Shaara is also slated to speak during the free, public event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. Refreshments will be available.

The author will discuss the research he undertook in writing the novel, which is the third in a trilogy about World War II. The event is sponsored by the UM Department of History and the campus chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, international honor society for history.

Shaara, son of noted author Michael Shaara, has been called a “master of the war novel,” having written about the Revolutionary War (“Rise To Rebellion,” “The Glorious Cause”), the Civil War (“Gods and Generals,” “The Last Full Measure”) and World War I (“To The Last Man”). The previous two entries in his current World War II saga are “The Rising Tide” and “The Steel Wave.”

“One amazing aspect of the research I have been doing is the amount of material offered to me by World War II veterans and their families,” Shaara said. “Nearly all of this material is unpublished, and thus, unknown. I have been generously gifted with some remarkable stories and extraordinary experiences, many of which make up part of this story. I deeply appreciate those who have been willing to share these wonderful resources.”

For more information or to request assistance related to a disability, call the history department at 662-915-7148.