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Gods and Generals (The Civil War: 1861-1865 #1)
The heartbreaking saga of the years preceding The Killer Angels
"SHAARA'S BEAUTIFULLY SENSITIVE NOVEL DELVES DEEPLY in the empathetic realm of psycho-history, where enemies do not exist--just mortal men forced to make crucial decisions and survive on the same battlefield. . . . [He] succeeds with his historical novel through fully realized characters who were forced to deci...more
"SHAARA'S BEAUTIFULLY SENSITIVE NOVEL DELVES DEEPLY in the empathetic realm of psycho-history, where enemies do not exist--just mortal men forced to make crucial decisions and survive on the same battlefield. . . . [He] succeeds with his historical novel through fully realized characters who were forced to deci...more
Mass Market Paperback, 491 pages
Published
October 29th 2002
by Ballantine Books
(first published May 28th 1996)
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This book could be considered the prequel to THE KILLER ANGELS (reviewed separately), written by Mr. Shaara’s father. This book takes a unique perspective leading up to the Civil War, introducing us to the notable historical figures in that confrontation. Mr. Shaara shares with the reader, through excellent characterization and dialogue why the Civil war was so important to these men. The author manages to bring to life the years leading up to the Civil War. Seemingly historically accurate, ...more
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Rob
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Civil War & Historical Fiction enthusiasts
Shelves:
fiction
The author's father was named Michael Shaara and wrote "The Killer Angels" which was a Pulitzer Prize winning novel that was made into the movie "Gettysburg". The son, Jeff Shaara, copied his father's unique writing style but did not do it justice. Admittedly, "The Killer Angels" is a historical fiction novel that covers 3 days while the son had to cover several years of the Civil War. This was not easy for that writing style. Still the book is an acceptable pre...more
Gods and Generals is a book that follows four leaders of the Civil War, looking at their lives and careers in the years leading to and the first 2 years (approximately) of the war. While the characters in the story are pulled from history (General Robert E. Lee, General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, General Winfield Scott Hancock, and Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Chamberlain), it is fiction in that the author delves more into the characters than history records. If you’re looking for an accurate hist...more
This book is about four men in the civil war- Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Joshua Chamberlain, and Scott Hancock- and their personal experiences in the civil war. It's the author's assumptions based on research how these four men would speak and react.
This book creates four historical men as characters, and recreates them with personalities during historical events. It's different from most books because there's few facts to work with to create authentic characters based on real...more
This book creates four historical men as characters, and recreates them with personalities during historical events. It's different from most books because there's few facts to work with to create authentic characters based on real...more
Lauren
rated it
Recommends it for:
Anyone with a faint background in Civil War history
Recommended to Lauren by:
My Sister and Pastor
I love how Jeff Shaara writes. It takes some getting used to, yes, but once you get used to it...Brilliant! Outstanding!!!!!! I especially love how he focuses on the army, barely touches the political side of the war-and when the political side is touched, it's mostly negative.
I'd never thought to deeply about the Civil war until this school year. Now, with this book coming to top off my school year, I must say
history is a whole lot more complicated then I thought.
...more
I'd never thought to deeply about the Civil war until this school year. Now, with this book coming to top off my school year, I must say
history is a whole lot more complicated then I thought.
...more
This represents the prequel to Shaara's father's novel, "The Killer Angels," a novel focusing on the battle at Gettysburg. This book traces the careers of several key actors before the Civil War begins, such as Robert E. Lee (who was in charge of ending John Brown's rebellion at the Harper's Ferry armory), Winfield Scott Hancock (in the Old Army in California), and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (on the faculty of Bowdoin College in Maine). Their story--and those stories of others--would ...more
I have read some really great books in the past year or two(Memoirs of a Geisha, The Kite Runner, Seabiscuit)- and this book definitely joins the list. It was so well written and interesting. It's about the civil war- it's quite thick and I thought it might be boring, but it was a page turner. I felt so connected to all of the characters, and I found myself really conflicted on whether I wanted the Union or the confederates to win the war- the book presented the generals as real people, so it ...more
Jeff Shaara is a great resource, following in the footsteps of his late father Michael, for learning American history in a way that is entertaining without neglecting the humans involved and their emotional experiences. Gods and Generals is Jeff's first novel and the prequel to Michael Shaara's Pulitzer-winning "The Killer Angels", and covers the years from 1859 through June 1863, following primarily four men: From the confederacy - Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jack...more
After reading his Revolutionary War series I was looking forward to the Civil War series - I was not disappointed. I watched the movie, Gods and Generals, at the same time and was so moved by all these generals who cared deeply for Jackson. Through these books I am seeing another view point of the Civil War -- how the South felt like they were defending their freedom like we did in the Rev War. On to The Killer Angles...
I love American History, but I had a really hard time getting into this book. Sometimes I really enjoy switching point of view between different characters, but I struggled with it in this book. Every time I began to feel connected to one of the characters, I would have to readjust when the story was yanked away to a different location.
I think epic stories covering great distance and a long time period are difficult to write. I felt that this book was accurate in its character por...more
I think epic stories covering great distance and a long time period are difficult to write. I felt that this book was accurate in its character por...more
A good overview of a portion of the Civil War. I suppose to write a book about the whole war would take many more pages so I was dismayed when the novel ended before the war concluded. History has a way of letting us choose sides with more knowledge and information than these men had. I always thought that North=good, South=bad, but my perspective was skewed. These men were fighting for what they believed in, and in wasn't just about the slavery issue that we tend to equate with the Civil War. I...more
Gods and Generals takes place in 1861 right at the beginning of the Civil War. At the beginning of the book General Lee and Jackson have just barely joined the Confederate States of America. General Hancock and Chamberlin have just signed up for the Union. The point of view is third person so you have a perspective of every character in the book. Robert E. Lee is the commanding general in the south. Thomas J. Jackson is his right hand man. On the union side, Hancock and Chamberlin are generals. ...more
He got his father's talent. What a great way to read and learn about history in an enjoyable way. When I picked it up to read, I found it very hard to put down, it so envelopes you. When Stonewall died, I felt a great sorrow as if someone close I knew had died. This is a book that I will likely pick up and read again in the future. I am totally blown away that so many victories and so many losses could be blamed on sheer luck or blunders. The book goes beyond teaching us of the Civil War a...more
There is very little I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. It seems a rather polarizing read with people either really liking it or really hating it. Unfortunately for me I fall into the latter category.
The book is just ok...considering the subject matter at hand it should have been great. By confining himself to copying his father's style, the book never flows, drama never builds, characters are never rounded out.
Switching from one character's point of view to ...more
The book is just ok...considering the subject matter at hand it should have been great. By confining himself to copying his father's style, the book never flows, drama never builds, characters are never rounded out.
Switching from one character's point of view to ...more
Praise to Jeff Shaara for completing his father's work; but, unlike his father who mde me feel as if I was part of the story, Jeff seems to fall back and forth between allowing his readers to become part of the story and allowing his readers to simply be reading his story. It is extremely difficult to figure the exact difference father and son hold in the srt of story telling, especially when that story is true.
After having read 'The Killer Angels' and viewing the Movie 'Gettysburg' ...more
After having read 'The Killer Angels' and viewing the Movie 'Gettysburg' ...more
I thought this book stands up to "The Killer Angels." I liked how human he made each character. The foreward said he was going to be focusing on Lee and Jackson on the Confederate side, and Hancock and Chamberlain on the Union side. I was a little disappointed that, especially toward the end, the book very much slanted towards the Confederate side -- I would have liked to have read much more on Hancock and Chamberlain. Chamberlain was hardly covered at all. He made a very obvious ...more
This book was a really great "Who's Who in the The Civil War for Dummies". And it was written in a way that I didn't feel like I was having to sit through another boring lecture from a teacher who just wants to be home watching football. My only complaint was that I didn't feel like I got to know any of the four men featured as main characters. I felt like they all had the same personality (quiet, strong, confident, knew more than anyone else on hand but kept it to themselves until nec...more
I liked the book due to its fast paced and "man on the ground" type of feel. Mr. Shaara writes well about battles and the history - in an overview sense - is mostly accurate mainly concentrating on Manassas, Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville.
As in most of Mr. Shaara's books this one is also "historical fiction", an oxymoron if you ever head one, and is a very interesting character study of the major players. I especially enjoyed the characters of Jackson and Cha...more
As in most of Mr. Shaara's books this one is also "historical fiction", an oxymoron if you ever head one, and is a very interesting character study of the major players. I especially enjoyed the characters of Jackson and Cha...more
It took me a while to get use to the strange writing style. The Author seemed to have an aversion to periods. Long drawn out sentences that sometimes became tiresome to read. He also seemed to avoid Pronouns which often left me wondering who he was talking about. The content on the other hand was very interesting. Oddly, I found myself captivated by General Lee and cheering for the south. I have also found myself longing for more information on the civil war era. One suggestion I might make...more
Another great Shaara read! I'm partial to books about war, especially narratives, and Gods and Generals doesn't disappoint.
Even if you're not a big war fan, or even interested in history, the telling of the story is so compelling you'll enjoy the book.
First, however, I'd suggest reading the elder Shaara's "The Killer Angels". The 'first' in the series of books by father and son. That book was my first real introduction to the history of the Civil War and I've read...more
Even if you're not a big war fan, or even interested in history, the telling of the story is so compelling you'll enjoy the book.
First, however, I'd suggest reading the elder Shaara's "The Killer Angels". The 'first' in the series of books by father and son. That book was my first real introduction to the history of the Civil War and I've read...more
Jeff Shaara simply could not pull off what his father accomplished. I'm sure Mr. Shaara is a smart historian of sorts, but as a writer it just doesn't give the proper payload. Perhaps he simply tried to cram too much in the lead-up to the Battle at Gettysburg, unlike his father who concentrated all of his attention and efforts on just those three historic days? Either way, the writing is simply annoying (too many "..."s throughout), and the only thing interesting is the sprinkling o...more
For those unfamiliar with the Shaara Civil War Trilogy, here is a primer. Following the commercial success of the movie Gettysburg, Jeff Shaara decided to turn his father's Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Killer Angels into part two of a trilogy.
In the prequel Gods and Generals, we discover how Robert E. Lee was seduced by the dark side of the force. Finally, in Episode 3:The Last Full Measure, we witness young Joshua Lawrence Skywalker restore balance to the Union by risking his l...more
In the prequel Gods and Generals, we discover how Robert E. Lee was seduced by the dark side of the force. Finally, in Episode 3:The Last Full Measure, we witness young Joshua Lawrence Skywalker restore balance to the Union by risking his l...more
Not as good a Killer Angels, but still an involving read that makes history come alive.
Not completely bad. But dissapointing compared to Killer Angels.
Jeff Shaara presents a tightly woven story of a nation coming apart starting in 1858 or so and the Civil War that ensued, prior to the battle at Gettysburg. In a sense it is a prequel to his father Michael's portrayal of that battle in The Killer Angels. Jeff Shaara focuses on four men---Robert Edward Lee, Winfield Scott Hancock, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain---and in imagined dialogues and thoughts consistent with the recorded information about each man provides a st...more
Beth A.
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Beth A. by:
1st Ward May 2010
Shelves:
historical-fiction
I’m really not much of a historian. This book was very challenging for me to read, I probably wouldn’t have finished it if I hadn’t been reading it for a book club. There were so many different characters I had trouble keeping track of everyone, and I had trouble picturing the battles in my head, even the maps didn’t help. Also, if I put the book down, when I picked it up again I’d have to read back a page or two to remember what was happening.
Although it was in third person, Shaara...more
Although it was in third person, Shaara...more
An adequate Civil War novel, a bit confusing in parts (especially in battle scenes). Jeff Shaara is a good writer, but he hampered himself by picking too wide a date range to write about. His attention to detail is good and would have served him better had he chosen one or two battles (i.e. Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville) to write about, like his father did with Gettysburg, instead of trying to cram in the years leading up to the war. I will be reading the third book in the trilogy as we...more
I enjoyed this book, but I love American history and I was willing to over look somethings for the good story in there. I like the structure of different points of view of the main players. However, I feel as if it jumped too much and I had a hard time keeping track of what general was who because sometimes it was chapters since they had appeared. And it was crowded with people! I know that the war had many characters, but still! There were some really well written sections, like Jackson's ...more
An excellent read. Jeff Shaara has written a book that takes the reader into the minds and lives of his subjects. Robert E. Lee emerges as a principled, disciplined gentleman. He has become human for me. Thomas Jonathan Jackson (Stonewall Jackson) is a poignant character. His story and role is touching. On the Union side there is Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. An educator that wanted to make a difference and defend the Republic. His story is full of passion and grim determination. Then there is Wi...more
Wow. This one rivals his father's book, "The Killer Angels". If you like Civil War history at all, if you enjoy historical fiction at all, if you just like a good book... read this one!
The story centers around four main characters; Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, and Winfield Hancock. I've read several biographies of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson and I believe Jeff Shaara did a fantastic job of capturing the personalities of these men. ...more
The story centers around four main characters; Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, and Winfield Hancock. I've read several biographies of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson and I believe Jeff Shaara did a fantastic job of capturing the personalities of these men. ...more
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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 ...more
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