Here's a fun poll for all to take if you have read the following books:
Gone For Soldiers: It is about the Mexican-American War.
Gods And Generals: It is about first years of the Civil War.
The Killer Angels: It is about the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Last Full Measure: It is about the last years of the Civil war.
These books were written between by Jeff and Michael Shaara.
R.E. Lee is a main character in each of these books along with other mainly southern Civil War figures. All I ask is pick your favorite book out of these Shaara family collection present to you here and maybe leave a word or two about why.
__________________
"States Rights are about States Wrongs" - Jesse Jackson
"The Killer Angels" is the book that got me hooked on the Civil War in 1988. My favorite line from near the beginning of it, has to do with both armies converging gradually on Gettysburg, completely unaware of the enormity of the event about to unfold upon them.
"All that month there is heat and wild rain. Cherries are ripening over all Pennsylvania, and the men gorge as they march. The civilians have fled and the houses are dark. The armies move north through the heat and the dust."
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
I would highly recommend that you do and I would recommend the Gone for Soldier. Like WWI the Mexican-American is under appreciated as well. You will meet one of Lee's older brothers in the story and several other figures who go on to be famous in the Civil War.
__________________
"States Rights are about States Wrongs" - Jesse Jackson
I think the old man had a better way with words than his son. Jeff is not bad, but I think Michael was the better writer.
__________________ "There must be more historians of the Civil War than there were generals figthing in it... Of the two groups, the historians are the more belligerent." David Donald, Lincoln Reconsidered (1961)
With such recommendations, I'm off to find a copy.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
If I remember, there are copies on amazon for a penny. You pay more in shipping than for the book!
As for the Shaara books, I would have to go with The Killer Angels. The movie Gettysburg got me hooked permanently on the war, and the book is wonderful, fully deserving of its Pulitzer. Now, I am glad that Jeff continued the tradition, and did the prequel and sequel, and to an extent, I liked Gone for Soldiers as well. Then came the War for Independence books, and then WWI and now WWII. The WWI was kinda stale (stuffing it all into one book and also just focusing alot on the pilots of opposing sides and not enough, I think, on the men in the trenches) and to be honest, I haven't really thought of picking up his latest on WWII. I will stick with the ones that carried on tradition. But Killer Angels was the best of the bunch.
__________________ "The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
With such recommendations, I'm off to find a copy.
ole
I don't know everyone these is picking "The Killer Angels", maybe I missed something. I personal favorite was "The Last Full Measure" then "Gone For Soldiers".
Each to their own...
__________________
"States Rights are about States Wrongs" - Jesse Jackson
So true Fish...each to their own. I liked Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure immensely, don't get me wrong, and Gone for Soldiers was excellent as well. But Michael did such a superb job on Killer Angels, and I feel it has a little bit of a higher literary quality to it. Just my opinion, but thats my take on the whole issue.
__________________ "The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
So true Fish...each to their own. I liked Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure immensely, don't get me wrong, and Gone for Soldiers was excellent as well. But Michael did such a superb job on Killer Angels, and I feel it has a little bit of a higher literary quality to it. Just my opinion, but thats my take on the whole issue.
Each to their own...
I think Michael's "The killer Angels" was little better written then Jeff's earlier books and an easier read. I think Jeff's WWI work was good but he limited himself to the American experience which limited the book. I too for some reason have little will to read Jeff's WWII series, yet.
__________________
"States Rights are about States Wrongs" - Jesse Jackson
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