Jeff Shaara

In 1961, the new president John F. Kennendy, inherited an ill-conceived, poorly executed invasion of Cuba that failed miserably and set in motion the events that put the U. S. and the Soviet Union on a collision course that nearly started a war that would have enveloped much of the world. Extensively researched and vividly imagined, The Shadow of War brings to life the many threads that lead to the building crisis between the Soviet Union and the United States in 1962. Told from a multitude of perspectives and voices, from the Russian engineer attempting the near impossible task of building the missile launch facilities in Cuba, to the U. S. Navy commanders who ships are sent to 'quarantine' Cuba, to the Soviet Premier, Nikita Kruschev, desperately trying to maintain a challenging balancing act between the conflicting demands of various powerful forces, to the brothers Kennendy (Bobby and JFK) who can't allow Russia to land nuclear missiles in Cuba, or to appear weak in confronting Kruschev, but keenly understand how close they are dancing to the edge of war. Shaara brings to life all the action and actors, famous and little known, that embodied a war that almost happened, the Cuban Missile Crisis.

From one of the masters of historical fiction, award-wining and bestselling author Jeff Shaara, comes the remarkable tale of a remarkable man, who embodied myth and reality of the country he loved and led: Theodore Roosevelt. In this national bestseller, The Old Lion, Shaara traces the life of one of the most consequential figures in U. S. history, from his earliest days as a sickly child with debilitating asthma, to the vigorous man who lived as powerfully as he did enthusiastically. From his upbringing in the rarefied air of New York society of the late 19th century to his time in rough-and-tumble world of the Badlands in the Dakotas, from his rise from political obscurity to Assistant Secretary of the Navy, from national hero as the leader of the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War to his accidental rise to the Presidency itself, Roosevelt embodied the complex, often contradictory, image of America itself. From his reform of the Civil Service, creation of the National Park System, assertion of 'Big Stick' diplomacy, Roosevelt not only embodied the adventurous image of the rough, unpolished American but he shaped the foundations of the modern country and world. In gripping prose, Shaara reveals the story of the man who both defined and created the modern United States, peeling back the many-layered history of the man, and the country he personified.

In 1961, the new president John F. Kennendy, inherited an ill-conceived, poorly executed invasion of Cuba that failed miserably and set in motion the events that put the U. S. and the Soviet Union on a collision course that nearly started a war that would have enveloped much of the world. Extensively researched and vividly imagined, The Shadow of War brings to life the many threads that lead to the building crisis between the Soviet Union and the United States in 1962. Told from a multitude of perspectives and voices, from the Russian engineer attempting the near impossible task of building the missile launch facilities in Cuba, to the U. S. Navy commanders who ships are sent to 'quarantine' Cuba, to the Soviet Premier, Nikita Kruschev, desperately trying to maintain a challenging balancing act between the conflicting demands of various powerful forces, to the brothers Kennendy (Bobby and JFK) who can't allow Russia to land nuclear missiles in Cuba, or to appear weak in confronting Kruschev, but keenly understand how close they are dancing to the edge of war. Shaara brings to life all the action and actors, famous and little known, that embodied a war that almost happened, the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Jeff Shaara, New York Times bestselling author of seventeen novels as well as a four time winner of the American Library Association's William Boyd Young Award (for excellence in military fiction), returns with one of his finest works yet, The Old Lion: A novel of Theodore Roosevelt. Shaara traces the life of one of the most consequential figures in the U. S. and the world at large, from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, from the waning days of the rough and tumble frontier of a young country, to the forging of the modern country and world power. Roosevelt went from being a sickly child with debilitating asthma to a vigorous life, enthusiastically lived. From his upbringing in New York society of the late 19th century, to his time as a cattle rancher in the badlands of the Dakotas, to his political rise from obscurity to New York City policeman, to Assistant Secretary of the Navy, to the leader of the Rough Riders in the Spanish American war, Governor of New York and his accidental rise to the Presidency. From his reform of the Civil Service, creation of the National Park System, assertion of 'Big Stick' diplomacy, Roosevelt not only embodied the adventurous image of the rough, unpolished American but he shaped the foundations of the modern country and world.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - In a "riveting" (Booklist) tale that picks up where To Wake the Giant left off, Jeff Shaara transports us to the Battle of Midway in another masterpiece of military historical fiction. Spring 1942. The United States is reeling from the blow the Japanese inflicted at Pearl Harbor. But the Americans are determined to turn the tide. The key comes from Commander Joe Rochefort, a little known "code breaker" who cracks the Japanese military encryption. With Rochefort's astonishing discovery, Admiral Chester Nimitz will know precisely what the Japanese are planning. But the battle to counter those plans must still be fought. From the American side, the shocking conflict is seen through the eyes of Rochefort and Admiral Nimitz, as well as fighter pilot Lieutenant Percy "Perk" Baker and Marine Gunnery Sergeant Doug Ackroyd. On the Japanese side, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is the mastermind. His key subordinates are Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, aging and infirm, and Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi, a firebrand who has no patience for Nagumo's hesitation. Together, these two men must play out the chess game designed by Yamamoto, without any idea that the Americans are anticipating their every move on the sea and in the air. Jeff Shaara recounts in electrifying detail what happens when these two sides finally meet, in what will be known ever after as one of the most definitive and heroic examples of combat ever seen. In The Eagle's Claw, he recounts, with his trademark you-are-there immediacy and signature depth of research, one single battle that changed not only the outcome of a war but the course of our entire global history. The story of Midway has been told many times, but never before like this.

A master of epic military fiction, the New York Times bestselling author of To Wake the Giant makes Midway personal as he takes us inside the hearts and minds of the heroes of one of World War II's most pivotal moments. His books have been praised as paeans to the American fighting man (Los Angeles Times) and as pounding with fierce action and human drama, and packed with accurately rendered history (St. Petersburg Times). Now Jeff Shaara recounts in electrifying detail the U. S. Navy's surge to defend its country in what will become known as one of the most definitive and heroic examples of combat ever seen: the Battle of Midway. In this biting new tale, Shaara shares the stories of all ranks and the unique sacrifices each man is compelled to bravely make for the sake of country, freedom, and honor. Featuring his signature depth of research and you are there immediacy, this novel shows once again why Shaara is unequivocally the master of military fiction.

A master of epic military fiction, the New York Times bestselling author of To Wake the Giant makes Midway personal as he takes us inside the hearts and minds of the heroes of one of World War II's most pivotal moments. His books have been praised as paeans to the American fighting man (Los Angeles Times) and as pounding with fierce action and human drama, and packed with accurately rendered history (St. Petersburg Times). Now Jeff Shaara recounts in electrifying detail the U. S. Navy's surge to defend its country in what will become known as one of the most definitive and heroic examples of combat ever seen: the Battle of Midway. In this biting new tale, Shaara shares the stories of all ranks and the unique sacrifices each man is compelled to bravely make for the sake of country, freedom, and honor. Featuring his signature depth of research and you are there immediacy, this novel shows once again why Shaara is unequivocally the master of military fiction.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The master of military historical fiction turns his discerning eye to the Korean War in this riveting novel, which tells the dramatic story of the Americans and the Chinese who squared off in one of the deadliest campaigns in the annals of combat: the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as Frozen Chosin. June 1950. The North Korean army invades South Korea, intent on uniting the country under Communist rule. In response, the United States mobilizes a force to defend the overmatched South Korean troops, and together they drive the North Koreans back to their border with China. But several hundred thousand Chinese troops have entered Korea, laying massive traps for the Allies. In November 1950, the Chinese spring those traps. Allied forces, already battling stunningly cold weather, find themselves caught completely off guard as the Chinese advance around the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. A force that once stood on the precipice of victory now finds itself on the brink of annihilation. Assured by General Douglas MacArthur that they would be home by Christmas, the soldiers and Marines fight for their lives against the most brutal weather conditions imaginable--and an enemy that outnumbers them more than six to one. The Frozen Hours tells the story of Frozen Chosin from multiple points of view: Oliver P. Smith, the commanding general of the American 1st Marine Division, who famously redefined retreat as "advancing in a different direction"; Marine Private Pete Riley, a World War II veteran who now faces the greatest fight of his life; and the Chinese commander Sung Shi-Lun, charged with destroying the Americans he has so completely surrounded, ever aware that above him, Chairman Mao Tse-Tung watches his every move. Written with the propulsive force Jeff Shaara brings to all his novels of combat and courage, The Frozen Hours transports us to the critical moment in the history of America's "Forgotten War," when the fate of the Korean peninsula lay in the hands of a brave band of brothers battling both the elements and a determined, implacable foe. "A military story as dramatic and heroic as any that exists."--The American Interest "The Frozen Hours . . . illustrates again Shaara's mastery. . . . This is fiction and history at their blended best."--Marine Corps Gazette "Marvelously effective storytelling . . . that shows us what warfare feels like both to those who plan campaigns and those who execute them . . . gripping, precisely detailed historical fiction."--Booklist (starred review)

From the First Battle of Bull Run to Lee s surrender at Appomattox Court House four years later, this book celebrates the history and scenic beauty of these hallowed grounds in a large-format, beautifully produced volume. Explore more than thirty Civil War battlefields from Antietam to Chancellorsville, Gettysburg to Shiloh including the first five national battlefield parks preserved by veterans in the 1890s. Each battlefield features extensive photos of the key sites and monuments, as well as beautiful landscapes and historic archival photography. The essays enable the reader to understand each battlefield from a strategic perspective its topography, geography, and military value the battle s seminal moments, and its historical significance, and guide the reader on how best to tour the grounds on foot. With maps, rarely seen archival photos, and stunning contemporary photography, this photo- and information-packed book is an inspirational bucket list for Civil War and history buffs, as well as those who wish to walk in the literal boot steps of American history.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - From Jeff Shaara comes the riveting final installment in the Civil War series that began with A Blaze of Glory and continued in A Chain of Thunder and The Smoke at Dawn. November 1864: As the Civil War rolls into its fourth bloody year, the tide has turned decidedly in favor of the Union. A grateful Abraham Lincoln responds to Ulysses S. Grant's successes by bringing the general east, promoting Grant to command the entire Union war effort, while William Tecumseh Sherman now directs the Federal forces that occupy all of Tennessee. In a massive surge southward, Sherman conquers the city of Atlanta, sweeping aside the Confederate army under the inept leadership of General John Bell Hood. Pushing through northern Georgia, Sherman's legendary March to the Sea shoves away any Rebel presence, and by Christmas 1864 the city of Savannah falls into the hands of "Uncle Billy." Now there is but one direction for Sherman to go. In his way stands the last great hope for the Southern cause, General Joseph E. Johnston. In the concluding novel of his epic Civil War tetralogy, Jeff Shaara tells the dramatic story of the final eight months of battle from multiple perspectives: the commanders in their tents making plans for total victory, as well as the ordinary foot soldiers and cavalrymen who carried out their orders until the last alarum sounded. Through Sherman's eyes, we gain insight into the mind of the general who vowed to "make Georgia howl" until it surrendered. In Johnston, we see a man agonizing over the limits of his army's power, and accepting the burden of leading the last desperate effort to ensure the survival of the Confederacy. The Civil War did not end quietly. It climaxed in a storm of fury that lay waste to everything in its path. The Fateful Lightning brings to life those final brutal, bloody months of fighting with you-are-there immediacy, grounded in the meticulous research that readers have come to expect from Jeff Shaara. Praise for The Fateful Lightning "Powerful and emotional . . . highly recommended."--Historical Novels Review "Outstanding . . . Shaara combines his extensive knowledge of military history with his consummate skill as a storyteller."--Booklist "Readers . . . looking for an absorbing novel will be well rewarded."--The Clarion-Ledger "A great accomplishment and a more than fitting conclusion to Shaara's work on the Civil War."--Bookreporter

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - From Jeff Shaara comes the riveting final installment in the Civil War series that began with A Blaze of Glory and continued in A Chain of Thunder and The Smoke at Dawn. November 1864: As the Civil War rolls into its fourth bloody year, the tide has turned decidedly in favor of the Union. A grateful Abraham Lincoln responds to Ulysses S. Grant's successes by bringing the general east, promoting Grant to command the entire Union war effort, while William Tecumseh Sherman now directs the Federal forces that occupy all of Tennessee. In a massive surge southward, Sherman conquers the city of Atlanta, sweeping aside the Confederate army under the inept leadership of General John Bell Hood. Pushing through northern Georgia, Sherman's legendary March to the Sea shoves away any Rebel presence, and by Christmas 1864 the city of Savannah falls into the hands of "Uncle Billy." Now there is but one direction for Sherman to go. In his way stands the last great hope for the Southern cause, General Joseph E. Johnston. In the concluding novel of his epic Civil War tetralogy, Jeff Shaara tells the dramatic story of the final eight months of battle from multiple perspectives: the commanders in their tents making plans for total victory, as well as the ordinary foot soldiers and cavalrymen who carried out their orders until the last alarum sounded. Through Sherman's eyes, we gain insight into the mind of the general who vowed to "make Georgia howl" until it surrendered. In Johnston, we see a man agonizing over the limits of his army's power, and accepting the burden of leading the last desperate effort to ensure the survival of the Confederacy. The Civil War did not end quietly. It climaxed in a storm of fury that lay waste to everything in its path. The Fateful Lightning brings to life those final brutal, bloody months of fighting with you-are-there immediacy, grounded in the meticulous research that readers have come to expect from Jeff Shaara. Praise for The Fateful Lightning "Powerful and emotional . . . highly recommended."--Historical Novels Review "Outstanding . . . Shaara combines his extensive knowledge of military history with his consummate skill as a storyteller."--Booklist "Readers . . . looking for an absorbing novel will be well rewarded."--The Clarion-Ledger "A great accomplishment and a more than fitting conclusion to Shaara's work on the Civil War."--Bookreporter

Spring 1916, and three great armies - French, British and, on the other side of the wire, German - are locked in a stalemate of mud and blood on Europe's Western Front. On the ground, young British soldiers lose their innocence in the hell that is No Man's Land, while in the skies above the trenches a new breed of warrior, armed with a devastating new weapon, comes of age. As the conflict stretches into its third year, a neutral but woefully unprepared and ill-equipped America is slowly goaded into war. It falls to General John Pershing to galvanise his country's army into readiness and as the first American troops reach the front in 1917, the world waits to see if the tide of a war that has already cost millions of lives can at last be turned. Combining an historian's eye for detail with a novelist's understanding of man's hopes and fears, Shaara carries the reader into the hearts and minds of some of the war's most memorable characters, from the heroic to the infamous, and vividly brings to life one of the greatest conflagrations in human history.