Jeff Shaara

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born

New Brunswick, New Jersey, The United States

gender

male

website

http://www.jeffshaara.com/

genre

History

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Jeff Shaara, a descendant of Italian immigrants, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey ("Shaara" was originally spelled "Sciarra"). He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Criminology. From age 16, Jeff operated a rare coin business, first out of his home, then in a retail store. After moving to Tampa, Jeff became one of the most widely known coin and precious-metals dealers in Florida. In 1988, Jeff's father, Michael Shaara, died, and Jeff made the decision to sell his business, and take over the management of his father's estate.

Onboard the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Mustin in the Persian Gulf.

In 1993, the motion picture "Gettysburg" was released, which was based on his father's c...more Jeff Shaara, a descendant of Italian immigrants, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey ("Shaara" was originally spelled "Sciarra"). He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Criminology. From age 16, Jeff operated a rare coin business, first out of his home, then in a retail store. After moving to Tampa, Jeff became one of the most widely known coin and precious-metals dealers in Florida. In 1988, Jeff's father, Michael Shaara, died, and Jeff made the decision to sell his business, and take over the management of his father's estate.

Onboard the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Mustin in the Persian Gulf.

In 1993, the motion picture "Gettysburg" was released, which was based on his father's classic novel, The Killer Angels. After the critical and commercial success of the film, Jeff was approached about the possibility of continuing the story, finding someone to write a prequel and sequel to The Killer Angels. After some considerable soul-searching, Jeff decided to try to tackle the project himself. The decision was difficult in many ways, but most challenging because Jeff had no previous experience as a writer.

In 1996, Ballantine Books published Jeff's first novel, Gods and Generals, the prequel to his father's great work. Gods and Generals leapt onto the New York Times Bestseller List, and remained there for fifteen weeks. Critics nationwide praised the book and Jeff's writing ability, and the book was awarded the American Library Association's Prestigious "Boyd Award". No one was more surprised than Jeff himself. In 1998, the sequel, The Last Full Measure, was published, with the same result: thirteen weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, and universal praise from critics and fans nationwide. Two years later, Jeff published his third novel, Gone For Soldiers, which followed many familiar Civil War characters back to their experiences in the Mexican-American War of the 1840's. Received with much critical acclaim, the book became Jeff's third bestseller.(less)

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Books by Jeff Shaara

Average rating: 4.03 · 20,729 ratings · 1,555 reviews · 29 distinct works

	Gods and Generals 3.92 avg rating — 6,577 ratings — published 1996 — 15 editions	My rating:
	The Last Full Measure 4.11 avg rating — 3,405 ratings — 14 editions	My rating:
	Rise to Rebellion: A Novel of the American Revolution 4.06 avg rating — 2,169 ratings — published 2001 — 11 editions	My rating:
	The Glorious Cause 4.14 avg rating — 1,619 ratings — published 2002 — 11 editions	My rating:
	The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II (World War II: 1939-1945 #1) 4.00 avg rating — 1,642 ratings — published 2006 — 14 editions	My rating:
	The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II (World War II: 1939-1945 #2) 4.10 avg rating — 1,317 ratings — published 2003 — 14 editions	My rating:
	To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War 4.10 avg rating — 1,286 ratings — published 2004 — 15 editions	My rating:
	Gone For Soldiers 3.95 avg rating — 1,214 ratings — published 2000 — 12 editions	My rating:
	No Less Than Victory: A Novel of World War II (World War II: 1939-1945 #3) 4.15 avg rating — 796 ratings — published 2009 — 8 editions	My rating:
	The Final Storm: A Novel Of The War In The Pacific 3.99 avg rating — 428 ratings — published 2011 — 8 editions	My rating:

More books by Jeff Shaara…

Series by Jeff Shaara

World War II: 1939-1945 (4 books)
by Jeff Shaara

4.06 avg rating — 4,183 ratings

American Revolutionary War (1770-1783) (2 books)
by Jeff Shaara

4.09 avg rating — 3,788 ratings

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Polls

American Civil War - Military Series Selection

Recently, the History Book Club conducted a Military Series Poll. The reason that we did this was because we are launching a Military Series of book discussions similar to how we conduct the Presidential Series at the HBC.

The American Civil War received the most votes from the group membership. Therefore, the first Military Series discussion will focus on the American Civil War.

Therefore we are now voting for the first Military Series selection from books which were all nominated by group members. Killer Angels was already completed by the group so that book was not added to the list for voting purposes. Just as an FYI: this poll took me forever to put together because there were so many group member suggestions and recommendations. We wanted to make sure that we included "all of them". That is why this poll is so long.

So take your time and make sure to vote; because if a book does not get at least one vote; it will be relegated to the bottom of the list. The book which garners the most votes and comes out on top will be discussed beginning in February 2012. Bryan Craig will be the Assisting Moderator leading this book discussion.

Choose and vote for one book. Vote as soon as possible because the first book will be launched in February. Don't lose out.

Note:

If you do not see your favorite book about the American Civil War on this list; then just comment or pop me a note and I will immediately add it to this poll.

You can always change your vote at any time; so nothing is lost. There are some books which have been nominated by the same author; however, skip over those if the particular author does not suit you and vote for your favorite or for one you or others might want to read.

Before making your selection, please try to look up your choice and make sure it really is a book you are interested in or you think others would be; do not be lured in by the title. Also, check out the author and what others have said about the book before you (reviewers who you trust). Then of course, make your selection.

And if you do not see your favorite, just contact me and I will add it to the poll.

Regards,

Bentley

James M. McPherson

Battle Cry of Freedom : The Civil War Era

35 votes, 19.9%

Doris Kearns Goodwin

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

24 votes, 13.6%

Shelby Foote

The Civil War

22 votes, 12.5%

Amanda Foreman

A World on Fire: Britain's Crucial Role in the American Civil War

10 votes, 5.7%

by James Ford Rhodes

History of the Civil War, 1861-1865

8 votes, 4.5%

by Michael W. Kauffman

American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies

7 votes, 4.0%

Stephen W. Sears

Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam Martin Dugard

6 votes, 3.4%

by Samuel Watkins

Company Aytch

6 votes, 3.4%

Jeff Shaara - This book was just recommended by a group member. It is the third book in a trilogy which began with the bestseller Killer Angels. In the same vein, this is an historical novel/fiction account - not non fiction but if anything like Killer Angels -- impeccably done.

The Last Full Measure

5 votes, 2.8%

James M. McPherson

What They Fought For 1861-1865

5 votes, 2.8%

Gore Vidal - This is an historical fiction selection

Lincoln.

4 votes, 2.3%

by Gabor Boritt

The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech That Nobody Knows

4 votes, 2.3%

by Albert E. Castel

Bloody Bill Anderson: The Short, Savage Life of a Civil War Guerrilla

4 votes, 2.3%

by Edwin C. Bearss

Fields of Honor: Pivotal Battles of the Civil War

3 votes, 1.7%

by Marc Wortman

The Bonfire

3 votes, 1.7%

by Russell S. Bonds

War Like the Thunderbolt: The Battle and Burning of Atlanta

3 votes, 1.7%

by Edwin Cole Bearss

Receding Tide: Vicksburg and Gettysburg: The Battles That Changed the Civil War

3 votes, 1.7%

by Jennifer Fleischner

Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckly: The Remarkable Story of the Friendship Between a First Lady and a Former Slave

3 votes, 1.7%

by Tom Carhart

Sacred Ties: From West Point Brothers to Battlefield Rivals: A True Story of the Civil War

3 votes, 1.7%

Shenandoah 1862 Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign (Civil War America)

by Peter Cozzens

Shenandoah 1862: Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign

2 votes, 1.1%

The Political Work of Northern Women Writers and the Civil War, 1850-1872 (Civil War America)

by Lyde Cullen Sizer

The Political Work of Northern Women Writers and the Civil War, 1850-1872

2 votes, 1.1%

by Margaret Leech

Reveille in Washington: 1860-1865

2 votes, 1.1%

The Training Ground Grant, Lee, Sherman, and Davis in the Mexican War, 1846-1848

Martin Dugard
- This is not related to the Civil War but to the time earlier in history when they fought together as brothers in the Mexican War.

The Training Ground: Grant, Lee, Sherman, and Davis in the Mexican War, 1846-1848

2 votes, 1.1%

by Andrew Ward

River Run Red: The Fort Pillow Massacre in the American Civil War

2 votes, 1.1%

by William L. Shea

Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign

2 votes, 1.1%

by Edward E. Leslie

The Devil Knows How To Ride

2 votes, 1.1%

by Michael B. Ballard

Vicksburg: The Campaign That Opened the Mississippi

1 vote, 0.6%

Gordon C. Rhea - This book was just recommended by a group member.

The Battle Of The Wilderness, May 5-6, 1864

1 vote, 0.6%

by Rod Gragg

Confederate Goliath: The Battle of Fort Fisher

1 vote, 0.6%

by Albert E. Castel

Decision in the West: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864

1 vote, 0.6%

by Glenn W. LaFantasie

Gettysburg Requiem: The Life and Lost Causes of Confederate Colonel William C. Oates

0 votes, 0.0%

High Tide at Gettysburg (The American Civil War)

by Glenn Tucker

High Tide at Gettysburg

0 votes, 0.0%

Witness to Gettysburg (Stackpole Military History Series)

by Richard Wheeler

Witness to Gettysburg

0 votes, 0.0%

by Steven E. Woodworth

A Scythe of Fire: A Civil War Story of the Eighth Georgia Infantry Regiment

0 votes, 0.0%

by Chris E., Jr. Fonvielle

The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of Departing Hope

0 votes, 0.0%

George Thomas Virginian for the Union (Campaigns and Commanders)

by Christopher J. Einolf

George Thomas: Virginian for the Union

0 votes, 0.0%

by Charles A. Misulia

Columbus, Georgia, 1865: The Last True Battle of the Civil War

0 votes, 0.0%

by Rod Andrew Jr.

Wade Hampton: Confederate Warrior to Southern Redeemer

0 votes, 0.0%

by Rod Gragg - This is another latecomer nominated by a group member.

Covered With Glory: The 26th North Carolina Infantry at Gettysburg

0 votes, 0.0%

176 total votes

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Jeff Shaara

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Books by Jeff Shaara