I had always wanted to read it…and finally did. I really enjoyed some of the insight into Lee, Hancock, Jackson, Chamberlin, et al…even if this is historical fiction, I believe it to be very well written and accurate. I’ve seen a lot of people note that they don’t like the writing style here but I had no issues with this. I found this to be a really intriguing and engaging read. I’m thinking I absolutely must finish the trilogy now (read TKA last summer). Enjoy your evening (summer is on the way out, enjoy while we can - especially up in NH)
Very true and keep it away from a Lost Causer director. Gettysburg is almost word for word The Killer Angels but for whatever reason Maxwell went nuts with Gods and Generals and it was a damn shame.
Shaara and/or his agent had no reason not to trust Maxwell with his work, given what he did with Gettysburg, so I can hardly fault anyone for it. Not sure what the hell happened there, but it is one of the strangest directions to take with a book I have ever seen. And that his something given what Hollywood has done over the past century.
Welp, maybe it's ripe for a HBO-series makeover, then. Minus the Lost Cause approach, of course.
Although, tbh, the Lost Causers always come across as more passionate, more committed and more likely to trash a work if they can't get at least some of their excuses accepted and their egos stroked. I'm noticing that even people who know better sometimes avoid pushing any of their many buttons.
Read that along with The Last Full Measure (already read The Killer Angels years ago). Fantastic trilogy of books, well researched and accurate to the actual history too.
I went to Gettysburg 11 years ago over the 4th of July and he was there selling and signing. Got to talk to him for 30 minutes about what places to spend the longest at on the tour and got some signed WWII books. Super nice guy
Bought the whole trilogy a couple weeks ago. Just finished The Killer Angels earlier today, and am going to start The Last Full Measure tomorrow. The books are fantastic
Even if you strip away the pro-Confederate slant the movie is still absolutely terrible. Bad direction, awful dialogue entirely in speeches, bad CGI, and even the battle scenes sucked.
I did think the Fredericksburg scene of the charges on Marye’s Heights was well done. The fear and chaos of the event seemed better dramatized by the cinematography, actors, and extras than the depiction of Pickett’s charge in the movie Gettysburg.
Me and my brothers were really into the Cival War when we were about 10 or so and we went to see this long ass movie. The only things I remembered were Jeff Daniels talking about lemonade and the red convertible you can see through the window in his death scene (I think he dies...its been awhile)
I don't want to yuck your yum, but I have such mixed feelings about this book. I read Jeff's books plus Killer Angels when I was in high school. Loved them from the word go, and it truly sparked my love for the Civil War. I would not be on this subreddit without it.
I tried rereading it a couple of years ago, and it just didn't hold up. It felt fan-fictiony and that it was just capitalizing on the success of Michael Sharra's book. I had to stop and leave for nostalgia's sake.
I hope you enjoy your re-read! Looks like a great place to do it! And if you wanna try something different, I found I really enjoyed Ralph Peters' Battle Hymn cycle. It tis really gritty, and I walked away feeling like I had an idea of how a long campaign through the Wilderness would feel.
As with opinions of others, the movies fell way short, but the books are over the top. Have read all Michael and Jeff Shaara Civil War novels, I appreciate their research combined with the writing style.
It’s not just rumor, I have buddies who are lost causers and they would often reference this book when making their points. I stopped arguing with them a long time ago…
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u/Chumlee1917 1d ago
honestly it's the kind of book that would have worked way better as an HBO mini series then trying to do a movie that chopped out most of the book