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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Is this a perfect historical account of the Civil War and the battle of Gettysburg? I don't know that it is, but at the same time I don't know that it isn't. What I do know is that it won the Pulitzer and that it was a most deserved win. Beautiful and horrible, it's a perfect snapshot of a moment in American history that defined who we were as a nation and who we would become.
In the beginning of the book two brothers are talking to each other and the older one is trying to explain to the younger why they are fighting, he says: "This is a different kind of army. If you look at history you'll see men fight for pay, or women, or some other kind of loot. They fight for land, or because a king makes them, or just because they like killing. But we're here for something new. This hasn't happened much in the history of the world. We're an army going out to set other men free." I read this and it stirred something in me, the truth of it spoke to me. The importance of that battle cannot be overstated.
The whole book is a showcase of an artist with complete mastery of his skill. The historical figures come alive on both sides and we see the humanity and goodness in all of them, but we also see the pride and arrogance that led to the war in the first place. I loved this book and the way it made this moment of history come alive to me
In the beginning of the book two brothers are talking to each other and the older one is trying to explain to the younger why they are fighting, he says: "This is a different kind of army. If you look at history you'll see men fight for pay, or women, or some other kind of loot. They fight for land, or because a king makes them, or just because they like killing. But we're here for something new. This hasn't happened much in the history of the world. We're an army going out to set other men free." I read this and it stirred something in me, the truth of it spoke to me. The importance of that battle cannot be overstated.
The whole book is a showcase of an artist with complete mastery of his skill. The historical figures come alive on both sides and we see the humanity and goodness in all of them, but we also see the pride and arrogance that led to the war in the first place. I loved this book and the way it made this moment of history come alive to me
I’ve been to Gettysburg 10+ times with my father. We stay at the same Hilton Garden Inn, and we stop for breakfast at McDonalds across from the old visitors center before touring the battlefield.
Every single time we’ve gone and stood at the field where Pickett’s Charge happened, my dad gets a puzzled look on his face and turns to me:
“What was Lee thinking?”
Every single time we’ve gone and stood at the field where Pickett’s Charge happened, my dad gets a puzzled look on his face and turns to me:
“What was Lee thinking?”
Excellent book. Provides different viewpoints at the Battle of Gettysburg. You feel for both sides and become close to many of the men. An incredibly emotional book. A beautifully written book of a very dark and sad battle.
4.5 stars. Focused entirely on the 3-day battle of Gettysburg in the US Civil War, and following multiple POVs on both sides. Strong characterization, themes, and prose.
This will probably be 5 stars for many people, but for me it was a bit lower due to a few minor factors, e.g.:
- I recently read Abercrombie's similar The Heroes, published 37 years later, and Abercrombie's book is even better and even more fun.
- The action was somewhat less visceral, bloody, and horrifying than I had expected it would be.
- There were many discussions of strategy on the Confederate side, but much less on the Union side.
- The characters and plot are of course constrained by actual history, and as an American of course I already knew a fair bit about this famous battle.
But you should ignore those minor and personal complaints; this is a great book and you should probably read it.
This will probably be 5 stars for many people, but for me it was a bit lower due to a few minor factors, e.g.:
- I recently read Abercrombie's similar The Heroes, published 37 years later, and Abercrombie's book is even better and even more fun.
- The action was somewhat less visceral, bloody, and horrifying than I had expected it would be.
- There were many discussions of strategy on the Confederate side, but much less on the Union side.
- The characters and plot are of course constrained by actual history, and as an American of course I already knew a fair bit about this famous battle.
But you should ignore those minor and personal complaints; this is a great book and you should probably read it.
Having seen the movie Gettysburg before, I more or less knew the story. But, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and how much I learned. I felt like I learned Union officers who I had never heard of before (and I studied the Civil War a lot over the years) such as Reynolds and Buford who greatly influenced the decision of the battle for the North. Unlike so many other war books, this one really grabbed my attention and brought the story to life -- probably because of the focus on the individual characters within the story.
This book was recommended to me by a friend before visiting Gettysburg to get background on the battle. I’m not normally one for war books but this was so well written and respectful of all the humans involved in this horrific battle. And I learned so much.
Superbly-written book. Sometimes I had to put it down, as I didn't relish the inexorable deaths of characters I'd come to feel so much for. Not that they all died - most of the major ones in fact did not. But the inevitable losses, both in terms of life and hope, were painful.
I cried for pretty much the last 15 pages - I'm sure any author would be proud to have that effect.
I cried for pretty much the last 15 pages - I'm sure any author would be proud to have that effect.
Really compelling narrative about the Battle of Gettysburg. Highly recommended.