Gettysburg: a Testing of Courage

by Noah Andre Trudeau, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2002, 720 pp., $34.95 (hardcover), $18.95 (paperback).

Noah Andre Trudeau's Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage should remain the standard single-volume work on this most decisive and heavily researched of Civil War battles for the foreseeable future. Trudeau's eloquent narrative effectively covers the campaign from its inception, and successfully integrates the strategic, tactical, and individual perspectives by synthesizing the vast amount of literature produced on the battle over the past 30 years.

Two particular aspects of this work make it particularly valuable. The first is the integration of the massive amount of literature produced on the battle over the previous three decades. Such literature has, as Trudeau notes, resulted in many revisions to the Gettysburg story as "[m]any cherished tales were found to fables, while other, long-overlooked acts of heroism and courage were revealed." As an example, those readers expecting another glorification of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain at Little Round Top will find his 'pivotal' role reassessed. The second is Trudeau's battlefield descriptions; the writing in Gettysburg captures the sights, sounds, and emotions of commanders, soldiers, and civilians as this bloody battle ebbed and flowed over the 3 days in June 1863. The fear felt by the participants is palpable, but so too is the bravery and determination. Trudeau's stated goal was to produce a work that provides "a comprehensive narrative of one of the most unforgettable sagas in United States history." To his credit, Trudeau has succeeded brilliantly, and future single-volume works on this battle should be judged by the quality of this work.

MAJ BENJAMIN TUCK

Fairfax, VA

COPYRIGHT 2003 U.S. Army Armor Center
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group