THREE DAYS

Three Days is the story of the Battle of Gettysburg -- the battle rather than the personalities is the protagonist of what the author calls ""a novel"". In panoramic form, almost too dispassionately for the reader's interest, Longstreet divorces himself from an identifiable point of view. The text is composed of a series of incidents in which now Rebels, now Yankoos, take part- and the characters appear as people, rather than as soldiers. From all walks of life they have come together to fight- (occasional flashbacks give the pictures). Each piece of the jig saw puzzle has its realistic portrayal, brilliantly so at times, but not enough to overrise the innate confusion, due to the inclusion of so numerous a cast of characters. The battle is backdrop to the whole. Some of the incidents emerge an effective vignettes; the curt, candid style is trying in some of the others. A disappointing book for those who expect a good story from Stephen Longstreet, or who are keyed up by the advertising.