Jeffrey M. Shaara
In 1992, during production of the Turner film Gettysburg, based on his father's Pulitzer prize-winning novel The Killer Angels, Shaara became friends with film director Ron Maxwell, who had been close to Michael Shaara for the many years it took to bring The Killer Angels to the screen. After the critical and commercial success of Gettysburg, Maxwell approached Jeff about the possibility of continuing the story, finding someone to write a prequel and sequel to The Killer Angels. After some considerable soul-searching, Shaara decided to try to tackle the project himself. The decision was challenging, as he had no previous experience as a writer.
In 1996, Ballantine Books published Shaara's first novel, Gods and Generals, the prequel to his father's great work. Two weeks after its debut, Gods and Generals leapt onto the New York Times Bestseller List, and rode a fifteen-week wave as a national bestseller. Critics nationwide praised the book. In 1998, the sequel, The Last Full Measure, was published, with the same result: thirteen weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, and universal praise from critics and fans nationwide.
In May 2000, Ballantine Books published Shaara's third novel, Gone For Soldiers, which followed many of the familiar Civil War characters back to their experiences in the Mexican-American War of the 1840s. Received with much critical acclaim, the book became a nationwide bestseller.
Rise To Rebellion, published in 2001, departs from the Civil War era. It is the first of a two-volume story of the American Revolution as seen through the eyes of its key participants, and was also a New York Times bestseller. The concluding volume just released, The Glorious Cause, is Shaara's fifth book.
Jeffrey M. Shaara Facts
Occupation | Writer |
Birthplace | Tallahassee, Florida, USA |
Selected Filmography
Not available. |