The Story
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain has been a central character in two feature films (Gettysburg and Gods & Generals), a Pulitzer Prizewinning novel (The Killer Angels), and an inspiration for Ken Burnss production of the highly acclaimed PBS series The Civil War. Chamberlain won national fame at the Battle of Gettysburg for his key role in fending off the Confederates at Little Round Top on day two of the battle.This new volume brings to public light 300 neverbeforeseen letters from Chamberlains personal correspondence, which comprises letters sent by or to Chamberlain from his college years in 1852 to his death in 1914. The first 100 letters shed light on Chamberlains formative years and his courtship with Fannie Adams, which has been the source of much speculation by scholars. The final 200 letters reveal insights into Chamberlain the Union commander and the aftermath of the war.Chamberlains image can be found on everything from historical art to sculpture, from tshirts to clocks, from bobblehead dolls to snow globes. Despite all this attention, there is still a lot about Chamberlain that most people do not know. His life is a remarkable story of perseverance, tragedy, and triumph. From an insecure young man with a considerable stuttering problem who grew up in a small town in eastern Maine, Joshua Chamberlain rose to become a major general, recipient of the Medal of Honor, Governor of Maine, and President of Bowdoin College. His writings are among the most oftquoted of all Civil War memoirs, and he has become a legendary, even mythical historical figure.Historian and acclaimed author, Thomas Desjardin, puts Chamberlains words in contemporary and historical context and uses this extraordinary collection of letters to revealfor the first timethe full and remarkable life of Joshua Chamberlain. Readers will find this unique portrait of Chamberlain to be entertaining, moving, and inspiring.
Description
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain has been a central character in two feature films (Gettysburg and Gods & Generals), a Pulitzer Prizewinning novel (The Killer Angels), and an inspiration for Ken Burnss production of the highly acclaimed PBS series The Civil War. Chamberlain won national fame at the Battle of Gettysburg for his key role in fending off the Confederates at Little Round Top on day two of the battle.This new volume brings to public light 300 neverbeforeseen letters from Chamberlains personal correspondence, which comprises letters sent by or to Chamberlain from his college years in 1852 to his death in 1914. The first 100 letters shed light on Chamberlains formative years and his courtship with Fannie Adams, which has been the source of much speculation by scholars. The final 200 letters reveal insights into Chamberlain the Union commander and the aftermath of the war.Chamberlains image can be found on everything from historical art to sculpture, from tshirts to clocks, from bobblehead dolls to snow globes. Despite all this attention, there is still a lot about Chamberlain that most people do not know. His life is a remarkable story of perseverance, tragedy, and triumph. From an insecure young man with a considerable stuttering problem who grew up in a small town in eastern Maine, Joshua Chamberlain rose to become a major general, recipient of the Medal of Honor, Governor of Maine, and President of Bowdoin College. His writings are among the most oftquoted of all Civil War memoirs, and he has become a legendary, even mythical historical figure.Historian and acclaimed author, Thomas Desjardin, puts Chamberlains words in contemporary and historical context and uses this extraordinary collection of letters to revealfor the first timethe full and remarkable life of Joshua Chamberlain. Readers will find this unique portrait of Chamberlain to be entertaining, moving, and inspiring.
