Purpose Of Gods And Generals By Jeff Shaara

Jeff Shaara’s Gods and Generals is written based on the events and people from 1858 through 1863 during the American Civil War. Although this novel was a piece of historical fiction, it is one of the most accurate recordings of history. Gods and Generals drew the reader in through the engrossing stories of Robert Edward Lee, Winfield Scott Hancock, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Before reading the novel, readers most likely thought of these men as heroes and men who were capable of anything. However, after completing Gods and Generals an individual could feel more connected with the characters because of the personal stories they portrayed throughout the novel. This piece of historical fiction was not meant to be another repetitive documentation of an historical event or even a plain biography. Instead, Gods and Generals was obviously telling the history of the Civil War through the stories and personal experiences of the

I didn’t realize how accurate and interesting a historical piece of fiction could be. I was attached to the novel until I finally finished it. I believe I was so engrossed in this novel because it showed the emotional and more human sides of the generals who lead the American Civil War. I have read plenty of biographies and historical documentations about the men and events, but it was never so detailed and personal. The purpose of God and Generals was to provide the story of the battles by telling the emotional stories of the men who fought in it. Jeff Shaara did a outstanding job of portraying the generals’ thoughts and feelings. It was so well written that I felt more connected to the characters and understood them more because I read about the events of the Civil War through their point of view. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend, especially if they want a glimpse of the American Civil War and its heroic