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Soul of the Lion: A Biography of General Joshua L. Chamberlain

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Although John Pullen recently wrote a biography of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Willard Wallace's 1960 classic remains a highly readible and informative gem. This was an era of great writing about the Civil war, including Bruce Catton's Centenial trilogy and the first two volume's of Shelby Foote's masterpiece. Wallace's writing is equally lucid and his coverage is vast in scope. He devotes nealy as many pages to Chmaberlain's post war career as he does to his heroic years as the Colonel of the 20th Maine and later General. We all know of the heroics of Bowdoin professor (turned military leader) Chamberlain on Little Round Top but he also was instrumental in the final battles near Petersburg at Five Forks and Quaker Road. Despite being wounded (for what seems to be the umpteenth time) he went on to rally his troops. After the war he went on to serve a governor of Maine and President of Bowdoin College. His Presidency of Bowdoin was progressive but troubled. Quite simply, his innovations were ahead of their time thus opposed by many in the Bowdoin community. In politics, he was independent, answering to no bosses and as head of the Maine militia, he put down a near inserection, after a disputed election, without calling out his troops. This is a great book about a great American. I highly recommend it.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is one of the greatest American military heroes of all time. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his courageous leadership of the 20th Maine Volunteer Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, thereby ensuring his place in history. "Soul of the Lion," by Willard M. Wallace, is a well written biography of Chamberlain. With clear and lively prose, Wallace chronicles Chamberlain's early life and career as a professor at Bowdoin College; his rise from command of the 20th Maine to general officer rank in the Union army; and his unfailingly heroic performance in some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, including Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg, and Five Forks.

Wallace also details Chamberlain's post-Civil War career as Governor of Maine (1867-1871); President of Bowdoin College (1871-1883); and unsuccessful businessman. Especially interesting was how Chamberlain, as commander of Maine's militia, saved the state from violent anarchy during the 1880 gubernatorial election.

Despite being well written, "Soul of the Lion" doesn't quite approach the depth found in the best biographies of military leaders. I would have especially appreciated more detailed information concerning Chamberlain's relationships with his family members. This is only a minor reservation, however; "Soul of the Lion" is a good basic survey of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's life, and a highly recommendable book about one of the great Americans of the 19th century.

This is an excellent book by Willard M. Wallace that was first written in 1960. It begins with the family background of the Chamberlain family and its historical roots back in Europe and then goes to the birth of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and details his life story, in which many triumphs and tragedies happened. While this book was written in a "romantic glossy tone", it is an excellent resouce for material about this gallant soldier and his contribution to save the Union at Gettysburg and Petersburg

A man of immense intellect Chamberlain spoke many languages and was a gifted writer and poet. His natural leadership abilities was an inspiration not only to the students at Bowdoin College in Maine, but also to the 20th Maine on the hard fought day of July 2, 1863. This man quite possibly saved the Battle and thus the Union with his suprising and daring charge down Little Round Top thus suprising the men of the 15th Alabama and the rest of Confederate General Evander Law's Brigade.

A true leader, as the book points out, Chamberlain was elected Governor of Maine and in later life was a great speaker at many GAR Reunions.

This is an excellent book and highly recommended to anyone who wants to know more about the brave and amazing Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.

Great biography of a great man. If you want to read about someone to set a standard to how to live your life, read this book. I like how the author covered his entire life both civilian and military. Though Gettysburg made him famous, Chamberlain contributed to alot more to the society he live in. This will stay on my bookshelf as a lifetime read.

I love the book! I had already read the book when I borrowed it from my local library; upon finishing the book I knew I had to own it!
The price was reasonable for a brand new copy of the book and it was shipped and delivered even faster than I had anticipated. I am going to be making many more purchases from Amazon in the near future.

I enjoyed this book at 15, when, after multiple tours of Civil War battlefields and countless re-readings of Killer Angels, I selected Chamberlain as my favorite Union soldier. At 28, I find the prose excessively worshipful. I'm sure the facts are correct but the telling is just a bit too deferential to Chamberlain, who must have had some flaws - though you'd never know it to read this work. It's not a bad place to start, but I am now on the lookout for a more thoughtful and balanced biography.

This is a solid work and easily accessible to even novice readers of biographies like me. Thanks to Wallace's writing, General Chamberlain comes off the pages as a modest, clever, and inspiring leader of men.

Wallace chronicles the life of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain from childhood through death, including Chamberlain's roles as teacher, general, college president, and governor.

Wallace's most fluid writing is found in his retelling of the Civil War, specifically his chapter on Chamberlain's Gettysburg glory. The entire battle is brought to life with vivid realism, and I could almost feel the weight bearing upon Chamberlain's shoulders as he agonized over how to hold Little Round Top "until the last."

Choppy sentences dragged down the rest of the book, making it difficult at times to labor through the pages. Once Chamberlain's military days are over, Wallace's attempts to keep up the reader's interest often fall flat. Chamberlain's life as a school president and as governor of Maine are interesting, but the writing style often leaves one sentence following another in haphazard form.

The scholarship in this biography is evident, and Wallace spares no effort in detailing all the Chamberlain facts he can muster. True students of history will enjoy the factual depth of the book, but seekers of great literature will struggle through many of its chapters. Chamberlain led a fantastic life, and much can be gained by reading of it. I recommend this biography, but with the caveat that you may find yourself skimming many of the later pages.

This is the story of one of the most remarkable combat officers produced during the Civil War. Leading from the front, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was always in the thick of battle. He had fourteen horses shot out from under him before he was finally so badly wounded, shot "clear through" from hip to hip, that he is set aside to die. Yet he recovers to fight again in the closing campaign of the War.

Chamberlain is a hard man to dislike. Joining the Military from his position of Professor of Religion at Bowdoin College when the War breaks out, he saves the Union left at Gettysburg, earning the Medal of Honor, and is involved in most of the battles and major skirmishes fought by the Army of the Potomac in the Eastern Theater. Thought so highly of by Grant and Sheridan, he is appointed to receive the Confederate's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse where he again distinguishes himself by saluting Lee's Army of Northern Virginia during the surrender ceremonies.

Four term Governor of the State of Maine, in 1880, unarmed and alone, he suppresses a mob in the State's capitol that threatened to kill him. He closed his life as President of Bowdoin College, his alma mater, and as acting Port Surveyor at Portland, Maine.

The Civil War produced many genuine heroes on both sides. The State of Maine may have produced the most important one. For without Chamberlain at Gettysburg, the South could have won. As a result, the United States could be two separate nations today.

The biography of Joshua Chamberlin is about a common man who had an extraordinary life as a result of a seminal event at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was a professor in Maine who decided it was his duty to serve his country. He had no military training, but became one of General Grant's most trusted generals. He fought in some of the most terrible battles in the war. For his courage at Gettysburg by turning the Confederates flank on the Little Roundtop with a bayonet charge, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. After the war, he was Maine's governor and statesman until his death. A truly inspiring life story.

Regardless of which book you read about Chamberlain,it is clear he was a man on a level with few.His dignity,valour and devotion to the men who served under him,and the opponents he fought,won him huge respect on both sides.The fact that Chamberlain was chosen to receive the surrender of the Confederate Infantry at Appomattox and his, and his mens, conduct in doing so,cannot be underscored.Read all you can regarding Chamberlain.he set an example for all men to follow. Read also"Killer Angels",a terrific history of the battle of Gettysburg.