Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - History Other Killer Angels1 Killer Angels1 The pain, joy, bloodshed, death, and sorrow of the Civil War are all contained in the book called, “The Killer Angels.” This book will show you the thoughts, feelings and actions of many of the leaders of both armies. By reading this book you will get an in depth view of the bloodiest days of the Civil War. Even if you know absolutely nothing about this war, you can still read and understand everything that is portrayed. This story not only gives you the view of many of the major leaders, but it also gives you the maps an strategies used in this war. It also shows you the conflicts in making these strategies. This book has inspired many, but the true question is will it inspire you? Reading this book will cause you to be engulfed in the horrors, hardships, and glories of the Civil War. The author’s main purpose in writing this book is to inform and involve the reader. I believe that Michael Shaara gave the reader the true information and viewpoints. He wanted to get the reader hooked on the book. He did not want this book to be only read by historians and people that know a lot about the Civil War. He wanted this book to be able to be read by anyone. He did not want it to matter if you didn’t know anything or a lot of things about the Civil War. This purpose is extremely difficult to achieve, but by using the style of writing that was used, he may have accomplished this goal. The true main idea that the author writes about is the four bloodiest days of battle that in the end decided the Civil war. He includes all of the battles that occurred in that time span. These battles are either the smallest skirmishes or the fixed bayonet charge that was ordered by Chamberlain during the battle of Little Round Top. The battles were not only just mentioned. They were described in great detail. These battles included the actual fight and then the result of the battle such as casualties on both sides, and whether or not it was a successful fight. Those details keep the reader in the game, so to speak. Another one of the author’s man ideas is using the leaders in separate points of view. In every chapter there was a different leader and his point of view. This showed how everyone felt about each battle or occurrence. The author did not attempt to sway the reader to one army or the other. He let the reader choose whose side he or she was on. Michael Shaara does not ever describe army or the other as the “bad guys” or the “good guys.” The strategies and tactics used during this war were described in detail. The more important thing described, however, is not the actual strategy, but who made these strategies and what the other leaders thought of them. When General Lee decided to attack the enemy head on instead of going around them, not everyone agreed with the plan. Longstreet, for one, thought that they should have gone around the enemy and hit them from the back. These conflicts were great to see because it showed that everything was not going in perfect unison. It showed that these strategies we not always etched in stone. These plans had the potential to be changed many times. No successful strategy has gone uncontested and unchanged. All of the things that were said and done in the book are all at least somewhat true. Although, many of the numbers, such as the casualties or wounded, may be close, but they are definitely not exact. The conversation is all not completely exact because there is no record of what exactly was said during the war. The book gives basically what is thought to be said. However, what was said cannot be proven false because there is nothing to prove it wrong. The strategies used in the book were the ones used in the war. The maps in the book also give the true location of both armies. These maps helped the readers have an idea of the geography. They helped show where the battles took place. Each movement that the army made we true too. Nothing in this novel can be proven to be completely fictitious. In every aspect there seem to be some truth. Although this book is very good, it did contain some faults. It was kind of confusing in the beginning. It was difficult for me to know who was who. I did not know what army each man was on. However, after reading over the certain section again, I found it much easier to see who was who. Another fault would be that Michael Shaara talked about and described that character General Longstreet and General Lee. The reader knows more about them and less about the other commanders. The maps used in the book could have been used more frequently. They could have shown the maps during each battle. The maps could also have been much more detailed. They could have shown how many men or ammunition each army had attacking. The maps also could have shown the reserves and the calvary. If the maps were more detailed like I have explained it would have been much more easier to visualize each attack. Michael Shaara portrayed the Civil War in a novel that is like no other. It gave an in depth view of the events leading up to, during, and after the battle of Gettysburg. All of the important battles and events during those four days were included. He extensively researched and explained that part of the war. He molded that information into a great novel. The author greatly proved and explained his main idea. This book gives you one of the best ways to view and understand the Civil War. By reading this book I have learned a lot more about the Civil War. I now have a better understanding of its events and battles. Bibliography: Word Count: 1015
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