Its the kind of book I would have read and enjoyed from a purely fictional basis as the events are so clearly laid out, the relationships between friends that now find themselves fighting for causes they both believed to be just and unable to understand why their friends are prepared to go to war to stop their beliefs. At no point was slavery considered to be the reason why the South was fighting, but rather to preserve their way of life and not to have a foreign goverment tell their states what they can and cannot do. Comparisons were drawn with their war of independence against the British and that the Federal Northern army was no more than another foriegn invader, where as the North primarily fought to preserve the union.
I'm sure you all know that the Confederacy eventually lost the battle, but this book descibes how these two vast armies stumbled into each other, the doubts and fears of the officers and in some cases an absolute certain belief that the battle could only fail, yet they could not prevent it form happening, in fact they could see no option but to take part and help it fail.
Incidentally this book was turned into the movie "Gettysburg" a few years back and I have always been looking for the opportunity to complain about the Savoy cinema on O' Connell street handling of it. They had the cheek to break it into two movies and charge two entrance fees. Just because a film runs for nearly three and half hours you cant justify calling it Parts 1 and 2 and charge me twice.
My apologies for going off on a complete ramble there, my point was meant to be that the film and its script was pratically lifted word for word from the book, so if you don't have the time to read the book, then watch the film. It stars Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger and lots and lots of other people you'll recognise.
Rating 9 out of 10
If you fancy this kind of thing, give "Crazy Horse and Custer" by Stephen Ambrose a read. Its not in the same league as "The Killer Angels" but its still good.