All this happened because I was interested in a single   book
Was it interesting?
At least that was true until I read Michael Shaara's &quot;Killer Angels.&quot; Now I'm a goner. I have bought five more books on the Civil War including McPherson's &quot;Battle Cry of Freedom,&quot; a huge tome  that promises to fill me in on the whole historical context, time, place,  politics, all of it. All this happened because I was interested in a single  book. This is Michael Shaara's fault.It is of no consequence that the  prospective reader may not have the slightest interest in war, the Civil  War in particular, guns, Gettysburg, generals, muskets, artillery, smoke,  fire, or death. All the reader need be interested in is a good book that is  a pleasure, an enlightening experience, to read. If you like reading, if  you enjoy books that captivate, that keep you turning pages, that won't let  you sleep, then buy this book.Let me note here that the author indulges  in several literary devices that might pain the true Civil War buff. He  uses interior monologues which are, of course, pure fiction (though based  on written material of the time). He also centers his story on two major  fights that took place at Gettysburg: the battle of Little Roundtop, and  Pickett's Charge, even though quite a lot of other great moments occurred  there. Both these battles are told well, and the characters of Joshua  Lawrence Chamberlain - the commander of the 20th Maine who held Little  Round Top against attacking Confederates to the &quot;last bullet,&quot;  and James Longstreet, commander of the I Corps of Lee's Army of Northern  Virginia who had serious differences with his superior over the tactics  used at Gettysburg, are explored at depth.By necessity, Shaara could  not tell, in a single novel (for that is what this book is), all that  happened those three fateful days. For those who want to know more I refer  you to Shelby Foote's &quot;Stars In Their Courses.&quot;I aim this  review at those who are unsure of whether a Civil War novel is what they  want to read. Be assured you will not be disappointed. This is a truly fine  book, especially for the uninitiated, as I was. I recommend this book to  all without hesitation. 