Now, Jeff Shaara brings this legendary father-son trilogy to its stunning conclusion in a novel that brings to life the final two years of the Civil War.

As The Last Full Measure opens, Gettysburg is past and the war advances to its third brutal year. On the Union side, the gulf between the politicians in Washington and the generals in the field yawns ever wider. Never has the cumbersome Union Army so desperately needed a decisive, hard-nosed leader. At this critical moment, Lincoln places Ulysses S. Grant in command—and turns the tide of war.

For Robert E. Lee, Gettysburg was an unspeakable disaster—compounded by the shattering loss of the fiery Stonewall Jackson two months before. Lee knows better than anyone that the South cannot survive a war of attrition. But with the total devotion of his generals—Longstreet, Hill, Stuart—and his unswerving faith in God, Lee is determined to fight to the bitter end.

Here too is Joshua Chamberlain, the college professor who emerged as the Union hero of Gettysburg—and who will rise to become one of the greatest figures of the Civil War.

Battle by staggering battle, Shaara dramatizes the escalating confrontation between Lee and Grant—complicated, heroic, deeply troubled men. From the costly Battle of the Wilderness to the agonizing siege of Petersburg to Lee’s epoch-making surrender at Appomattox, Shaara portrays the Civil War’s riveting conclusion through the individuals’ minds and hearts who gave their last full measure. The Last Full Measure is the fitting capstone to a magnificent literary trilogy, full of human passion and the spellbinding truth of history.

I’m not concerned about General Burnside right now. I’m much more concerned with how far Lee will let us go before he does something.

The Last Full Measure is a historical novel that attempts to capture the essence of the American Civil War through vivid storytelling and detailed characterizations. While the book showcases the author’s meticulous research and commitment to authenticity, it falls short in terms of narrative structure and character development.

One of the main issues with the novel is its pacing. The story often feels disjointed, jumping between different perspectives and time periods without a clear sense of direction. This hampers the reader’s immersion and makes it difficult to fully engage with the plot. Additionally, the character development is lacking, with many of the protagonists feeling one-dimensional and lacking depth. It becomes challenging to form an emotional connection with them, ultimately diminishing the impact of their actions and sacrifices.

Furthermore, the author’s writing style can be overly verbose and descriptive, bogging down the narrative flow. While detailed descriptions can enhance the reader’s understanding of the historical context, an excessive amount of it becomes tedious and distracts from the story itself.

Despite these shortcomings, The Last Full Measure does offer valuable insights into the complexities of the Civil War. The author’s research is evident in the accurate portrayal of historical events and the depiction of the war’s impact on individuals. However, a stronger focus on compelling storytelling and nuanced character development would have made this novel a more engaging and memorable read.