A Chain of Thunder

A Novel of the Siege of Vicksburg

By: Jeff Shaara

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 22 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Continuing the series that began with A Blaze of Glory, Jeff Shaara returns to chronicle another decisive chapter in America’s long and bloody Civil War. In A Chain of Thunder, the action shifts to the fortress city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. There, in the vaunted “Gibraltar of the Confederacy,” a siege for the ages will cement the reputation of one Union general—and all but seal the fate of the rebel cause.

In May 1863, after months of hard and bitter combat, Union troops under the command of Major General Ulysses S. Grant at long last successfully cross the Mississippi River. They force the remnants of Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton’s army to retreat to Vicksburg, burning the bridges over the Big Black River in its path. But after sustaining heavy casualties in two failed assaults against the rebels, Union soldiers are losing confidence and morale is low. Grant reluctantly decides to lay siege to the city, trapping soldiers and civilians alike inside an iron ring of Federal entrenchments. Six weeks later, the starving and destitute Southerners finally surrender, yielding command of the Mississippi River to the Union forces on July 4—Independence Day—and marking a crucial turning point in the Civil War.

Drawing on comprehensive research and his own intimate knowledge of the Vicksburg Campaign, Jeff Shaara once again weaves brilliant fiction out of the ragged cloth of historical fact. From the command tents where generals plot strategy to the ruined mansions where beleaguered citizens huddle for safety, this is a panoramic portrait of men and women whose lives are forever altered by the siege. On one side stand the emerging legend Grant, his irascible second William T. Sherman, and the youthful “grunt” Private Fritz Bauer; on the other, the Confederate commanders Pemberton and Joseph Johnston, as well as nineteen-year-old Lucy Spence, a civilian doing her best to survive in the besieged city. By giving voice to their experiences at Vicksburg, A Chain of Thunder vividly evokes a battle whose outcome still reverberates more than 150 years after the cannons fell silent.

Praise for A Chain of Thunder

“[Jeff] Shaara continues to draw powerful novels from the bloody history of the Civil War. . . . The dialogue intrigues. Shaara aptly reveals the main actors: Grant, stoic, driven, not given to micromanagement; Sherman, anxious, high-strung, engaged even when doubting Grant’s strategy. . . . Worth a Civil War buff’s attention.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Searing . . . Shaara seamlessly interweaves multiple points of view, as the plot is driven by a stellar cast of real-life and fictional characters coping with the pivotal crisis. . . . [A] riveting fictional narrative.”—Booklist

“Shaara’s historical accuracy is faultless, and he tells a good story. . . . The voices of these people come across to the reader as poignantly as they did 150 years ago.”—Historical Novels Review“The writing is picturesque and vibrant. . . . [an] engrossing tale.”—Bookreporter

©2013 Jeff Shaara (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Searing . . . Shaara seamlessly interweaves multiple points of view, as the plot is driven by a stellar cast of real-life and fictional characters coping with the pivotal crisis. . . . [A] riveting fictional narrative.” (Booklist)

[Praise for A Chain of Thunder “[Jeff] Shaara continues to draw powerful novels from the bloody history of the Civil War. . . . The dialogue intrigues. Shaara aptly reveals the main actors: Grant, stoic, driven, not given to micromanagement; Sherman, anxious, high-strung, engaged even when doubting Grant’s strategy. . . . Worth a Civil War buff’s attention.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Shaara’s historical accuracy is faultless, and he tells a good story. . . . The voices of these people come across to the reader as poignantly as they did 150 years ago.”—Historical Novels Review“The writing is picturesque and vibrant. . . . [an] engrossing tale.” (Bookreporter)

Excellent

Hard to stop listening. Very well written. Battles are very well detailed in words and make it easy to picture in your mind.

Another Outstanding Novel by Jeff Shaara!

Being a student and a Teacher of History, I am always excited to read one of Jeff Shaara's novels. He truly captures the hearts and minds of servicemen during war. I always learn new information about these battles and the men who fought in them.

Incredible book!

Possibly my favorite yet of Jeff Shaara's several great works! Phenomenal representation of The Siege of Vicksburg - a lesser-known, yet critical, juncture of the Civil War!

The Horror of Siege Warfare Made Real

Though I have read and listened to numerous books on the Civil War, I have seemingly ignored much of the West battles. Jeff Shaara writes an excellent presentation of the battles leading up to and around Vicksburg.

This book focuses on a number of real people and a few fictional ones. The author interweaves an excellent story line focusing on the human events, thoughts and feelings of various officers and men as well as some civilians. This novel (and the one about Shiloh) purposefully goes light on the details of the military regiments and units. So don't expect a detailed description of the battles as found in Stephen Sears books.

The book is well written and keeps the listener engrossed the whole way. I found myself rooting for the fictional character here even though I am confident he will survive.

Paul Michael is a narrator well known to me. Any time I see his name listed as the narrator I smile because I know how well he does. And Paul does his usual excellent performance here.

If you want detailed descriptions of the Battles of Vicksburg, this is the wrong book for you. If you prefer getting to know what it may have been like to be a soldier and civilian during this time, then you will enjoy this book.

Awesome book.

All of his books are amazing. I love being a part of the conversation and of the intimate feelings of the charactersj.
It makes you feel like you were there. Call Michael's narrations are outstanding.

Great account of what happened in Vicksburg through the eyes of characters who lived through it.

Fantastic story

I was captivated and taken back to 1863! It was as if I was the "fly on the wall" and able to listen to history being made!

Narrator!

Paul Michael is amazing and added a lot to the story. Great all around! Check it out!

Excellent infusion of civilians!

Good second in series story of the western battles! Reader makes it intriguing with his control of various voices. Only complaint is chapter numbering do not match actual progression of the book!

Very good book

What is the best book I have read about the civil war and the siege of Vicksburg Mississippi.