years later. Michael died in 1988. His son Jeff was pressured into writing the prequel GODS AND GENERALS that was published in 1996. The third installment is THE LAST FULL MEASURE. I have not yet read books 2 and 3. There is also a second series that has two additional titles, A BLAZE OF GLORY and A CHAIN OF THUNDER.
I knew the names of the battlefields of Bull Run (1 and 2), Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. I did not know what happened there. I knew the names of Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and Winfield Scott Hancock but not what they did. Jeff Shaara focuses our attention on these battles and generals. The gods/generals are seen as people more than military heroes. They have our hopes and joys, our depression and sadness. They have families and very mixed emotions about the war. The writing is exceptionally good though it can be a challenge following who is where.
I have read other Jeff Shaara novels and they are all worth reading. And you will be learning history as well.
GO! BUY! READ!
December 7, 2007
When my history professor gave me a list of books to choose from to read for his Civil War class, I chose this one on impulse. I came into the novel with very little knowledge about the events recorded in the book, but Jeff Sharra brought it to life for me.
All too often, the Southern soldiers are depicted as uneducated brutes who hated slaves. While I'm sure that was true of some, Sharra portrays the Southern Generals as fighting for their homeland, for their families, and as unwilling to turn their weapons against their own homes. Reading this book, regardless of the cause that the politicians chose on either side, I can easily believe that I myself would have made the same decisions as the Southern men did when they were deciding where their loyalties belonged. The men from the North were influenced by the same factors: they were defending the homes they loved. It was a war that ensnared good, thinking men, men who would never have caused the war themselves, to fight in some of the worst massacres in history.
It was a little different for me to read a book that was solely focused on the male side of the story (I'm a girl). I rather enjoyed the change of pace, and found much to admire in the thought processes of both the Generals and the author. He helped me experience the fervor, the bravery, the immense frustration, and the overwhelming honor of the men of the Civil War.
All too often, the Southern soldiers are depicted as uneducated brutes who hated slaves. While I'm sure that was true of some, Sharra portrays the Southern Generals as fighting for their homeland, for their families, and as unwilling to turn their weapons against their own homes. Reading this book, regardless of the cause that the politicians chose on either side, I can easily believe that I myself would have made the same decisions as the Southern men did when they were deciding where their loyalties belonged. The men from the North were influenced by the same factors: they were defending the homes they loved. It was a war that ensnared good, thinking men, men who would never have caused the war themselves, to fight in some of the worst massacres in history.
It was a little different for me to read a book that was solely focused on the male side of the story (I'm a girl). I rather enjoyed the change of pace, and found much to admire in the thought processes of both the Generals and the author. He helped me experience the fervor, the bravery, the immense frustration, and the overwhelming honor of the men of the Civil War.
June 14, 2021
Jeff Shaara’s prequel to his late father’s masterpiece The Killer Angels. God’s and Generals was written in 1996, before historical fiction was as popular as it is today. He does a great job of explaining the Civil War events of 1863. What makes this book great though is the humanization of the military leaders from both sides and their great empathy for the soldiers who served under them.
August 25, 2009
I'll read anything by a Shaara. Some of the best historical fiction you can find.
August 7, 2018
One of the reasons I’ve been reading this trilogy – starting with The Killer Angels – is to really be able to wrap my head around this war. I’ve always known that slavery was the root cause, but I couldn’t understand why the entire south would fight so HARD…. Just to keep slaves?? I mean, I can see why the wealthy southerners wanted to hang on to their free labor... But there had to be more to it.
Another book that I’ve read earlier in the year helped answer some of my questions: John Jake’s North and South, a fictional account of the reality of our country, the division of opinions and perspectives. Now, with Gods and Generals, I really get a first-hand view of the immediate events that led to (what should have been a minor scuffle) the greatest conflict in our nation’s history! Jeff Shaara allows you to see what happens after war has been declared – each side pick and choose their generals and their commanders, and introduces certain individuals who later become legendary war heroes. As the first two years of war rages on, you can see how many opportunities this war could have ended; it’s these commanders and politicians who make dumbass mistakes—or decisions based on ego, instead of logic—that causes suicide missions, senseless mass bloodshed and ultimately prolongs the war.
I do like these Shaara books because they (father and son) narrate these events in story form. It’s definitely more up close and personal than your average war book or biography. He writes good dialogue, and places you inside the heads of these characters – such famous people as Robert E Lee and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.
I’ve read a handful of Civil War material over the past year, and Gods and Generals ranks high. It was inspiring enough that I took a day trip into Gettysburg, PA over the weekend, and walked some of the famous battle sites. (I’ve always wanted to do the Ghosts of Gettysburg tour… but sometimes when you take pictures, you’ll see some orbs floating in the scenery. There’s a lots of stories of hauntings, so it depends on what you believe!)
Another book that I’ve read earlier in the year helped answer some of my questions: John Jake’s North and South, a fictional account of the reality of our country, the division of opinions and perspectives. Now, with Gods and Generals, I really get a first-hand view of the immediate events that led to (what should have been a minor scuffle) the greatest conflict in our nation’s history! Jeff Shaara allows you to see what happens after war has been declared – each side pick and choose their generals and their commanders, and introduces certain individuals who later become legendary war heroes. As the first two years of war rages on, you can see how many opportunities this war could have ended; it’s these commanders and politicians who make dumbass mistakes—or decisions based on ego, instead of logic—that causes suicide missions, senseless mass bloodshed and ultimately prolongs the war.
I do like these Shaara books because they (father and son) narrate these events in story form. It’s definitely more up close and personal than your average war book or biography. He writes good dialogue, and places you inside the heads of these characters – such famous people as Robert E Lee and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.
I’ve read a handful of Civil War material over the past year, and Gods and Generals ranks high. It was inspiring enough that I took a day trip into Gettysburg, PA over the weekend, and walked some of the famous battle sites. (I’ve always wanted to do the Ghosts of Gettysburg tour… but sometimes when you take pictures, you’ll see some orbs floating in the scenery. There’s a lots of stories of hauntings, so it depends on what you believe!)
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