Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields: Discovering America's Hallowed Ground

This was fabulous! We not only got the background of the battlefields it also helped us when we visited focusing on the highlights he mwntioned

Great book! Why 4 stars instead of 5? I read the Kindle version. My pleasure was attenuated by the frustration of reading the poorly reproduced illustrations. Have a map near at hand, especially of Virginia. I was struck by the geographic compactness of the caldron of events out of which our proud nation was forged. Read on. It's worth it.This book gave me the cleanest, most compact view of the Civil War I have ever read. This is not a big volume, every battle fought book, but a ten concise chapter geographic and chronologic guide. Jeff Shaara takes the reader from the April 6, 1862 Shiloh Tennessee bloodletting reality of the struggle ahead to the tenth chapter tactical chess game around Petersburg Virginia that lead to the April 9, 1865 check mate of General Lee at nearby Appomattox.Each chapter begins with, "What Happened Here" followed by, "Why Is The battle Important", giving a broader context relative to the progress of the war, and finally, "What You Should See". This last section is a good guide for the traveler, yet is so descriptive that even the arm chair traveler gets a real sense of the terrain and a visualization of the events that transpired.I recommend this book both to the generally curious and the studiously serious of the Civil War. It inspired me to specifically travel through the battlegrounds in the order Mr. Shaara so vividly portrays.Dr. Charles Dusenbury

Before reading and viewing Jeff Shaara's SUPERB treatment of key Civil War battle sites, I had only the sketchiest idea of the events leading up to each battle, just where the battle sites were, the progress of the approach to each battle by each army, the progress of the battle itself, just why the battle was important, and what you should see, and avoid, at the particular site when you go there.The book is real quality in terms of its illustrations, maps, photos,and high quality of paper and print.Fascinating reading. You think you are already THERE. Definitely a great book for trip planning purposes and to have with you and re-read before you go to the site, while you are there, and after you leave.I am reading one of his other books, too, GODS AND GENERALS, which is excellent, and am anxiously looking forward to reading his book on the American Revolution, THE GLORIOUS CAUSE. His father's book about Gettysburg, THE KILLER ANGELS, is a classic, too.Whatever Jeff Shaara writes, I will definitely read.And I got a great price reduction through Amazon.com.--Mike Ryan, Bakersfield, California

Was very happy with the packaging and timely arrival or this book we wanted to help plan an upcoming trip.

It is always helpful to research a battlefield prior to the visit so that you know what you would like to see. I am a bit of a Civil War buff and enjoy putting all the pieces together in an effort to understand this part of our history as a nation. For example, I visited New Market last year, and although it was a good visit, I would have liked the additional background he provided in advance of my visit. Really like the way Jeff Shaara tells us why he thinks the battle is important and the key actions and leaders that contributed to the outcome. I may not always agree with his conclusions, but his are well thought out. And, of course, he didn't include some battles that I thought were important to the outcome. That's why there are horse races.

Should be a great asset to my tabletop collection. Print is pretty small but I have not had time to read it yet.

I believe I have read everything produced literally by the Shaara men and have devoured each volume. They are all wonderful reads as long as you are an American and comfortable with the world's history from that perspective. That is the only perspective you will get in the extremely well written works of both Jeff and his father before him in "The Killer Angels"The Civil Wat Guide is of course not a novel and therefore abides by the known facts. To this, the author continues in his known pattern of exhaustive research and regurgitates that mountain of knowledge gleaned into an easily accessed and truncated account, even in the point form to which he is limited from time to time.The book is now a constant reference on my desk right beside "Janes Guide to Navy Vessels".If You are a Student of the Civil War, this volume is an essential tool to have in your library.

Jeff Shaara's "Civil War Battlefields" is a quick read and stands on its own merits, if that is what you a looking for. However I found that I was returning to Shaara's books, "Gods and Generals" for the battlefields before Gettysburg and "Last Full Measure" for the battlefields after Gettysburg to help me satisfy small questions and I never did get to "The Killer Angels". More than once I became sidetracked and found myself many pages and chapters into the other books before returning. The hard decision you have to make if you are traveling and reading this book. How many other books can you get into your carry-on and keep with you at your seat to make your trip as pleasant as possible? The book is a excellent companion to have along either when visiting or revisiting any of the battlefields or when you reread any of the Shaara trilogy.

Whether it is novels or books like this, Jeff Shaara is so readable. There is always something new to learn about the Civil War and I just wish that I had this book with me when I visited the battlefields.

fine

great book

Jeff Shaara writes with film makers eye,

Compelling