July 2003. The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara.  Not exactly history,but a clear account of the battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of Lee and Longstreet from the South, and Buford and Chamberlain from the North.  Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf called it "The best and most realistic historical novel about war I have ever read."  Although the author provides key maps at several places in the book, an indespensible companion to this book is the homepage for the Gettysburg National Military Park.  Thge author of this work of historical fiction has the characters of Lee and Longstreet pinning a lot of the blame for the South not securing the high ground at Gettysburg on Stuart and his cavalry being out making a big loop aroundthe enemy.  I did some background work prior to our meeting and put together a chronology of Stuart's cavalry from June 7 on a constant 7 weeks in the saddle [MAP].  Yes, he did make a big loop around the Union Army, but he was slowed down by a captured wagon train and by Custer and the Union Cavalry at Hunterstown. The author's son, Jeffrey M. Shaara, has written a pre-quel to The Killer Angels called Gods and Generals and also a sequel called Last Full Measure. Taken together, these three books give you a great narrative of the Civil War that convey the flow of the war in an accessible and readable way. Back to reading list