The Killer Angels

THE KILLER ANGELS
by Michael Shaara

 Award: Pulitzer Winner 1975

 Date Read: March 26, 2009

The Killer Angels is a historical novel set in the Civil War, encompassing four days of the Battle of Gettysburg. This novel has a cult-like following for those who are Civil War buffs. I, however, am not one of them. 

The Killer Angels is considered one of the most realistic novels about war ever created and while I would agree it is realistic, I have never been a fan of in-depth, blow-by-blow war novels and believe me, I have tried. 

This novel explores the strategy and agonizing decision making by both the Confederate and Union armies as they wage a life or death battle for the future of the United States. The Killer Angels further explores the fundamental reasons and motivations for pitting brother against brother and north against south, never flinching from what is at stake.

While I appreciate why Shaara won the Pultizer for this novel, I will most likely never give this a second read.

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