Five top books on the life and times of U.S. soldiers

One title on the Barnes & Noble Review's list of five top books on the life and times of U.S. soldiers:

Gettysburg: The Last Invasion
by Allen C. Guelzo

If Beevor's expertise [in D-Day: The Battle for Normandy] is in depicting a soldier's character, Allen C. Guelzo shines when conveying the sensory experience of a soldier going into battle, particularly within a conflict as uniquely devastating as the American Civil War. Consider Guelzo's depiction of troops so unwashed -- giving new meaning to the term "rank" -- that the enemy could actually smell them coming. Guelzo's depictions of the lay of the land - and clouds of gunpowder clouds overhead - set a vivid stage for the Battle of Gettysburg's devastating duel between two halves of a nation divided.

Read about the other books on the list.

Learn more about Gettysburg: The Last Invasion.

Also see: Five best books about war by authors who served.

--Marshal Zeringue