The Civil War Trilogy: Gods and Generals / The Killer Angels / The Last Full Measure by Michael Shaara

The Civil War Trilogy: Gods and Generals / The Killer Angels / The Last Full Measure Reviews

• 
  Misfit

  These three books should be required reading in school. Very eye opening to the horrors of war.
  
  Gods and Generals - Fascinating portrayal of a sad time in US History, as told from the perspectives of the generals involved in these campaigns. I was most particularly moved by Lee and his torn loyalties to the US Army and his home state of Virginia, and most especially by the great Stonewall Jackson. I've come across the names in history classes (oh so long ago) and the occasional novel covering this period, but it was wonderful to have them brought to life as this author did, and we are once again reminded that was is indeed h***. One moment in the book that particularly touched me was during a retreat of Federal soldiers. One of them slipped in the mud and was told that since the general decreed the roads to be in good condition therefore there is no mud. Four stars instead of five as the author's habit of inserting a comma instead of the word "and" was a bit of a distration for me.
  
  The Killer Angels - The author brings the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War to life in this wonderful novel. He uses the alternating views from the officers of both sides of the conflict, thus making you feel as you are right with them, culminating in the horrific and tragic end of the battle. I was truly saddened by the incredible loss of life due to the mistakes of the priveleged few, the generals. No wonder they say Gettysburg is one of the most haunted places in America.
  
  The Last Full Measure - I think this book, and the two preceding it should be required reading in school. I had no idea how horrific this war was, particularly more so as the brutalities committed on both sides were against our own. There were so many moments when I wanted to stop and cry for the loss of life, and especially at the end when the one man who was capable of healing the country and bringing us all back together as one nation, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated.
  
  The research was impeccable and telling the story from the viewpoints of the various generals absolutely fascinating. The honorable Robert E. Lee, Chamberlain (loved his gracious salute to the surrendering army), and the ever fascinating U.S. Grant.
  
  One quote from so many in the book that just brought tears to my eyes: "Yes, it was horrible, horrible indeed. But he had to tell himself that, remind himself to see it that way. There was no sickening revulsion, no outrage, no indignation at the barbarism. It was just one more scene from this war, one more horror, one more mass of death, blending together with all the rest."
  
  Highly highly recommended.
• 
  Wendy Rabe

  The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara gripped me from the moment I started it, another one of those books dangerous for a mother to start as it could lead to the neglect of children. (Fortunately, mine are old enough that at least serious accidents were ruled out during my stolen moments.) The portraits of the warriors are vivid. Robert E. Lee's honor and character are captured, along with the devotion of his men and even what might be seen as arrogance that led to Pickett's Charge. The heroism of rhetoric professor Joshua Chamberlain, who held the end of the line at Gettysburg, is shown in the many details, including his wise treatment of deserters, his rousing speeches to his men, his horror at filling a hole in the line with his own brother. The Last Full Measure , written by Shaara's son, Jeffrey, takes the reader to the surrender of Lee, continuing in the same style as the original author. The thorough background research, based on soldiers' journals, newspaper accounts and other primary documents, is what gives these works the depth and richness that is so enjoyable. (I haven't read Gods and Generals yet, but look forward to that as a future treat.)
• 
  Dave

  This was an outstanding trilogy about the civil war and I'm not a big fan of history books about our country's wars. Although this is what I'd call fictional history the events were real. A great story!
• 
  Philip

  These books are amazing!
  
  You often hear the cliché "it's like history comes alive on the page," rarely is it as true as in this case. This isn't just for civil war buffs, it isn't just for military fiction aficionados, it's for anyone who ever wondered what it would have been like...
  
  Highly recommended reading, as are all the Shaara books - be they written by Michael or Jeff.
• 
  Richard I Porter

  Who should read it: people interested in Civil War History, but with a distaste for the dry nonfiction historical books. Who also know to take it with at least a grain of salt, as it is a work of fiction (albeit a well researched one.)
  
  I enjoyed reading this, and came to a better understanding of the ark of the civil war and the connection of the battles and campaigns than I previously had (speaking as a History major and military history enthusiast, that's saying something.
  
  Beware that the Shaaras and Jeff Shaara in particular (author of the bracketing books in this Trilogy, gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure) subscribe a bit to the Lost Cause narrative, that the war was about something other than slavery, that the southern generals really weren't all that bad, especially Lee.
  
  Sure, a Slaver, but not THAT BAD of a Slaver.
  Sure, a traitor to an oath of office as a military office, but not THAT BAD of a traitor.
  Sure, a military blunderer in some cases but not THAT BAD of a military blunderer because.....reasons.
  
  So I do recommend reading these books if the topics are interesting to you, do take them with a grain of salt. I will also review each book individually for its own specifics, but will borrow a bit from this one for the themes that carry through.
  
  3 Star reviews mean this was a solid book. I probably won’t read it again but I could. I do recommend it to people interested in this sort of topic. No argument from me if you love this book.
• 
  Ginger Stephens

  This is a review of the entire trilogy.
  
  All Americans should read this, especially in this time when the Confederacy and the causes of the War are misunderstood and misconstrued. The Killer Angels is MUCH better than God and Generals and The Last Full Measure. That does not mean that those are not good books worth reading. The Killer Angels is in a class by itself. Few books are its equal.
  
  The Killer Angels inspires emotions: sadness, anger, confusion. The other two do that, but not as strongly and the characters are not nearly as vivid as those same characters I. The Killer Angels.
  
  All in all, this was time well spent and I recommend all three books.
  
  
• 
  Matthew Fernandez

  Far and away one of the greatest trilogies ever written.
  
  Michael Shaara is the writer of the second book chronologically but first one published, "The Killer Angels" telling the story about the four days of the Battle of Gettysburg from the points of view of the general officers of both the Union and Confederate Armies in the American Civil War (1861-1865).
  
  The second published but first chronologically is "Gods and Generals" written and published by his son Jeffery Shaara 22 years later follows the wars’ early years and battles such as Antietam and Fredericksburg. It ends with General "Stonewall" Jackson's death at Chancellorsville and just as the armies approach Gettysburg.
  
  The Third published and final novel of the trilogy is "The Last Full Measure" which introduces Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant who is appointed By President Abraham Lincoln to take command of all Union forces and bring victory which as history shows happened on April 9, 1865.
  
  The Civil War possibly is the most documented and written about subject in American History and yet "The Killer Angels" was the first of it's kind alittle over 100 years later. It was the first book to give the reader the chance to hear the story of the war from the actual participants. And the Shaaras do not disappoint.
  
  Stonewall Jackson is portrayed as he was. A devout Christian, logical, and seemingly invincible soldier who attributes his victories to the blessings of God and is cut down not by the enemy but by his own men.
  
  Robert E. Lee the honorable virginian gentleman soldier who facing a choice between fighting his country or his home resigns from the army and heads to his native state only to become The greatest General and possibly the most revered soldier in U.S. history.
  
  Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the college professor turned Colonel who joins the army out of a sense of idealism and devotion to the concept of freedom.
  
  And Ulysses S. Grant, the hard and calculable General who unleashes what his predecessors lacked in assuring victory: THE FIGHT which crushes The Confederate States Army and ends the war.
  
  The trilogy even touched on the years before the war how some soldiers who were friends found themselves as enemies with devestating results such as the tragic friendship between Winfield Scott Hancock and Lew Armistead who avoid facing each other until the fateful battle of Gettysburg.
  
  The Civil War was a war of brother against brother but also one of ideals. Winston Churchill once called it "The Noblest of Conflicts". It's origins are spoken of in the novels by the general officers of the army. States rights, slavery, freedom, and even being a fight against "the gentlemen" are referenced in the three books
  
  The books are a "complete" story in that it is sad and full of fire. It is a story of friendships and promises. A story of ideals in the midst of battle and of course it is a story of love.
  
  In today's America, the civil war is still a very highly debated and sensitive issue and it is tragic that rather than having the real historic figures tell the story of what happened and why, people are falling in contradiction and partisan bickering. The Shaaras through these novels draw back the curtain and give the American People a story of the war Shelby Foote called "Central to all of our lives" without political correctness and bias which is the chief praise I give to the trilogy.
  
  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
• 
  Heather

  I'm really not much in to the war history thing, all the little details of who surrounded who's flank, etc, BUT this was a very compelling fictionalization of the real life people leading the armies of both sides of the war.
  
  Gods & Generals felt a little too appologetic for the Southern states. It was, afterall, really about slavery, no matter how much some might want to white-wash this as state's rights. Maybe it felt that way because the folks in charge of the Union's army were complete bumbling idiots, compared to the Southern generals.
  
  Gettysburg was a pretty engaging, exciting read. Really enjoyed reading about Buford and Chamberlain's parts in this battle, as well as Hancock. Lee really jumped the shark with this one by sending in Pickett's division on day 3 -- what a useless slaughter. I'm amazed that Longstreet didn't just quit right then & there. He understood how badly that would turn out.
  
  The Last Full measure was good, but seemed to drag on forever. Maybe that was the point, though. It was a 2 year slog of trench warfare and horrible casualties while the Union slowly ground Lee's forces down. It was interesting to get to know more about Grant -- I'm curious now to see if I can get my hands on his memoirs.
  
  So, all in all, probably a 5 star read, as if for no other reason than that it made this war's history more alive to me than anything I ever learned in school / high school.
  
  Now I'm going off to find me some fluffy sci-fy to rest my brain...
• 
  Lee Ann

  Loved all three, with Gods and Generals being the best of them.
• 
  Lynn Ferder

  Highly recommend. This trilogy answered a lot of questions I had about the civil war. I feel I know the history a lot better now. Easy to read, great writing by both authors.
• 
  James Christensen

  Very well written. Covers the period of 1858 to 1863, prior to the civil war up to but not including Gettesburg.
  
  Tells the story of the lead up to the war and the early years from the perspective of Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, Winfield Scott Hancock and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, with visits to other leaders. So, not a history book per say, but wonderful insight to what was going through the minds of these players.
  
  Very insightful as to the mind of a civil war military leader. Thoroughly engrossing.
  
  The first book leads into his father's book, The Killer Angels which focuses on Gettysburg. The Last Full Measure finishes off the last two years of the war.
• 
  Mark Palmer

  Wonderful Read
  
  This series of books takes what I recall was rather dull studies of the battles of the civil war in school and brings the personalities of the principle combatants to life. I've only been to Gettysburg once, but I can't wait to return, now with a much better understanding of the events that to place there. Last note, there can't help but being relevance to today, and the fracturing of our social structure. Hopefully we have learned some lessons from the period of the books.
• 
  Sarah

  We drove to Gettysburg (an eight hour drive) and listened to this book while en route. Highly recommend! This book is captivating and engages the reader immediately with every aspect of the famous Civil War battle that changed the course of American History. Meticulous details, well told and easy to follow. A great read (listen).
• 
  james l royle

  Very real portrayal of the civil war.
  
  I have read Shaaras book on WW2 and this book follows his unique ability to place you there in the awful Civil War using history and fiction dialogue. Great book
  
• 
  Kevin Carroll

  Outstanding
  
  Far better than Gingrich's coarse "what if" books, the Shaara trilogy puts you in the middle of this defining epoch in American history. And he does it through humanizing the key figures you only read about in history books.
• 
  Karen Pierangeli

  Some of my all time favorites.
• 
  David Radin

  An incredible trilogy!
  
  I loved every minute of it. Well written and exciting.
• 
  gail Baker

  Great trilogy of the Civil War and politics of the era. I never knew that the Southern States in Secession, if they won, wanted to return to British Rule.
• 
  Lee

  I love historical fiction when the characters play a major part. This book is to heavy on the battles of the Civil War. I didn’t finish it.
• 
  Chris Heath

  This will make you a fan of "historical fiction" - real events and characters, enlivened by imagined conversations, motivations, etc. Compelling reading -
• 
  Jimmie Aaron Kepler

  An excellent box set on the war in the east.
• 
  Jennifer Wolfe

  Great writing. I loved the story that went along with the history of the Civil War. Truly memorable.
• 
  Emily Bittner

  I’ve reread these books many times