Gamble for Victory: The Battle of Gettysburg

Aimed at a young audience with the intention of fostering an interest in history, this volume in the Osprey Graphic History series recounts the most famous battle of the American Civil War. Although its heart is in the right place, this hybrid of textbook and comics-style format suffers from a stiffness of execution that harks back to the pedantic delivery of the most tedious professor. For those unfamiliar with the event, in 1863 President Jefferson Davis, of the Confederate States of America, and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee developed a strategy to invade the North, to force President Lincoln to recall troops to defend the capital and to prevent further depletion of waning Southern resources. When the opposing forces happened to meet in Gettysburg, Pa., the bloody confrontation made its way into the pages of history. Abnett's script, like Verma's art, gets the facts straight without creating much drama. Although this volume may give reluctant readers a window on history, this volume is best avoided by the casual reader. (Sept.)