Book Report: Gods and Generals

By Emily Lewis

WCFS Student

   Jeff Shaara’s masterpiece, Gods and Generals, explores the lives of men who lived and fought in the Civil War, particularly from 1858—1863. The vivid pictures painted by the author allow you to participate in the lives of some of history’s most famous men, and experience all that they endured during that particular time in their lives. The purpose of Gods and Generals is to give its reader a visual picture of the lives, struggles, and beliefs of certain individuals who lived during one of our country’s most crucial times. The main characters of Gods and Generals include, but are not limited to, Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jackson, Winfield S. Hancock, Lewis Armistead, Jeb Stuart, James Longstreet, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.

   As trouble begins to stir in the South, Robert E. Lee struggles to believe that the South, his country, would really break off from the Union. But as time progresses, he realizes that he will have to resign from the Federal Army, which he has faithfully served in for thirty years and defend his homeland, Virginia, from the invasion of that very army. For others like Thomas Jackson, Winfield Hancock, Jeb Stuart, Lewis Armistead, and Joshua Chamberlain, the decision is not as difficult. Even though they ultimately choose different sides, they know that they must follow God’s leading in their life and do what they believe is right. As their stories unfold, they all struggle to continue fighting in a war that they all wished had never begun.

   The reason I enjoyed Gods and Generals so much is because of the vivid way in which Jeff Shaara portrayed all of the battles and real life occurrences that the characters experienced while fighting in one of the world’s most devastating wars. Anyone who has an appreciation for history and the lives of the people in it will enjoy Gods and Generals due to Jeff Shaara’s ability to make you feel as if you are really there with each character that is brought to life.

   As I read Gods and Generals, I was moved by the total commitment that was demonstrated by everyone. Those men were willing to fight, lead others, and die themselves because of something they believed was right. The North fought for power and the freedom of slaves. The South fought to gain the rights that they felt weren’t being given to them. Both of their causes were noble. The true devotion demonstrated by the soldiers in following their leaders is an example that everyone could learn from.

   There are many important lessons that are taught in Gods and Generals, but I think the one that stood out the most to me personally was the testimony of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. His desire to glorify God with his life and give Him all the credit due to his accomplishments revealed to me my need to view my life in the same way.

   Another quality of Jackson’s that I admired was the confidence he had in God’s protection over him. He once said that he was, “as comfortable on the battlefield as in his bed.” This demonstrates how great that trust really was. 

   Because of the unbiased way in which Jeff Shaara presents all of his characters, I do not have a particular favorite. I appreciated all of the characters and the lessons I learned from them on submission, faith, conviction, and friendships. Gods and Generals will give you a fresh perspective on historical occurrences as it brings them to life. Whether history is something that interests you or not, you will delight in getting to personally know each character and better understand the struggles that they encountered during their services in the American Civil War, while they served under God and generals.