The Killer Angels

This novel reveals more about the Battle of Gettysburg than any piece of learned nonfiction on the same subject. Michael Shaara's account of the three most important days of the Civil War features deft characterizations of all of the main actors, including Lee, Longstreet, Pickett, Buford, and Hancock. The most inspiring figure in the book, however, is Col. Joshua Lawrence Cham...

This novel reveals more about the Battle of Gettysburg than any piece of learned nonfiction on the same subject. Michael Shaara's account of the three most important days of the Civil War features deft characterizations of all of the main actors, including Lee, Longstreet, Pickett, Buford, and Hancock. The most inspiring figure in the book, however, is Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, whose 20th Maine regiment of volunteers held the Union's left flank on the second day of the battle. This unit's bravery at Little Round Top helped turned the tide of the war against the rebels. There are also plenty of maps, which convey a complete sense of what happened July 1-3, 1863.

迈克尔•夏拉（1928-1988）

意裔美国作家。大学毕业后曾在美国第82空降师服役，此后还做过拳击手和警察。50年代开始创作小说，主要作品有《决战葛底斯堡》《破碎之地》《诺亚阴谋》《对游戏的爱》，其中《决战葛底斯堡》获1975年普利策小说奖。夏拉后来在佛罗里达州立大学谋得教职，教授文学课程。1988年，因心脏病猝发而死。