Unvanquished
The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara, is not simply a historical novel that recounts the facts of the Battle at Gettysburg, but rather gives a dramatized account of history using real people and events. I truly enjoyed reading this book, as it supplemented the reading I had done in the text book. I discovered how complex Gettysburg was along with tactics involved, numerous people, and graphic nature of the battle. Shaara gives this dramatized version as it prevents the book from becoming overwhelming with facts and rather draws the reader in to the plot. This is one of the most positive aspects of the text in a literary sense, this sort of dramatization and making the generals seem like the mortal human beings that they were and that they made mistakes. One incident in particular was Picket's Charge, in which, Longstreet knew the frontal assault order by Lee would result in disaster. T
The characterization of the Confederate high-ranking officials, in my opinion, is a remarkable aspect of this book. The realism and graphic nature are what make this book a success. He continuously gives the image of corpses piling up throughout this book, that help him convey this grim message of the true graphic nature of Gettysburg. In my opinion, this book truly was an outstanding success and an interesting read. Shaara makes it clear that death is the most crucial aspect that accompanies war. Piled-up bodies in front of you to catch the bullets, using the dead for a shield; remember the sound? Of bullets in dead bodies?" Images such as this place this realistic imagery into the mind of the reader and I felt this was yet another positive aspect of the book. Lee personally, like you are on the front lines with the confederacy. Killer Angels is a unique book in its own sense that not only presents the facts and gruesome details of Gettysburg, but also entertains the mind of the reader with the characters and their dedication to the war. Lee sees no harm in fighting in the open with honorable charges on the Union flanks, that have seemed to been effective. It gives modern day readers to enter the minds of some of the greatest generals America has ever seen that culminate in the turning point of the Civil War. Shaara is a realist and this is reflected in this book. A brilliant contrast is made with Lee's second in command, Longstreet. Though Lee's brilliant tactics do work in the beginning of Gettysburg, his arrogance and lack of realism cost him the battle with the order for Picket's charge. He makes the reader understand that this was a real war, a war of attrition, in which many men died, especially in this battle. he fact that Longstreet knew, but failed to warn Lee was a matter of loyalty that Shaara makes evident on both sides of the war.
Common topics in this essay:
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Battle Gettysburg,
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Robert Lee,
Michael Shaara,
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Acceptance Essays
