The Killer Angels, Book Review Example

The Killer Angels from Michael Schaara is a work of historical fiction set in the Civil War.  The reader is taken through a couple of battles, primarily, in an attempt to recreate the valor and heroism in the brutal war.  Schaara presents a fictional work which draws the reader into the interesting occurrences of the Civil War, in an attempt to help the reader gain an appreciation for the Civil War.

Summary

Schaara takes the reader through events of the Civil War through the eyes of its primary proponents.  Lee, Longstreet, Hancock, Buford, Picket, and Chamberlain are featured as the work characterizes events of the Civil War, centered on the Battle of Little Round Top and Pickett’s Charge, as well as others.  Each chapter is presented through the eyes of these various leaders from the Union and the Confederacy.  The text is complete with many different devices to present the fictional material based on these events, such as journals, letters, diaries, and memoirs.  Overall the work conveys the personalities presented in different perspectives upon these historical events of the Civil War.

Evaluation

Schaara’s book is surprisingly easy to read.  Taking its time to present a few key events in the Civil War, Schaara guides the reader through the aforementioned devices in the characters’ personalities, providing unique and interesting insights to the events of the Civil War.  This creates a pleasant and engaging environment for the reader to submerge him or her into, with Schaara’s presentation.  The structure and flow of the book represents an easy read for someone to engage oneself into the Civil War.

The book is well-defined.  In addition to Little Round Top and Pickett’s Charge, Schaara spends some time on Buford establishing Union lines before the battle and Longstreet’s ambivalence in fighting at Gettysburg as well.  The four key aspects are the primary efforts of the work, providing a well-defined setting, yet still offering a wealth of material for the text.  Schaara succeeds in giving the reader enough to read about, and at the same time, not constricting the material to a too-narrow focus.

The Characters’ Perspective

Previously touched upon, the presentation of the story from the characters’ perspective is the true value of the work.  This work of historical fiction engrosses the reader in a unique picture in each chapter, from perspectives on both sides of the Civil War.  This allows the reader to become involved in the motives, ideals, and to be able to see the heroism in the thoughts and actions of the appropriate leader.

The picture of Pickett’s Charge is one such example.  Schaara dives into the historical psychology of Longstreet, offering the haunting thoughts of the leader who had predicted the charge’s futility.  Longstreet is a tortured man in the face of these horrors as so many men have lost their lives, to which Schaara recreates with emotion and impact.

On the other side the reader is subject to the great heroism that is portrayed in the novel.  For instance, the heroism of Joshua Chamberlain is presented.  His work at Little Round Top with the Medal of Honor he earned is similarly presented by Schaara, though of course with an alternative emotion than Longstreet.

These pictures are characterized by Schaara in the work to engross the reader in the characters of the Civil War.  Though a work of fiction, it is of course based upon the real figures and events of the Civil War.  Schaara takes the reader interestingly through the characters’ minds to provide further insight into such events.

Emotion

Schaara also succeeds in creating emotion in the work.  Much of this is inextricably linked to the previous main point in this evaluation, where Schaara takes the reader through the characters’ eyes in presenting material from their own perspective.  In this, however, a further element is realized in the emotion that the work touches upon.

The emotion portrayed in the work is considerable.  Schaara gives a number of emotionally-charged events and characterizations.  Spanning Longstreet’s struggle after the loss of his three children, the tragedy of Hancock and Armistead as two best friends on opposing sides, and Old Man Lee’s legacy in one of his last battles, emotion is captured in Schaara’s work quite well.

The emotion presented adds a further element in the work.  Coupled with the previous point in the presentation of the characters’ in their own eyes, emotion fills a number of the pages, which adds to the reality of the work.  Though it is a work of fiction, the reader is drawn into the emotion and factual nature of the characters’ presentations.

Conclusion

The book impacted my perception of the Civil War uniquely.  The manner in which emotion and personality was presented in the book allowed me to connect to the emotions and viewpoints of the characters and sides of the war.  It was a great way to connect to the personal stories in the war, as well as the historical bases which founded and perpetuated the war.  I would personally recommend this book for use in a higher education setting, as it truly paints a new perspective of the Civil War.  Moreover, it allows one to connect with the characters, events, and overall the whole nature of the Civil War.