audiobook Gettysburg by Stephen W. Sears in History

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A really complete analysis of the BattleBy Harry PandolfinoAfter my annual viewing of the film Gettysburg I was hungry for more detail and chose Stephen Sears book. There are many more complexities and nuances to the evolution of the Battle then you get in high school history. Sears describes the genesis of the campaign; the logic and reasoning behind it; and switches between both camps as they blunder towards each other to give you a sense of suspense. There were heroes and villains; laggards and fools; inspired moves and colossal failures. It is fascinating to watch how the fortunes of both sides sway one way or the other during the conflict. Sears places most of the blame for the catastrophe on Robert E. Lee; who handled his forces poorly and seemed not to recognize some of the weaknesses of his command decisions. A good read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. One of the best Civil War novels out there...By CustomerBoth Gingrich and Forstchen have done their homework; producing a very plausible; historically accurate novel of what Lee's Summer 1863 campaign might have looked like had things been just a bit different at Gettysburg. I say 'historically accurate' because Federal plans called for a retreat to a Rock Creek line if the Confederates had forced the Army out of the Gettysburg positions. The resulting reactions from Washington to counter that event; as portrayed by the authors; makes for a suspenseful story of a desperate fight to stop the Confederate juggernaut. The authors' use of historical characters is reminiscent of Shaara's 'The Killer Angels'; with engaging interior dialogue and glimpses of personality from key characters which bring dry historical accounts to life. The combat scenes are some of the best I have read; giving a real feel of what it might be like to receive a charge from a wild-eyed; screaming Confederate regiment. The sense of desperation and the will to sacrifice infuse those vivid scenes; and one can almost smell the smoke and taste the fear of battle. The scenes of high-level planning and strategy are very well done; giving the reader a look at the larger picture on both sides; and provide insights into exactly what was at stake in this 3rd summer of the war.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The definitive book about the battle of GettysburgBy Carrosio RobertoThis is probably the Stephen W.Sears 's masterpiece.Indeed ; basing his book on personal accounts of soldiers on both sides; the author is not only telling you the story of the decisive battle of the American Civil War; but he is able to explain how and why the Confederation lost her last chance of a victory or at least of changing the position of France and Great Britain about this war.The author underlines the dramatic failure of Robert E. Lee as commander; his unexplicable loss of grip on the battle; his lipse of comunication with his subordinates (Longstreet; Ewell; Hill; Stuart) and he demonstrates as the loss of Stonewall Jackson at Chancellorsville is a too easy explanation for such a hard defeat.The author explaines even how George Meade arrived to be the commander of the Army of the Potomac and how hehad been able to take the right decisions; communicating with his subordinates and having faith on the right ones (Reynolds; Hancock; Warren; Hunt).You can't miss this book.