audiobook Gettysburg: The Story of the Battle with Maps by David Reisch in History

Review

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Just the thing I've been looking forBy CustomerThis book is both a great place for anyone to begin learning about Gettysburg and an excellent resource for even the most knowledgeable person; for not only clarifying events and refreshing memory; but also for filling in blanks on everything one could care to know about at the brigade level. For those purposes; at 140 pages this is just the right amount of information for me; i.e.; not too much and yet more than adequate. Every other page is a map of the entire battlefield with each map representing chronological developments all over the field; including the relevant generals; brigades; and their movements. There are numerous supplemental inserts on the facing pages filling in details that otherwise would overload the larger maps (or just adding entertaining asides). It's about as clear and colorful a presentation as I can imagine. The accompanying text is a present tense narrative directed at those looking for good entertainment and is certainly not for the scholarly. In fact I would imagine academics would be quite embarrassed to be caught with this sort of material; as a high school teacher would with a Cliffs Notes. It's very melodramatic; complete with sorrows; triumphs; and exclamation marks. That said; as to facts; the narrator is accurate and informed. And has an infectious enthusiasm. I would think for many people this style would transform what otherwise might be dry material into a memorable story. I also found it reassuring; as far as reliability; that there were no individual author credits (except in a short note on the last page) and the book is simply "by the editors of STACKPOLE BOOKS;" a reputable publisher with many Gettysburg histories to it's credit. There was clearly no individual ego spinning history; it instead being a team effort. To give some context to this review; I'm the kind of person who has always used Cliffs Notes without apology. I have a large; diverse collection on Gettysburg. I find this book is terrific as far as putting minute events at Gettysburg into their larger context; such as while I'm reading The Bachelder Papers or OR reports. This book is a great skeleton from which to hang all the blood and guts; etc. (hey; it's almost Halloween).24 of 26 people found the following review helpful. I've searched for years for a book like this.By YellowkidI've searched for a book like this for years; clear maps; and lots of them; with unit movements during short periods of the battle. None have come close to this one. I don't think you will find another publication that will help you understand how the battle ebbed and flowed as the various units jockeyed for the upper hand in the woods and fields around this small Pennsylvania town. Hard core students may wish for a little more detail in some of the narrative; but there are plenty of other authors who have penned great descriptions of those three days in July. I look forward to rereading some of the other histories with this as a companion piece.I do hope Stackpole Press continues this fine effort.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. First rate bookBy CompLitThis book consists of text on the left page and a full page map on the facing right page. The narrative is first rate. The author not only explains what units are moving where in a very clear manner; but the strengths and weaknesses of the commanders; of their plans and of their execution. The maps are also first rate. They display the action on an hour to hour basis; or perhaps more frequently. For example; it takes 22 page-size and a number of smaller maps to move through the action from the morning through the evening of the first day of the battle.There are other excellent books on Gettysburg; but; because of the maps; I don't think anything is likely to approach the clarity of this book.When I go to Gettysburg in a couple of months; I'll take this book with me as I walk over the battleground.