Gettysburg

Rating:
Summary: GUTTWRENCHING
Review: This book is an excellent read on one of the most important battles in American history. It is a guttwrenching account especially of the battle itself. There is such a feeling of the real-ness of the battle as in unfolds, that it is hard to read several pages at one time during the height of the battle.
Even if one is not a Civil War buff, this is a necessary addition to anyones library to explain in detail the conflict at Gettysburg.

Like many other Civil war readers, I found this book to be too limited on the amount of maps. Maps help the reader to go from his own visualization to the reference of reality. Especially as conflicts on the battlefield are happening in many places at the same time.

Mr. Sears, in his outstanding work Chancellorsville, does better at giving the readers more maps and larger ones at that (for a couple of maps he uses full page maps opposite each other to give a large panorama of the total area).

It still seems a mystery, somewhat unsettled, as to why Lee was so vague in orders given to Stuart about the use of his cavalry leading up to Gettysburg.

Rating:
Summary: Definitive one volume history of the battle
Review: This book, in my humble opinion, is the best overall treatment on the Battle of Gettysburg. Many books on the battle deal with only a day in the battle or perhaps the fighting in one section of the battle (i.e. Little Round Top, Culp's Hill, ect.). Also, Mr. Sears' historical judgements are sound and well researched- he really de-mystifies General Lee's "ominipotence" and shows how many of his actions in Gettysburg (i.e. Pickett's Charge) were irresponsible and in the end, murderous. Sears also explains why Meade's Army of the Potomac was not able to pursue and destroy the fleeing Confederates; as Lincoln and many of the politicians in Washington had wished. In the end, I believe that this book can be enjoyed by anyone beginning to read up on the Civil War or American military history. Experts or major Civil War buffs may know most of this by heart.
Recommendations: Gordon Rhea's books on the 1864 Overland Campaign in Virginia.

Rating:
Summary: Best Book Ever Written on Gettysburg
Review: This is the best book ever written on the battle of Gettysburg. The only book that is close is Trudeau's more organized book on the battle. But, what this book lacks in organization, it more than makes up in human interest stories and in just plain generating interest level in the story. Sears is a good writer, a somewhat poetic and passionate writer. Examples are: the best chapter title of: "A Simile of Hell Broke Lose", the numerous positive names for Hancock, emphasizing his great leadership and his presence. (Yes, as one critic mentions, Sears is biased but towards the better Generals and leaders). The human interest stories are there: like the deaths of three brothers named Thomas in a South Carolina regiment in the Wheatfield, the two men from a Pennsylvania regiment who won the medal of honor because they carried their comrade to safety (who later died), and the deaths of Weed and Hazlett who were close prior to the battle and died next to each other. The prose is very powerful, poetic, and leads you to want to continue with the story. Also, the details are covered like Trudeau but in a less organized way (who can beat chapters and maps based upon time of day for organization). The story is down to the regiment level and chronicled based upon the right timing and location but not in as structured a way. Consequently, I found myself drawn into a story. And, what a story it is. Sears tells with feeling and beautiful, poetic prose. When Sears book first showed on the market, I had just finished Trudeau, and thought, this can not be better. But, it is. A well written book for a most important event in our history.

Rating:
Summary: Another book on Gettysburg
Review: Wow, it's the 3,000 book on Gettysburg that only sold copies because of its title. Really folks, if you know anything about the Civil War, you'll realize that this book is just another weak attempt to earn a profit over a topic that everyone is familiar with.

Seriously, to call this a definitve study is ludicrous. Try Pfanz's BOOKS on the campaign, or Coddington's "Gettysburg: A Study in Command," and then you'll realize how real historians write.

By the way, this review comes from a historian.

Rating:
Summary: Another book on Gettysburg
Review: Wow, it's the 3,000 book on Gettysburg that only sold copies because of its title. Really folks, if you know anything about the Civil War, you'll realize that this book is just another weak attempt to earn a profit over a topic that everyone is familiar with.

Seriously, to call this a definitve study is ludicrous. Try Pfanz's BOOKS on the campaign, or Coddington's "Gettysburg: A Study in Command," and then you'll realize how real historians write.

By the way, this review comes from a historian.