Gettysburg

By: Stephen W. Sears

Narrated by: Jaime Renell

The greatest of all Civil War campaigns, Gettysburg was the turning point of the turning point in our nation’s history. Volumes have been written about this momentous three-day battle, but recent histories have tended to focus on the particulars rather than the big picture: on the generals or on single days of battle—even on single charges—or on the daily lives of the soldiers. In Gettysburg Sears tells the whole story in a single volume. From the first gleam in Lee’s eye to the last Rebel hightailing it back across the Potomac, every moment of the battle is brought to life with the vivid narrative skill and impeccable scholarship that has made Stephen Sears’s other histories so successful. Based on years of research, this is the first book in a generation that brings everything together, sorts it all out, makes informed judgments, and takes stands. Even the most knowledgeable of Civil War buffs will find fascinating new material and new interpretations, and Sears’s famously accessible style will make the book just as appealing to the general audience. In short, this is the one book on Gettysburg that anyone interested in the Civil War should own.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2003 Stephen W. Sears (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Great book and performance!

This is my third book on Gettysburg and one of the best yet. Very clearly written with the whole picture of what happened explained in sharp detail. I liked the profiling of all the major players and even the rank minor individual with quotes of what was said or reasonable conjecture of what might have been said.

Well researched! Aside from the the story, I loved the performance. I would like to hear more from this reader. Kept my interest throughout the entire book. Well worth 5 stars.

Very informative

Excellent detailed account of the battle. One of the best accounts I have ever read.

Moving and Informative

I listened to this before and after a visit to the site. I went to see where 4 of my ancestors fought, 2 for the North and 2 for the South. The book helped their struggle come to life.

Detailed Account of Devasting Battle for the Confederacy

I appreciated the detailed accounts of the battle from both Union and Conferate perspective. Descriptive roles officers played. Perspective on the successful and error filled decisions made during the 3 day event.

Great Read

Didn’t know much but the overall story of Gettysburg and this book filled in so much. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it has a lot of great information. I would recommend it to anyone trying to get a good, full, and thorough understanding of what happened.

A Fresh Analysis of The Most Examined Battle in US History

I would not have believed there was anything new to be told about this battle. But this analysis is engagingly written and read. Keep me listening for longer stretches of time time than I would have expected.

A Comprehensive Summary of Every Aspect

clearly an extensive review of the battle largely from letters of the principles going deeply into their motivation & reflections.
Well written!

great book

great book, great reading, totally recommend this book. it's good and I enjoyed it 15 words

Great listen. I learned so much!

I chose this Gettysburg book based on reviews and that it was not too long. I’m glad I did.

Too many characters to keep all in my mind, but I loved the preamble for both North and South, challenges and failures for both in leadership, logistics and technology, and the aftermath well explained.

I just wish I’d had time to listen to it all before hiking around Gettysburg and the battlefield.

Best Single Volume about the Battle

Ask any Civil War Historian or Civil War buff the single best volume on the Battle of Gettysburg and they're likely to recommend this title. And with good reason.

Like so many, it was The Killer Angels and its subsequent film adaptation which sparked my interest many moons ago. In the years since, I've gone on to read several books about just those three days in a small Pennsylvania town in July 1863.

What makes this title stand apart is the author takes the time to set up the battle in its appropriate context while stripping away the mythology 150 built up. There's five hours of listening before actual battle begins. The only downside is the narrator who gets dinged for mispronouncing Heth and Susquehanna.