A Killer Angels Companion

by D. Scott Hartwig

The popularity of Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Killer Angels, is legendary. There are currently six million copies in print. But how faithful to the truth was this novelist's view of the Battle of Gettysburg and its key figures? What happened to the major characters after Gettysburg? After 20 years as historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, few know the battle or battlefield better than Scott Hartwig. In this informative book, he answers these questions and more. if you have ever read and loved The Killer Angels, than this book will be a wonderful and welcome read.

Genres: Civil War, History, Nonfiction, American Civil War

125 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

David Scott Hartwig is a thirty-four year veteran of the National Park Service and served as Gettysburg’s supervisory historian for twenty years. He won the NPS regional Freeman Tilden Award for Excellence in Interpretation in 1993.

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a carefully written response to the State of the Union Address by the party not in power. I suppose its greatest value would be as a jumping off point for people who want to move beyond Shaara's great novel into the realm of serious historical study.

This book also rode on the crest of a strong backlash against the movie Gettysburg and the myths/misconceptions it fostered in popular culture. As a reenactor friend once told me, at least one battlefield tour guide refuses to take visitors back to the 20th Maine Monument where the mythical "right wheel charge" is believed to have occured.

Regardless of where a person stands on the finer points of history, this book is part of a larger discussion of great value. It's one of many good resources for people seeking to understand the Battle of Gettysburg.

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very limited in scope - its true value is to historians who are teaching using The Killer Angels and would like additional information on that book's historical accuracies. It did let me know that Winfield Scott Hancock had a twin, however!

[Collin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, but interesting to learn the liberties that Shaara took when fictionalizing his fine story.

[Ryan Bankas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being such a fan of “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara, I was excited to read this short (58 pages) companion guide which directs readers to fact from Shaara’s fiction.

I was expecting to find some of “Killer Angels” to be fiction, surprised to find a lot more is fictional than anticipated.

To the point where I’m considering writing a letter to the Producers of the movie “Gettysburg” to inquire as to whether or not they’ll consider changing the film’s name: “(Kind of) Gettysburg.”

I wonder the chance...

Shockers include: Longstreet and his father/son relationship he has with Lee in “The Killer Angels,” is so relatable.

Come to find out, Lee and Longstreet often clashed and Longstreet was kiiiiiiiind of a dick (who nobody really liked,) before, during and after the battle.

As far as Chamberlain, in the book, he the 20th Maine are moved to the front lines after Little Round Top... well that’s just kind of completely made up.

Also, once at the front, Chamberlain thinks he recognizes Meade from afar... yea... well... he probably wouldn’t have been so unsure in real-life considering Meade commanded Chamberlain’s group before the Gettysburg campaign.

This book features a list of further reading... my interest is peaked, research is not complete.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great supplement to the fictional Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. Enlightening as to how the novel compared to reality and in explaining what happened to the major characters during the remainder of the war and the end of their lives.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice antidote to Shaara’s biases. Respectfully corrects the artists’ errors and license, offers deeper biographies of major actors, and includes a suggested bibliography (dated of course) for further, serious reading.

[John Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good and interesting perspective.

[Francis X DuFour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting the historical record straight, Hartwig does an outstanding job of telling the real story behind one of the US Civil War’s greatest novels. A must read for Shaara fans.

[kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry - so the truth is not as romantic - and that people are more human and less heroic than we like

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling read of the Gettysburg conflict for any Civil War buff.