The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War - Softcover

Shaara, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0345348109 ISBN 13: 9780345348104

Publisher: Ballantine Books, 1987

“My favorite historical novel . . . A superb re-creation of the Battle of Gettysburg, but its real importance is its insight into what the war was about, and what it meant.”—James M. McPherson

In the four most bloody and courageous days of our nation’s history, two armies fought for two conflicting dreams. One dreamed of freedom, the other of a way of life. Far more than rifles and bullets were carried into battle. There were memories. There were promises. There was love. And far more than men fell on those Pennsylvania fields. Bright futures, untested innocence, and pristine beauty were also the casualties of war. Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer Prize–winning masterpiece is unique, sweeping, unforgettable—the dramatic story of the battleground for America’s destiny. 

Praise for The Killer Angels

“Remarkable . . . a book that changed my life . . . I had never visited Gettysburg, knew almost nothing about that battle before I read the book, but here it all came alive.”—Ken Burns

“Shaara carries [the reader] swiftly and dramatically to a climax as exciting as if it were being heard for the first time.”—The Seattle Times

“Utterly absorbing.”—Forbes

Review:

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.

From the Publisher:

In a quiet, deliberate, understated fashion, Michael Shaara paints a picture of the military leaders at the Battle of Gettysburg. I learned of the leaders, both flawed and good, and how they dealt with the weight of sending men into what is considered the pivotal battle of the civil war. This is the book that inspired Ken Burns to create his award-winning documentary THE CIVIL WAR and now that I've read it, I understand why.

Ron Lundquist, Ballantine Sales Rep.

• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0345348109
• ISBN 13: 9780345348104
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 355