The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Goodreads synopsis: In the four most bloody and courageous days of our nation’s history, two armies fought for two conflicting dreams. One dreamed of freedom, the other of a way of life. Far more than rifles and bullets were carried into battle. There were memories. There were promises. There was love. And far more than men fell on those Pennsylvania fields. Bright futures, untested innocence, and pristine beauty were also the casualties of war.

Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer Prize–winning masterpiece is unique, sweeping, unforgettable - the dramatic story of the battleground for America’s destiny.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: R. Brief scenes of wartime violence.

Thoughts: Being forced to overanalyze this book for school, there are a few things in it that tend to fall flat, or don't quite accomplish the stated objective of the book as well as perhaps they could. But it is still a very good book, definitely worth reading and taking some time to digest.

Shaara doesn't tell the story from just one perspective, and he really doesn't seem to try and say who was right or wrong, but lets the reader draw those conclusions for themselves. There obviously are moral areas where lines are drawn, but the implication that not every person was fighting for the same thing is a very interesting thing to consider, especially in the context of more modern wars.

A solid read, and a war story that's written in a way that makes it highly readable, even if it gets confusing to differentiate characters sometimes. This was a reread, but it was worth it.