Gettysburg

A Novel of the Civil War

By: Newt Gingrich, William R. Forstchen

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Length: 17 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and veteran author William R. Forstchen combine their talents in this powerful and rousing alternate history of the most legendary Civil War clash.

After two days of brutal combat, Confederate General Robert E. Lee is faced with an agonizing decision. He can either launch a frontal assault directly at the center of Union lines, or he can flank the Federals and attack from the rear. Choosing the second option, Lee sends his troops around the Union army, cutting them off from Washington, D.C. and their supplies. Staring at the face of disaster, the Federals are forced into a desperate fight to survive.

Gettysbury is a fascinating "what if?" novel that faithfully brings to life the major players in America's greatest battle and places them in an entirely plausible scenario. Through Tom Stechschulte's stirring narration, listeners will marvel at what could have been.

©2003 Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Well-executed alternative history....The novel has a narrative drive and vigor that makes the climactic battle scene a real masterpiece of its kind." (Publishers Weekly)

F***ing Awesome

I've been a Civil War history buff since I was a kid. I give it five stars across the board because it was an excellent novel. The failures are Gettysburg by Lee and his generals have always been a stick in my craw, and every time I watch Gettysburg or watch documentaries, I keep wishing it'll be different, not because I'm sympathetic to the Confederacy, but because the tactical mistakes were so blatant I found it perplexing that they happened at all, and the solutions to those mistakes were equally apparent. Well, in this book I got a satisfying action that actually made sense, and being written by historians everything was accurate, down to the personalities of the generals, thus what their most realistic decision might have been. Five stars, because finally the mistakes have been reversed.

The narration makes it easier to follow along.

The narrator's accents for different characters made the story easier to follow. Whether reading the physical book or listening to this audio book, the story is challenging to keep up with, overall.

Wonderfully Crafted

Not usally so generous with the stars but I couldn't stoping listening to this novel.I am a big fan of alternate history and the what if concept. I hope that the Authors continue this line of thinking. This listen will grab you and take you in right from the start. Even if you are not a great reader of historical books the Authors make it interesting. I found myself wanting the outcome to be different and it does make you wonder what Lee was actually thinking so many years ago. Well I am off to get the next book and hope these Authors continue this type of work.

Not a Newt fan but book is 5 stars

I hesitated to by this alternate history novel since I am a Staunch Democrat and this novel wass by Newt Gingrich. Never really took him for the fiction kind of guy, but WOW! What a piece of work. Compelling, accurate, entertaining, vivid, couldn't put it down. Just bought Grant Goes East 5 minutes after I finished this one. DO NOT MISS IT.

Loved it!

Having read many other depictions of this battle, I found this to be a more likely scenario of Lee's actions...

Excellent Book

Excellent story and narration. The twists and turns of this alternative history present a plausible answer to the question, what if Lee had not attacked on the second and third day at Gettysburg. Even in the time of the Civil War, it was extremely difficult for an army to cross an open field to assult an enemy without getting shot to pieces.

Truth is better than fiction

While it is clear from the beginning that this was fiction, it is well enough written that one wonders why the authors didn't just right the true story. it is more compelling than the "active history" touted at the beginning. I will go back to real history on my next read.

History comes to Life

An excellent story of the Battle of Gettysburg. The horrors of war described in graphic detail and the circumstances for the decisions. The story also gives me a new perspective of the petty foolishness we currently occupy ourselves.

The narration is excellent well fitting the gripping story. I recommend this novel.

Very well written

This fictitious story about the battle of Gettysburg was captivating. but for me disappointing in that the story ended with a Southern victory.

Active History

Very well done! If only Lee would of listened and then who knows what may have happened. But it’s in the books now of how it turned out.