Author. He is best remembered for his 1974 novel “The Killer Angels”, which won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and in 1993 was released as the movie, “Gettysburg.” The son of Italian immigrants, Shaara graduated from Rutgers University knowing that his life’s ambition was to be a writer. By the 1950s, he had written and published a number of short stories for such magazines as Redbook and the Saturday Evening Post. In 1952, his son, Jeff, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In the mid-1950s, he became an English professor at Florida State University. His interest in the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg began with the discovery of some letters written by his great-grandfather, who had served in the 4th Georgia Infantry during the battle. Visiting the Gettysburg battlefield in 1966 made Shaara determined to write the dramatic story of the battle, which he entitled, “The Killer Angels.” He incorporated all known dialogue that the principles spoke during the battle, then logically filled in dialogue that could have been spoken, to complete the missing parts of the story. Because of this, it was considered a historical work of fiction. After 15 publishers, the David McKay Company published it. Eight months later, in 1975, the book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, surprising everyone. In 1981, he published his next novel, “The Noah Conspiracy.” In 1990, Ted Turner agreed to make the movie. But Michael Shaara had died of a heart attack in 1988. His last book, “For Love of the Game” was published after his death, in 1991.
Author. He is best remembered for his 1974 novel “The Killer Angels”, which won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and in 1993 was released as the movie, “Gettysburg.” The son of Italian immigrants, Shaara graduated from Rutgers University knowing that his life’s ambition was to be a writer. By the 1950s, he had written and published a number of short stories for such magazines as Redbook and the Saturday Evening Post. In 1952, his son, Jeff, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In the mid-1950s, he became an English professor at Florida State University. His interest in the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg began with the discovery of some letters written by his great-grandfather, who had served in the 4th Georgia Infantry during the battle. Visiting the Gettysburg battlefield in 1966 made Shaara determined to write the dramatic story of the battle, which he entitled, “The Killer Angels.” He incorporated all known dialogue that the principles spoke during the battle, then logically filled in dialogue that could have been spoken, to complete the missing parts of the story. Because of this, it was considered a historical work of fiction. After 15 publishers, the David McKay Company published it. Eight months later, in 1975, the book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, surprising everyone. In 1981, he published his next novel, “The Noah Conspiracy.” In 1990, Ted Turner agreed to make the movie. But Michael Shaara had died of a heart attack in 1988. His last book, “For Love of the Game” was published after his death, in 1991.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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