Product Description

It is the third summer of the war...On June 15, 1863, Robert Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia slips across the Potomac to begin the invasion of the North. His army is 70,000 strong but mostly unpaid and self-equipped. It has won nearly every battle it has fought. Lee knows a letter has been written, a letter offering peace. It is to be placed on the desk of Abraham Lincoln the day after Lee has won this battle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51493 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Review
'The best and most realistic historical novel about war I have ever read.' GENERAL H NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF 'My favourite historical novel ... A superb recreation of the Battle of Gettysburg, but its real importance is its insight into what the war was about, and what it meant.' JAMES M McPHERSON, author of Battle Cry of Freedom

About the Author
Michael Shaara (1928-88) was an American writer of science, sports and historical fiction. He served in the Korean War, was an amateur boxer and police officer. He later taught literature at Florida State University. The Killer Angels won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1975.

Customer Reviews

Excellent guide to the battle, good starting point for Brits
Actually bought this when visiting Gettysburg but wished I had read it beforehand.

Described as "a Novel" it takes real people and real events but spins them into a series of individual stories. While this might sound clumsy it works well and with the clear maps the reader has a good understanding of a dramatic story about which (if they are from the UK), they may know little. In fact a British reader may have the advantage over Americans in that the story is fresh and they wont know the outcome. For Americans the characters and stories are very well known.

Col. Freemantle, the real life British observer (though in fact he was basically a tourist) is well drawn without the caricatures or anti-Brtish bias sometimes seen.

The book formed the basis of the film Gettysburg which is also good though the acting and stick on beards (and its enormous length) make it more one for the enthusiast. (Also in the film Col. Freemantle becomes a red coated, tea drinking, toff.)

Killer Angels
Gripping story, brilliant characterisation, based on thorough research of the battle of Gettysburg; good as both history and entertainment. The film Gettysburg is based on this book.

THE KILLER ANGELS
Killer Angels is a terrific read, probably the best of any American Civil War novel. I can't praise it enough. Who would believe that a story about a 3 day battle fought with muskets and cannons could be so riveting. This is serious prose thougthfully laid out with analysis of the battle commanders on each side to draw the reader into the era and share the same emotions those men went through. I can't understand why it took so long to be recognised in the UK. I recommend read the book first, then watch the video.
William Garnett Portsmouth Hampshire.