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Fateful Lightning: A Novel of the Civil War
Fateful Lightning: A Novel of the Civil War | Jeff Shaara
5 posts | 3 read | 2 to read
"NEW YORK TIMES "BESTSELLER FromJeff Shaara comes the riveting final installment in the Civil War series that began with "A Blaze of Glory" and continued in "A Chain of Thunder" and "The Smoke at Dawn." November 1864: As the Civil War rolls into its fourth bloody year, the tide has turned decidedly in favor of the Union. A grateful Abraham Lincoln responds to Ulysses S. Grant s successes by bringing the general east, promoting Grant to command the entire Union war effort, while William Tecumseh Sherman now directs the Federal forces that occupy all of Tennessee. In a massive surge southward, Sherman conquers the city of Atlanta, sweeping aside the Confederate army under the inept leadership of General John Bell Hood. Pushing through northern Georgia, Sherman s legendary March to the Sea shoves away any Rebel presence, and by Christmas 1864 the city of Savannah falls into the hands of Uncle Billy. Now there is but one direction for Sherman to go. In his way stands the last great hope for the Southern cause, General Joseph E. Johnston. In the concluding novel of his epic Civil War tetralogy, Jeff Shaara tells the dramatic story of the final eight months of battle from multiple perspectives: the commanders in their tents making plans for total victory, as well as the ordinary foot soldiers and cavalrymen who carried out their orders until the last alarum sounded. Through Sherman s eyes, we gain insight into the mind of the general who vowed to make Georgia howl until it surrendered. In Johnston, we see a man agonizing over the limits of his army s power, and accepting the burden of leading the last desperate effort to ensure the survival of the Confederacy. The Civil War did not end quietly. It climaxed in a storm of fury that lay waste to everything in its path. "The Fateful Lightning" brings to life those final brutal, bloody months of fighting with you-are-there immediacy, grounded in the meticulous research that readers have come to expect from Jeff Shaara. Praise for Jeff Shaara s new Civil War series "The Fateful Lightning" Powerful and emotional . . . highly recommended. "Historical Novels Review" Outstanding . . . Shaara combines his extensive knowledge of military history with his consummate skill as a storyteller. "Booklist" Readers . . . looking for an absorbing novel will be well rewarded. "The Clarion-Ledger" A great accomplishment and a more than fitting conclusion to Shaara s work on the Civil War. "Bookreporter" "A Blaze of Glory" [An] exciting read . . . This novel is meticulously researched and brings a vivid reality to the historical events depicted. "Library Journal" Dynamic portrayals [of] Johnston, Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. " The Wall Street Journal" "A Chain of Thunder" Shaara continues to draw powerful novels from the bloody history of the Civil War. " Kirkus Reviews" Shaara s historical accuracy is faultless. . . . The voices of these people come across to the reader as poignantly clear as they did 150 years ago. " Historical Novels Review" "The Smoke at Dawn" Beautifully written . . . Shaara once again elevates history from mere rote fact to explosive and engaging drama. "Bookreporter""
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Susanita
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At the start of #40miles20hours I was 7:45 from the end. I finished today! Onto whatever e-audiobook my library has available today for my walking listening. My Fitbit says I‘ve walked about 39.5 miles in the past three weeks, but it wasn‘t charged for the first two days, so I‘m calling it that I‘ve logged 40 miles!

I‘m using this for #Booked2020 #liveandlearn since I knew nothing about Sherman‘s “march to the sea” beyond a reference in GWTW.

Susanita Yes the full book is 25 hours long. But worthwhile! 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Good job! That‘s a lots of steps and minutes listening! 4y
Cinfhen #liveAndlearn 🙌🏻💕 4y
37 likes3 comments
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Susanita

I‘m going slowly, but I‘m making progress! So far I‘m at about 1:45 into #40miles20hours and ? miles because Fitbit is being weird. Anyway, I just listened to a chapter in the tagged book in which the governor of Georgia does something really bone headed in order to “protect” his state.

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CMB
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Here‘s an “exchange” between William T. Sherman and his adjutant, Henry Hitchcock. The Chicago Times, reported an account “that was quite detailed, including our direction of march,& offered names of the senior officers down to division commanders,” H. says. S:”I hate them. They have no courage, no discipline, no integrity. They lie when it suits them. And,commit treason, as well....You cannot carry on a war with a free press!” Was S. right?

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CMB
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This is the fourth in the Civil War series. The books focus on Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and now Sherman is “marching to the sea,” to Savannah. Writing dialogue for historical characters must be challenging, but I think Jeff Shaara pulls it off realistically. (Gotta love the Mark Twain bookmarks! He‘s usually spot-on!)

Andrew65 This series looks interesting. 6y
CMB I am about 100 pages into this last book, but I like how Shaara says he‘s not writing history books, but does do scholarly research so as to accurately incorporate events and characters into the novels. (I hate to admit this, but I fear that I may be somewhat similar to Sherman in traits and temperament...🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️😂) 6y
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Geekbrarian
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