Gods and Generals

Amazon.com

In a prequel of sorts to his father Michael Shaara's 1974 epic novel The Killer Angels, Jeff Shaara explores the lives of Generals Lee, Hancock, Jackson and Chamberlain as the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg approaches. Shaara captures the disillusionment of both Lee and Hancock early in their careers, Lee's conflict with loyalty, Jackson's overwhelming Christian ethic and Chamberlain's total lack of experience, while illustrating how each compensated for shortcomings and failures when put to the test. The perspectives of the four men, particularly concerning the battles at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, make vivid the realities of war.

Book Description

The heartbreaking saga of the years preceding The Killer Angels

"SHAARA'S BEAUTIFULLY SENSITIVE NOVEL DELVES DEEPLY in the empathetic realm of psycho-history, where enemies do not exist--just mortal men forced to make crucial decisions and survive on the same battlefield. . . . [He] succeeds with his historical novel through fully realized characters who were forced to decide their loyalties amid the horrors of their dividing nation."
--San Francisco Chronicle

Download Description

The story of Gods and Generals begins with Michael Shaara, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic The Killer Angels. A native of New Jersey, Michael Shaara grew to be an adventurous young man: over the years, he found work as a sailor, a paratrooper, a policeman, and an English professor at Florida State University. In 1952, his son Jeff was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Michael's interest in Gettysburg was prompted by some letters written by his great-grandfather, who had been wounded at the great battle while serving with the 4th Georgia Infantry. In 1966, he took his family on a vacation to the battlefield and found himself moved.

In 1970, Michael Shaara returned to Gettysburg with his son Jeff. The pair crisscrossed the historic site, gathering detailed information for the father's novel-in-progress. In 1974, the novel was published with the title The Killer Angels. This gripping fictional account of the three bloody days at Gettysburg won Michael Shaara a Pulitzer Prize and a vast, appreciative audience. To date it has sold two million copies.

When Michael Shaara died in 1988, his son Jeff began to manage his literary estate. It was a legacy he knew well, having helped his father create it. When director Ron Maxwell filmed the movie Gettysburg, based on The Killer Angels, he asked Jeff to serve as a consultant. Maxwell encouraged Shaara to continue the story his father began; inspired, Jeff planned an ambitious trilogy, with The Killer Angels as the centerpiece, following the war from its origins to its end.

With Gods and Generals, Jeff Shaara gives fans of The Killer Angels everything they could have asked -- an epic, brilliantly written saga that brings the nation's greatest conflict to life.

The heartbreaking saga of the years preceding The Killer Angels.

"Brilliant does not even begin to describe the Shaara gift. Thank gods and generals that it was passed from father to son."
   ATLANTA JOURNAL & CONSTITUTION

"Lively, fast-paced... A worthy companion to The Killer Angels... Shaara brilliantly charts the war, the exploits of the combatants and their motivations. He also concisely shows how the early parts of the campaign unfolded. His accounts of the battles of Williamsburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville are exciting.... Though the story of the Civil War has been told many times, this is the rare version that conveys what it must have felt like."
   CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

"Shaara's beautifully sensitive novel delves deeply into the empathetic realm of psycho-history, where enemies do not exist -- just mortal men forced to make crucial decisions and survive on the same battlefield.... [He] succeeds with his historical novel through fully realized characters who were forced to decide their loyalties amid the horrors of their divided nation."
   SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

"The battle of Gettysburg featured a cast of characters dramatically and poignantly portrayed in Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels. This new novel by his son Jeff Shaara describes the interconnected paths that brought these men together at this crossroads of our history. Readers of The Killer Angels won't want to miss Gods and Generals."
   JAMES MCPHERSON, AUTHOR OF BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM

Customer Reviews:

I read the Shaara Father Son series backwards and was impressed.......2007-10-20

I just picked this book up at random at a book sale with Killer Angels and started reading it and I couldn't put it down. I'm not a Civil War buff but I did see the movie, Gettysburg, based on the book Killer Angels and watched the Ken Burns civil war documentary. This novel brought some of the most famous civil war generals to life and gave them a human perspective. Names we see at the post office or vaguely remember from high school history class. It creates the mood of a nation in horrible strife through the convergent paths of four individuals who became the military leaders in a horrible war. It paints the different Generals thoughts and the four different points of view drive the narrative.

I liked his depiction of Robert E. Lee with his pragmatic thought processes and his deep morality. This famous general was portrayed as a lonely man, a stranger to his family, who as a career soldier was driven by his duty but torn by his loyalties. Although the battle sequences all seem similar with the armies dug in and unable to run each other over, they bring to life some of the utter confusion, panic , horror of modern warfare. The novel does justice to Lee's military genius as he outmaneuvers the powerful Union Army which outnumbers him 3 to 1.

There is a deeply humanistic aspect to the characterizations of the various generals-Shaara does a good job breathing life into them. Toward the end of the book I was almost moved to tears as Stonewall Jackson dies after receiving wounds on the battlefield at Chancerllorsville. His dying vision is that of his happy young mother,who died in the pious and scholarly general's youth, calling out to him in the field hospital, saying, " Let us cross over the river, and rest beneath the shade of the trees."

A dying vision for a terrible war. Jeff Shaara does justice to the horrors of the Civil War. This was the beginning of modern warfare and was amongst the bloodiest conflicts in human history. There was a terrible toll taken to unify this nation and free the slaves which most of us forget. To some extent I thought the book didn't completely do justice to describing the complexities of the events that drove this nation to war. At the same time the author works with a starkly minimalist prose that is at often times beautiful in describing the landscapes-both physical and mental of the Civil War and four of its main participants.

The book seems to gloss over what the war was really about -slavery and emancipation, but at the same time the men aren't cast as heroes or villains. Only men who bound by there circumstances and their loyalties. The Union Generals McClelland, Pope, and Hooker appear only as buffoons, fodder for Jackson and Lee who are talented leaders and battlefield tacticians. Chamberlain and Hancock rise through the Union ranks and are outsiders to the leadership. Chamberlain a man driven by honor to abandon his family and teaching job to go to war and Hancock the career military man, often at odds with his leadership. For four lonely men, a sense of helplessness prevails and divine providence and destiny are central to each of the four main characters thought processes. Four divergent yet convergent lives drawn together in a conflict where the nation took arms and men marched off to die with little training. A war where men shot their brothers. It gave me a new perspective on the conflict as only a good psycho-history could.

As this book depicts the events leading up to the confederate invasion of Pennsylvania and the subsequent battle of Gettysburg I think I read the books in the right order. Luckily I bought them both together. I am now delving into Killer Angels and this was great background although chronologically they were written in the other order:2000 and 1974 respectively.

How did we ever...................2007-09-01

.....get into such a mess? Actually, that question is approached [not answered; it will never be answered] elsewhere. The Civil War was NOT the fault of the Generals. In Jeff Shaara's prequel to his Dad's "The Killer Angels", the story is, once again, told from the viewpoint of leaders from each side...these men did not want war, and none of them wanted to see the Union broken. All were men of the same time, but of a different place....that was the problem. Winfield Scott Hancock had real feelings of friendship for Lewis Armistead. Robert E. Lee's decision to follow Virginia was not made lightly [and had the Virginia Secession Convention voted to stay in the Union, the war would have been totally different, with Lee leading the North with a clear conscience].

This history of the Civil War up to Chancellorsville is essentially accurate. It isn't "Lee's Lieutenants", but Mr. Shaara has never claimed to be Dr. Freeman. Lee and Hancock were career Army men who had seen promotion pass them by, stuck in a system where leaders were usually in place for life...Chamberlain did his duty, which always seemed to push him center stage...Stonewall Jackson was a misfit with one supreme talent; he knew how to fight...Longstreet was a genius far ahead of his time; the first twentieth century general, fighting the last eighteenth century war. [Bragg and Beauregard were twentieth century officers, too, but they aren't in the book]. McClellan was certainly not the idiot that history has painted him, but Pope and Hooker were. JEB Stuart had flash and style, and he knew how to lead...Hood and Pickett were as different as two men could ever be, but both were fine Generals.

As I said, this is not profound academic history; it's a novel. Still, it's accurate...I don't think I found any real errors of fact. Mr. Sharra has given us realistic portraits of Armistead and Hancock's differing views of duty, Chamberlain's clear-sighted patriotism, Longstreet's frustration, Lee's agony, Jackson's ???...Stonewall was a devout Christian, and a great fighter; my fellow Confederates consider me a heretic for my opinion of Jackson's mental stability, but I stand by it. Maybe the South would have won had Stonewall lived....but, see my review of "The Killer Angels". The cameos of Albert Sidney Johnston and Winfield Scott are certainly true to life.

If you want deep study, go elsewhere; the supply of good, bad, and indifferent books on our Civil War is endless. Look at my other reviews, and you will find books of interest to only a few people on earth. This fine novel is for the other 99.99999% of the population...if you want a good, honest, well-written, basic overview, start right here.

Might have been impressive if written by a high school student.......2007-07-04

I have read the first 60 pages and can see that the rest is likely to be an endurance test. The author reminds me of a very young person whose thoughts and convictions about life are as yet unformed and who isn't quite sure that he has enough to say about them, so he falls into a prose style that goes something like this:

"He walked through the forest, the collection of trees, and he came to a brook, a babbling stream, and thought about his wife, the woman he had married..." etc. The reader is about to scream, to emit a hoarse cry of anguish, from his mouth, the oral cavity. As I said, the writer seems simultaneously haunted by the fear that he may not have enough to say and a sense of being pleased with himself that he has discovered a "thoughtful" and "flowing" style. He doesn't really understand the 19th century, as he shows when he has Robert E. Lee ask Stonewall Jackson, "Will you be obliged to carry me across the river," which is nonsensical; if such a conversation had really happened, Lee would either have asked "Will you oblige me" or have stated "Sir, you will oblige me..."

Fortunately, the Civil War really happened, so one supposes that there must be some grain of reality somewhere in this book, though the author's understanding of it, based on what I have seen so far, is likely to be about on the level of a Hallmark card.

Gods and Generals.......2007-06-28

I enjoyed reading the book,however the chapters near the end of the book were repetitive. It was as if they were repeating themselves. Would I recommend to others to read the book. Yes

A Great Read, but now your committed to the trilogy.......2007-05-09

If you have read and enjoyed Killer Angels, you will enjoy the same styles and characters. But you will have to then read the conclusion book for the Civil War, The Last Full Measure. Also try Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican Warby Shaara, I knew very little about the Mexican campaign and it introduced Grant, Lee and other characters at the beginnings of their military careers.

Life and Campaigns of Stonewall Jackson (Battlefield Evangelism)

Average customer rating:

Life and Campaigns of Stonewall Jackson (Battlefield Evangelism)
Robert Lewis Dabney
Manufacturer: Vision Forum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1929241003

Book Description

Stonewall Jackson. His very name evokes the image of the solid, immovable Confederate general whose sobriquet, earned at the Battle of First Manassas, no longer requires quotation marks. In this volume, Stonewall's pious Christian character, service to the church, unwavering commitment to duty, affectionate role as husband and father, as well as his magnificent service to Virginia are carefully recorded by his close friend Robert Lewis Dabney.

Book Description

Many historians have touched on Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's relationship with African Americans in light of his Christian faith. Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend explores an aspect of his life that is both intriguing and enlightening: his conversion to Christianity and how it affected his relationship with Southern blacks. Covering the origin of Jackson's awakening to faith, the book challenges some widely held beliefs, including the assumption that this spiritual journey did not begin until his adulthood. Furthermore, Richard G. Williams Jr. examines a paradox of Jackson's life: his conversion to Christianity was encouraged by Southern slaves. That faith would one day lead Jackson to minister to other slaves through his Sunday school class.

Exploring in depth Jackson's now famous "Colored Sabbath School," Williams reveals—for the first time—the influence his efforts had on subsequent generations of African Americans. Using original documents, interviews, historical resources, and heretofore unpublished letters and photographs, Williams confirms the veneration with which blacks from Virginia esteemed Jackson, even years after his death—and some to this day. An interview with and photographs of two spiritual descendants of Jackson's black Sunday-school class adds a real-life connection to this fascinating dimension of the famed general's life.

The book also examines Jackson's documented youthful pangs of conscience regarding the illiteracy of American slaves—and how Providence ultimately came to use him to have a lasting and positive impact on Southern blacks.

Customer Reviews:

Engaging and compelling.......2007-05-17

Reviewed by Mark A. Raborn for Reader Views (5/07)

"Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend," Richard G. Williams Jr.'s biographical offering of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, is an intimate and very interesting portrayal of Jackson's Christian efforts and influence on others around him, most remarkably the enslaved Negroes of his era. Expertly written and splendidly researched, Williams reveals a portion of Jackson's character that is predictably amiss in much of modern academia. Indeed, I remember learning about the premature death of Jackson, the brilliant military strategist, who was shot by his own forces; however, I only learned of his enthusiasm for Christ while reading this work.

Williams presents Jackson as a spiritual philanthropist who worked in earnest to bring salvation to his fellow man, relating numerous accounts of his Christian witness to those in bondage. However, this writing is not only a testimony of Christian faith, but a valuable historical chronicle of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's life and character, both as an individual and as a professional soldier. Williams takes the reader into Jackson's world with such clarity and ease that it would seem he was actually there, pen in hand, throughout the journey of Jackson from orphaned child to Major General; through mortality and burial and a legacy of character, faith and bravery that transcends the years.
Of Jackson's work with the Rockbridge Bible Society (the "genesis of Jackson's black Sunday School class"), Williams writes (as quoted from one Robert Lewis Dabney, a contemporary of Jackson): "The free blacks of the quarters, all of whom he had visited in their humble dwellings, and encouraged to give a pittance of their earnings to print Bibles. He argued that these small sums were better spent thus than in drink or tobacco; that the giving of them would elevate their self-respect, and enhance their own interest in the Holy Book."

Williams goes on to write: "One can picture the devout and zealous Presbyterian deacon (Jackson) knocking respectfully and confidently at the door of a free black's shanty, hat in hand, perhaps becoming a little doubtful about soliciting funds from such impoverished members of society. After noticing the poor condition of the humble home, somewhat ashamed, Jackson may have considered turning and walking away before the door opened. Imagine Jackson describing the work of the Bible society to these illiterate blacks: the publication of tracts and books for Sabbath schools and education for the ministry. He would be soliciting donations for reading materials from those who could not read." Scenarios like this certainly offer one a different and, perhaps, a clearer perspective on the life and character of Stonewall Jackson.

Williams' style is engaging and compelling: offering the reader a sense that you really come to "know" Stonewall Jackson as a person, a friend and as a fellow Christian believer. I highly recommend "Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend" to anyone with an interest in extremely well-written historical accounts with an uplifting, positive tone.

Proud to be a Virginian.......2007-04-20

This is an excellent book about a side that most people do not know about Stonewall Jackson. Not only was he a great general, but he was also a great man and christian. I found this book easy to read and really enjoyed it.

Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend.......2007-03-29

I find this book extremely interesting. The other side of General T. Jackson and the work he accomplished within the Confederacy. A must for the students of Stonewall Jackson.

Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend.......2007-01-11

This is an excellent work on the in-depth Christian character of Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson. Mr. Williams has obviously spent countless hours gleaning the information contained in this volume. His interviews with several direct links to the Lexington Colored Sabbath School add just the right touch to tie all the information together.
I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking information on the true character of T.J. (Stonewall) Jackson.

Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend

Average customer rating:

Excellent insight into the way Thomas Jackson became "Stonewall"
History at its Finest.
Great, but needs better maps
AN OUTSTANDING BIOGRAPHY OF LEE'S BEST LIEUTENANT!
PRAYER WARRIOR

Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend
James Robertson
Manufacturer: MacMillan Reference Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0028646851

Amazon.com

A distinguished Civil War historian unravels the complex character of the Confederacy's greatest general. Drawing on previously untapped manuscript sources, the author refutes such long-standing myths as Stonewall Jackson's obsessive eating of lemons and gives a three-dimensional account of the profound religious faith frequently caricatured as grim Calvinism. Though the author capably covers the battles that made Jackson a legend--Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, etc.--he emphasizes "the life story of an extraordinary man." The result is a biography that will fascinate even those allergic to military history.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent insight into the way Thomas Jackson became "Stonewall".......2007-09-13

This is a great book that helps its readers understand how a poor orphan from Virginia became arguably the greatest general in American history.

History at its Finest........2007-07-29

It is clear that this book was a labor of love to its author. Robertson presents Jackson in a fair light that draws out all his eccentricities and quirks while also presenting his military genius and moral fortitude. The book is well written and thoroughly researched. Upon completion of reading this book you will feel that you knew the man.

Great, but needs better maps.......2007-07-08

If you want a thorough and highly readable book on Jackson, this is the one. The prose of its 700+ pages read like a good novel and keep you interested. My only comlaint is with the quality and quantity of maps. There are too few and those that exist lack details. Trying to follow Jackson's travels using the maps is well nigh impossible because most of the places mentioned in the text are not on the few maps present.

AN OUTSTANDING BIOGRAPHY OF LEE'S BEST LIEUTENANT!.......2007-07-08

He may have had humble beginnings in rural western Virginia, but Thomas Jonathan Jackson was destined for greatness. Caring, fearless and compassionate, but also hard, ruthless and cunning, Jackson became one of the greatest leaders in American and world history, and would forever be known as "the Mighty Stonewall."
Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr., one of the country's leading Civil War historians, give us a fascinating look at one of the greatest leaders in American military history. This fascinating account sifts through the legends and myths to present the real Jackson, a man full of paradoxes; a man who could be ruthless and cruel on the battlefield, but was also a devout Christian, and a loving husband and father. Robertson also presents exciting accounts of the battles that made him famous, while also putting us on an emotional level with the man, something that even the best of fiction fails to do sometimes.
Without a doubt, Robertson has written the definitive history of the life of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Historians and non-historians will find much to appreciate. Don't let the epic length scare you away; it's a great read that all should enjoy!
Grade: A+

PRAYER WARRIOR.......2007-05-27

"Yell like Furies!" Stonewall commanded and the most raw and famous, yet to be recorded, most dreaded and terrible battle cry was born.

Robertson's monumental work on Stonewall Jackson will stand the test of time as the most accurate account of this strange, enigmatic, but charismatic VMI professor. His whole life is lovingly told, his character accurately analyzed. His "Bibliography" is 25 pages long, his "Notes" 135 pages. I cried the last two chapters. Do they make men like this anymore? Maybe at West Point where he went to college, but nowhere I've been looking. I cried and cried.

"Shh. The general is praying," one of his barefoot, beloved soldiers would exclaim. And everyone would be still and silent.

I'll always remember the silent, beautiful valley I beheld at Blacksburg, from my motel room early in the morning, before I moved up north to Massachusetts. Little did I know that 15 years later, these silent towns would be terrorized by a lone, crazed college killer at the very college where Professor Robertson teaches Civil War history at Virginia Tech. He is a well decorated Civil War scholar who's received numerous awards for his research. I've read elsewhere that he decided to become a civil war historian during his Air Force tour during the Korean War. "You may be what ever you will resolve to be", is an oft quoted Jackson phrase which can be found in Robertson's "Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims". And so Robertson followed this prescription.

Stonewall Jackson had the most christian command of anyone in the civil war. He hand picked his commanders, many of whom were either ministers themselves or were ministers' sons. "Rejoice in that day when they cast out your name as evil", Christ foretold. I don't think there was ever a more Christ-led soldier that has EVER lived on the face of this earth. Everything Jackson did was accepted by him as G-d's will. G-d's will was sought through daily prayer. Thomas Jonathan Jackson's life was a testimony to His great G-d. He was unassuming in character and dress. He never became arrogant, nor basked in any of his accomplishments, he was simply doing G-d's will. Anyone would have mistaken Jackson as a simple farmer by his bearing as Robertson reveals from soldiers' written descriptions of him. (What a hothead he was in combat though with all that artillery knowledge inside that Scots-Irish noggin). Who in their last hours would talk about the Amalekites in the bible and talk about how soldiers ought to observe the sabbath??!!

I learned in my 7 grade history class that the South had the best commanders on the field. Poor guys. They learned to do much more with much less and manage to scrape by every time while they sent tens of thousands of yankees scrambling for home. I loved J.E.B. Stuart and the contrast so obvious between Stonewall Jackson and himself that Robertson reveals. The colorful cavalryman was the only person who could make Stonewall Jackson laugh when he was about his field command. Stonewall was usually very quiet, focussed, and stern at those times. In Robertson's "Acknowledgments", he mentions that he, Emory Thomas, a J.E.B. Stuart biographer, and several other Civil War historians, meet yearly on the banks of the New River in southwest Virginiia to share their research. Sounds like a grand time to me.

A Union soldier spoke of the problems of command within their ranks. Following their Port Republic fiasco, he wrote that they had 5 commanders all of whom were "equal in rank and envious of each other's reputation. Neither will do anything which would reflect credit on the other. Each one desires all the glory himself." As the union army retreated, Maj. Gen. Freemont cast his last parting shots on the make shift hospitals. Later when Maj. Gen. Shields asked that they be allowed to attend their wounded and bury their dead. Stonewall "tartly refused. The wounded were already receiving care... the dead buried." Jackson then considered it proper to follow with a strong reprimand. "Your wounded were permitted to lay on the field longer than they otherwise would have been had not General Freemont's artillery, hours after the termination of the engagement, not only so fired upon the ambulances and their parties as to drive them from the field. The hospital was also fired upon, notwithstanding it as well as the ambulances were marked by hospital flags.""

What was somewhat new to me was that noone, at least on the southern side, expected a war, if it developed, to last. Most people, like Jackson and Lee, did not like slavery, and what they really fought for was the preservation of their homes. They felt they were invaded and that their self-liberties were being infringed upon in violation of the constitution. Many people did not have slaves, most had a few. Thomas Jackson as a child, being orphaned at a young age, congregated with slave children and even taught one to read who escaped through the underground railroad. I think that of any lies that are propagated by my government the greatest lies revolve around what really happened during the civil war and immediately afterwards. Supposedly, on my father's side I am somehow related to Stonewall Jackson and related to Alexander Hamilton on my mother's side. What's interesting about Hamilton, is that not only did he have southern relatives, but that he predicted, he prophesied that there would probably be a civil war and he was killed in 1804. Jackson predicted a few years before Fort Sumpter that he feared there would be a war and that properties would be taken away. Sound familiar to any of you history buffs? So the civil war is very near and dear to me because these people who marched barefoot for years through snow and sleet and rain fighting a desperate, losing battle are my people.

I love this book. Unfortunately, it was borrowed from a family member's friend who I'm sure would like it back. However, this book would be the premier civil war book within my collection. I loved this book, wish I could keep it.

Colonel John Patton of the 21st Virginia within Jackson's sphere would have a grandson who would follow in Stonewallian marches liberating the beleagured Bastogne and quote the Frenchman Bosuet: "Hands lifted up smash more battalions than hands that strike...And if we go from bad to worse it is simply because we have not prayed".

THE TRUTH HAS BEEN TOLD!!!

Thank you so much Professor Robertson.

Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife

Average customer rating:

The Heart of a Good Man
Captures the Sterling Character of Jackson in His Letters
A Tender Man
Wonderful!

Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife
William Potter
Manufacturer: Vision Forum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Letters & Correspondence | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1929241631

Book Description

He called her "my beloved esposa" because Anna was his dearest love on this earth. Ironically, while the great military exploits of General Stonewall Jackson are studied in military schools the world over and his iron will and stern self-discipline have become legendary, little is said about his remarkable marriage. The real Thomas J. Jackson was a humble Christian and loving husband and father. The tender and instructive letters he wrote to his wife Anna are a model of godly leadership and covenantal faithfulness. From their courtship to their final days together, trace the true story of this remarkable couple through the letters of General Jackson to his bride. Even in the midst of the most arduous military campaigns, Stonewall took the time to send home extensive letters of love and devotion. Through all of this, General Jackson proves himself to be a model example for Christian husbands of the twenty-first century -- especially through his dedication to living for God's glory and trusting in His providential care.

This special edition book features a foreword by Stephen Lang, the actor who portrays "Stonewall" Jackson in the film, Gods and Generals.

Customer Reviews:

The Heart of a Good Man.......2004-04-21

In Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife, Bill Potter presents some of Stonewall's letters to his wife, Anna, written during the war. These letters give a beautiful insight into the mind of the military hero. They show his deep love and respect for his wife, his country and his God.

There are glimpses into their everyday life, as he discusses gardening, tithes, and his consent for one of their slaves to marry. He referrs to Anna as his "dove" or "beloved" or "esposa" and makes it clear that he dearly loves her.

Very little is ever mentioned of the hardships of camplife or war. My guess is that he wished to shield her from that as much as possible. He continually encouraged her to put her faith in God for his protection and reminded her that his life was in God's hands.

His letters show him as a gentle, though strong and steadfast, man, with great respect for others trying hard to live the Christian life. If he treated the troops under his command with the same respect that he seemed to show in all the other aspects of his life, it is no wonder they cheered when they saw him.

Over all, this is a warm, uplifting read that gave me an even greater respect and admiration for Stonewall. It is a nice change to see the private life of a hero match his public life.

Captures the Sterling Character of Jackson in His Letters.......2003-07-21

~Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife~ is a compilation of love letters written by the great Confederate general to his beloved wife. Bill Potter and the Vision Forum have put together a remarkable compilation of letters of the great southern General Thomas Jonathan Jackson better known posthomously after the war as 'Stonewall' Jackson. These letters chronicle Jackson's courtship leading to his marriage with his beloved wife Anna Morrison Jackson as well as the turbulent wartorn years that follow. You really get a feel for the anguish of the soldier on the field-who longs to be at home with wife and child-but realizes he has a duty to country to fulfill. Stonewall stands out not only as a man of brilliant military genius, but as a man of dignity, honor and integrity. He was an accomplished West Point graduate and a renowned professor at VMI. Though he remained a humble and pious man with a deep abiding faith in the Gospel of Christ and a firm steadfast belief in the sovereignty of God. The editor Bill Potter does a remarkable job at offering a cursory background on Jackson and his character. He was an exemplary man of character who loved his wife Anna and his child very deeply. Sadly, he was accidently shot by his own men. But Jackson knew that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to God's purposes (Romans 8:28). (FYI This was one of Jackson's favorite passages of Scripture.) The cover art features a photo shot from the recent blockbuster Gods and Generals of Stephen Lang who played Jackson. I also recommend _Christ in the Camp_, which is a story of religious revival and proclamation of the Gospel during the war between the states by the same publisher.

A Tender Man.......2003-07-15

This book shows how kind and loving Stonewall Jackson was. It is quick reading and easy to understand. It shows you his devotion and shows you the true Stonewall and not the mean and tough person history books portray.

Wonderful!.......2003-05-25

This is a wonderful little book and shows, believe it or not, the "tender" side of General Jackson. While the mere mention of Jackson's immortal sobriquet, "Stonewall," would strike fear in the hearts of Union Army commanders, his wife would one day write of, "...that tender and exquisite phase of his inner life." This book reveals Jackson as a "humble Christian and loving husband father" and bolsters the contention that Jackson is a worthy hero for men and boys today. Buy the book. (Rick Williams, author of "The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen.")

Stonewall: A Biography of General Thomas J. Jackson

Average customer rating:

OK--But Not Great
Extremely Well Sourced
Only Okay
Portrait of a Strange and Brilliant Man
Good Biography on Stonewall

Stonewall: A Biography of General Thomas J. Jackson
Byron Farwell
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0393310868

Customer Reviews:

OK--But Not Great.......2007-07-25

Biography's of great historical figures are frequently given to exaggeration. Farwell set out to give an account of the "real" Stonewall Jackson, rather than an overly ballyhooed legend. In some respects he did that, painting Jackson as an oddball, eccentric, prude, who bordered on insanity. While the book succeeded in painting Jackson as being more human, I felt the overall tone of the book was far too critical and cynical. It seemed every good thing Jackson did was credited to other soldiers or blind luck...while every bad thing Jackson did was blamed upon his ignorance, stubborness, or lack of sleep. In all honesty, I came away from the book wondering if the author had and "ax to grind" against Stonewall Jackson. Overall the book was well written, and would provide a reality check to those who envison Jackson as being super-human. But just as there are numerous puff pieces on Jackson that make him better than he was...I feel this book to be somewhat of a debunking, which makes Jackson look much worse than he was. In reality, he was somewhere in between. He was a good and godly man who had an uncanny ability to lead men in battle. But he was hard to get along with and a little too bull-headed at times. For a much more accurate view, I would suggest "Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend" By James I. Robertson

Extremely Well Sourced.......2007-02-13

This book is a "must read" for everyone looking for a balanced view of Jackson. Farwell's history of Jackson's military exploits and personal shortcomings (as in Florida prior to secession) are well supported by reference to original documents and by the author's personal research.

Only Okay.......2004-11-17

I gave the book three stars for the information but the author's opinions make this book less valuable then it otherwise might have been. For instance he claims the fact that Jackson never lamented his decisions meant he never thought he made a mistake. Jackson wasn't the type of person to go around talking about feelings so no one knows if he did or not. Also the author claims he must have an child out of wedlock and cites sources (just the word sources and not actual people) while at the same time discounting others who claimed the rumors were a lie. The author is just a bit too judgmental and quick to believe things without any proof to back them up. The information may be okay but I found it hard to read with so many of the author's opinions being paraded around as facts.

Portrait of a Strange and Brilliant Man.......2003-10-25

This is an interesting and well-written biography, although not one that I found to be satisfactory on every level. Like John Kennedy and other public figures who died violently at the height of their careers, Stonewall Jackson entered into history in a kind of apotheosis which probably tended to exaggerate his achievements. Aware of the adulatory material that has been written, Byron Farwall is not exactly on a debunking crusade with this book, but he strives so hard for objectivity that readers have to wonder if he errs on the other side and exaggerates the shortcomings of his subject. It's no distortion, of course, to portray Jackson as a quirky personality - the historical record leaves little doubt about that. Like Ulysses Grant, George Pickett, and other military leaders who achieved prominence during the Civil War, Jackson went through West Point with a relatively undistinguished record. A rough country boy with minimal early education, Jackson had to work doubly hard for everything he did accomplish, and he had a reputation for being something of an odd duck and a bumpkin. Two enduring aspects of his nature already apparent at this stage, however, were ambition and a ruthless self-discipline, and he had managed to climb from near the bottom of his class to the top third by the time he graduated. Again like other future Civil War leaders, his first exposure to combat was in the Mexican War, where he was assigned as an artillery officer. He demonstrated a talent for command there, but what marked him more than anything was a utter fearlessness under fire and a hunger to distinguish himself, an objective he accomplished despite what was for Jackson the disappointingly short duration of the war. Assigned later to garrison duty in Florida, his frustrated ambition, no doubt aggravated by boredom, propelled him into petty but vicious conflict with his commanding officer, an ugly little affair in which Jackson revealed his propensity for sustained vendettas against people seemingly out of portion with any real offense. Disillusioned with the peacetime military, Jackson took a job as an instructor at the young Virginia Military Institute. He seemed happy enough in this job, which he held for ten years, even though by most accounts he lacked much talent for it, his stiff manner and inarticulate speech making him unpopular with students. He heard his real calling, of course, with the coming of the Civil War, and he lost no time in seizing the opportunity. It is in the depiction of Jackson's wartime military career that this biography fails for me. It's can't be wholly without reason that Jackson became the legend he did, and Robert E. Lee - nothing if not a judge of military talent - observed that the Southern Cause suffered more from the loss of Jackson at Chancellorsville than it gained from the victory. Yet even though Farwell acknowledges Jackson's "brilliance", even occasionally his "genius", these qualities really don't come alive in the narrative. In describing Jackson's victories, Farwell invariably focuses on the incompetence of his opponents, or on the valor of his soldiers, or on his "luck" in somehow being in the right place at the right time. Except in a couple of episodes, we don't really get a feel for the man in action. In contrast, Jackson's failures, such as during the "Seven Days" campaign in the summer of `62, are placed squarely on his shoulders, recounted for us in the context of his poor planning, rashness, compulsive secrecy, inability to accept advice, and his often dysfunctional relations with peers and subordinates. Farwell does a more balanced job, in my judgment, in depicting Jackson's personality and his private life. We certainly see the vindictiveness, self-righteousness, and eccentricity that often characterized his behavior. But Farwell reveals another side to the man as well. Numerous accounts survive that indicate a great deal of personal warmth and humor when he was relaxing with friends or family. Prior to the war, he spent time in New York and Europe, clearly enjoying cosmopolitan pleasures seemingly at odds with the stereotypical image of him as a dour Presbyterian fanatic. His relationship with his wife, while patronizing by modern standards, was intensely loving and faithful, and fully reciprocal. Apparently based in fact was the odd and touching story portrayed in the recent movie "Gods and Generals". During one lull in the fighting, Jackson spent time at a private home near Fredericksburg, where a little girl attached herself too him, coaxing out of him a playful and kindly side rarely apparent during the war years. To the astonishment of his staff, Jackson wept openly when news came to him later that the child had died of scarlet fever. After being wounded in a nighttime "friendly fire" incident in the very midst of his triumph at Chancellorsville, Jackson had an arm amputated and died from pneumonia contracted during his convalescence. The religious faith which led him to see the hand of God in every victory or defeat, allowed him to approach this painful demise with the same disregard he showed towards the prospect of sudden death in battle. This complex and contradictory portrait of Jackson seems consistent with his nature, and I found this dimension of Mr. Farwell's book to be highly enlightening. While I haven't read other biographies of Stonewall , I imagine that further reading is necessary to get a fully rounded picture of the man's role in the American Civil War.

Good Biography on Stonewall.......2003-10-10

Farwell's biography is a good comprehensive read of one of the most famous Civil War figures and covers many events in his life.

Among the areas Farwell focuses on include:

1. Early childhood (and rough years they were)
2. West Point years(met many future Civil War generals there).
3. War with Mexico (many instances of bravery).
4. Prewar years at VMI (not well-liked by the cadets).
5. Marriages and family life (tragic yet happy years).
6. Religious faith (strong Christian).
7. Early Civil War service (mainly successful)
8. Emergence as a brilliant general (2nd Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, etc.).

While Farwell is sympathetic to his subject, he pulls no punches when describing Jackson's weaknesses (uncommunicative to fellow generals, willingness to hold on to grudges, sometimes cold-hearted).

Book Description

"YOU MAY BE WHAT EVER YOU WILL RESOLVE TO BE."

This was the credo that governed and defined the life of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, perhaps the most extraordinary figure in American military history. From his childhood as an unloved, poorly educated orphan, it was Jackson's pure determination that impelled him from his humble origins. A shy man, with some particularly odd habits, Jackson was an outcast by many standards. But it was his single-mindedness of purpose that landed him a position at West Point where he struggled but ultimately prevailed. It was his unflappable courage combined with an emerging and unshakeable faith in God that led him to distinguish himself in the Mexican-American War. Then, after serving as a professor at the Virginia Military Institute, Jackson rose to true glory during the Civil War where, during the first major battle, he received what is perhaps the most famous nickname in military history. Beloved by his men whom he drove to the limits of endurance, feared and yet admired greatly by his enemies whom he constantly surprised with his brilliant tactics, Jackson was a general who, in the heat of battle, was seemingly blind to his own personal danger. Victory after victory, he allowed himself no personal triumph but would often be seen astride his faithful horse, Sorrel, his hand thrust toward the sky, deep in prayer of thanks to the God who had allowed his cause to prevail.

James I. Robertson Jr., history professor at Virginia Tech and the recognized authority on the life of "Stonewall" Jackson, offers young readers a gripping biography of an extraordinary man.

Customer Reviews:

"Be good, or Stonewall Jackson will get you"........2006-12-04

This, according to a very enjoyable biography by James Robertson, is how Union mothers in the years of the Civil War tried to convince their unruly children to behave. It is one of many fascinating stories in the incredible life and military career of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

I have always heard Jackson described as "Lee's right hand" and "the Confederacy's greatest general". I have never studied exactly how he came to gain this reputation, nor considered how much it was deserved. While I was reading this book, I came across a military history magazine with the cover story (I think this is how they phrased it) "How Strange WAS Stonewall Jackson?" After finishing this biography, I'd have to say "pretty darn strange". He was a man of mediocre intellect but exceptional drive. He had a religious faith of childlike simplicity to which he was entirely devoted, and which left him utterly convinced that he was called to military service. He behaved with reckless courage in many battles, in part because he seems to have found it inconceivable that God would let him be injured. He fought for the South, and believed slavery was part of God's plan, but he was a devoted teacher of religion and literacy to slaves in his home church. He drove his men on such fast forced marches that they took to calling themselves "foot cavalry", yet they loved him like a father. He was a stern disciplinarian with students a Virginia Military Institute, yet a pushover with young children. The contradictions continue for most of the book.

I struggled to decide how to rate this. I think the reader most apt to enjoy this would be one with an interest in history , but enough unfamiliarity with the details of the key Civil War battles that this would not seem redundant. I think a avid fan of such histories would still get enough out of this to find it worthwhile. I think that a reader not in those two categories might be somewhat put off by Jackson's strangeness, but would still be rewarded with a fast-paced look at the details of a great American's life. I give it four stars, and I'd go to 4 and 1/2 if I could.

All Things for Good: The Steadfast Fidelity of Stonewall Jackson (Leaders in Action Series)

Average customer rating:

Great book within a great series.
Stonewall Jackson and his personal relationship with God

All Things for Good: The Steadfast Fidelity of Stonewall Jackson (Leaders in Action Series)
J. Steven Wilkins
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1581822251

Book Description

Dubbed "Stonewall" following the battle of First Manassas in July 1861, Thomas Jackson has long been revered as a brilliant military leader and tactician and as one of the most adroit Confederate commanders. The man himself is a study in contrasts: justifiably feared by his enemies and completely beloved by his men.

J. Steven Wilkins examines the life and character of Jackson. His research reveals a man humble and sincere in his Christian faith, which stands in stark contrast with the general's reputation as a ferocious warrior.

Shortly after his graduation from West Point in 1846, Jackson served in the Mexican War in 1848, where he became one of the most decorated heroes of the conflict and received promotion to the brevetted rank of major. He left the army in 1851 to accept a teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute, resigning his commission in the army a year later. In 1859 he led a contingent of cadets to maintain order during the trial and ensuing execution of John Brown. When Jackson departed VMI in 1861 to join the Confederate army, he was immediately commissioned a colonel and within months was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Mortally wounded by friendly fire in May 1863, he "more than anyone else, personified the compelling and the virtuous in what the subsequent generation would label `The Lost Cause'"—James I. Robertson Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Great book within a great series........2007-03-14

First let me say that the "Leaders in Action" series is tremendous (check the rest of them out--Robert E. Lee, Winston Churchill, Teddy Roosevelt, William Wilberforce and more). They are biographies which deal not only with facts, but also with the character and faith of historical figures. Every school age child should read these books and take these role models to heart.

The great thing about this book is that it gives a solid summary of Stonewall Jackson's life and history as well as a thorough examination of his faith and values. If you can believe it, I was almost brought to tears by the account of his death. Especially for Civil War buffs--this is a must read.

Stonewall Jackson and his personal relationship with God.......2006-01-09

This is an excellent look inside the life of Thomas Johnathan "Stonewall" Jackson.

Reverend Wilkins does an excellent job of researching first-hand accounts of the important events that occurred during Jackson's life and how they refined him into the man that God made him.

Average customer rating:

Selling Out? Hardly!
Essays cover various aspects of well known campaign
Another essay collection from Gary Gallagher

The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862

Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 080782786X
Release Date: 2007-01-02

Book Description

In eight new essays, contributors to this volume explore the Shenandoah Valley campaign, best known for its role in establishing Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's reputation as a Confederate hero.

In early 1862, Union troops under George B. McClellan had arrived within range of Richmond and threatened to take the Confederate capital. Robert E. Lee ordered Jackson to march north through the Shenandoah Valley, hoping to tie down Federal forces that might otherwise reinforce McClellan's troops. The strategy worked, and for two months the Confederates evaded and harassed their Union pursuers. Jackson's speed and audacity boosted plummeting Southern morale, and he emerged from the Valley as the Confederacy's greatest military idol.

Contributors address questions of military leadership, strategy and tactics, the campaign's political and social impact, and the ways in which participants' memories of events differed from what is revealed in the historical sources. In the process, they offer valuable insights into one of the Confederacy's most famous generals, those who fought with him and against him, the campaign's larger importance in the context of the war, and the complex relationship between history and memory.

Contributors include Jonathan M. Berkey, Keith S. Bohannon, Peter S. Carmichael, Gary W. Gallagher, A. Cash Koeniger, R. E. L. Krick, Robert K. Krick, and William J. Miller.

Customer Reviews:

Selling Out? Hardly!.......2006-03-26

I read with incredulity the review that accused Gary Gallagher of "selling out" because he has steadily broadened his "Military Campaigns of the Civil War" series to incorporate more political, social, and cultural context. Wars do not occur in a vacuum, and the direction of Gallagher's series has shown both scholarly growth and real leadership.

Too much Civil War history falls into two categories. First, the category of operational/tactical studies -- narratives of combat for its own sake, usually with no sense of a larger military context (for instance, whether the ranges of engagement in a given battle better support the argument that the rifled musket had a revolutionary impact, or whether the fighting was essentially just incrementally different from Napoleonic combat). Second, the category of political and social histories that virtually ignore the fact that the Civil War was, indeed, a *war.*

Gallagher is one of the finest examples of a Civil War historian determined to bring these two categories into active conversation with each other. He has trained some of the best young Civil War historians we have, and has influenced them to look seriously at the intersection of military, political, social and cultural developments. One of his proteges, Bill Blair of Penn State University, has revitalized _Civil War History_, the flagship journal of the field, and Gallagher's two series for University of North Carolina Press--"Civil War America" as well as "Military Campaigns of the Civil War" -- regularly showcase up and coming historians as well as established ones. He is, I would argue, the most important single scholar shaping the field today.

I don't mind seeing historians criticized. That's part of the business. I don't even mind people who don't know what they're talking about, like the author of the "sell-out" comment. I do mind it when people can't express their opinions in a civil manner.

What's truly weird is that Gallagher's essay in this volume is a classic bit of strategic command-level analysis, while Bob Krick -- whom the "sell-out" reviewer praises for doing "pure" military history -- here contributes an essay on the development of Stonewall Jackson's public image.

It makes you wonder if the guy even read the book.

Oh, and one last thing: Mr. Sell-Out seems to think it's easy to edit a volume of essays. In my experience, it's as difficult as writing a book of one's own, and sometimes more so.

-- Mark Grimsley, author of _The Hard Hand of War_ and a specialist in military history at The Ohio State University

Essays cover various aspects of well known campaign.......2003-08-27

With this book, Gary Gallagher continues his efforts to add details to well known Civil War campaigns by compiling essays from a variety of authors. In Gallagher's opinion, most Civil War battles have already been covered well enough by one author or another in narrative form. Thus, the challenge becomes, how can greater detail and insight be presented without simply rehashing the same facts and figures of previous works. His campaign series takes the approach that it would be interesting to have noted Civil War historians present detailed essays about various military aspects of a certain campaign. Typically, these books have resulted from summertime battlefield tours that Dr. Gallagher offers through his university history department (first with Penn State, and now with UVa).

The Shendandoan Valley Campaign of 1862 is somewhat different than previous installments of this series for two main reasons. First, even Gallagher admits that a great overall narrative of this campaign has not been written. Most people know of the campaign, but they do not really know the details of what happened. I fall into this category. I know the basic plot of Stonewall Jackson helping save Richmond through his military exploits and victories against a handful of bumbling Union generals in the Shenandoan Valley. These essays have definitely helped broaden my understanding of what actually occurred.

Secondly, as a previous reviewer mentioned, this book does not have much of a military focus. Instead, it covers a wide gamut of topics. I like the variety and enjoyed most of the essays, but I must admit that a few of them seem somewhat misplaced in a military campaign series. The first few essays discuss Jackson's success, and the impact it had on Union plans, and I would have like to see more of these type essays included. That is my main criticism of the book. Although I found all eight essays well written, at least two of them were not very interesting.

Despite its flaws, I still recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about this campaign. If you are looking for a book that details the various battles fought during the campaign, this is not the right book for you. But, if you are looking for a broad perspective of the campaign, and how it impacted those involved (soldiers, generals, civilians, and government leaders), then you will be pleased by the contents of this book.

Another essay collection from Gary Gallagher.......2003-07-23

Back in the mid-90s, Gary W. Gallagher made a name for himself collecting a series of essays on the battle of Gettysburg. They were more than just histories of parts of the battle. For one thing, the authors looked into various parts of the battle that bad been neglected or misinterpreted, and reexamined things that were taken for granted. For another, the authors examined subjects that hadn't been written about before. One essay even looked into the historiography of Pickett's Charge, and why it was viewed the way it was by the participants.

Since then Gallagher's been doing these at approximately the rate of one a year. All of the campaigns covered so far have been in the Eastern Theater, and all have been relatively well-covered in more comprehensive books. This volume, dealing primarily with Stonewall Jackson's campaign in the Shenandoah in 1862, is something of a departure for the series. The author admits that there's no comprehensive study of the campaign from both sides, and then apologizes half-heartedly for this entry to the series, which devotes most of its attention to the Confederates. Frankly, I don't think that's neccessary. I'm no Southerner, but to be honest, the Yankees in this campaign aren't that interesting. Stonewall, on the other hand, is fascinating, warts and all.

The essays cover a wide range of subjects, and cover them well, for the most part. One deals with Lincoln the war president responding to the crisis in the Valley, another is devoted to Jackson's image and what it meant to the South. One looks at Ashby's image also (this is a common theme in the series, what things meant to the participants, and how they changed history in order to suit their preconceptions), while two other essays examine how the common people looked at the campaign, one following a particular Confederate regiment, the other the civilians in the path of the campaign. Another essay is a brief biography of Charles S. Winder, the commander of the Stonewall Brigade for part of the campaign, while the last image deals with the court martial of Richard B. Garnett. Of all the essays, only the Garnett one is inadequate, with the author plowing little new ground, and basically rehashing what we already know: Jackson couldn't stand to be contradicted, even when he was demonstrably wrong.

The series has gotten away from the battlefield pretty much entirely now. I'm not sure I like this development. I did like it that the series spent some time paying attention to things that weren't directly related to the fighting, but I also enjoyed the battlefield analysis. I'm afraid I am a bit perturbed that Gallagher has gone as far as he has. That doesn't however mean I don't recommend the book; just that I wish he would balance things a bit more.

Average customer rating:

fine police procedural investigation

Stonewall Jackson's Elbow: An Owen Allison Mystery (Five Star Mystery Series)
John Billheimer
Manufacturer: Five Star (ME)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Highway Robbery (Owen Allison Mysteries)

Drybone Hollow

Dismal Mountain (Worldwide Library Mysteries)

Contrary Blues

The Watchman: A Joe Pike Novel (Joe Pike Novels)

ASIN: 1594144621

Customer Reviews:

fine police procedural investigation.......2006-10-14

The Feds are embarrassed when they audit the books of the First national Bank of Contrary, West Virginia as $750,000 is missing. They would like to go after bank President J. Burton Caldwell, a favorite of Wall St. but he died recently, which is the only reason federal bank examiners got to look at the books. The Federal Deposit Insurance Company knows they must pay back investors so they decide to auction the bank's only assets, the items in Caldwell's Museum of Fakes and Frauds.

At the auction, all sorts of fakes go to the highest bidder, but only one item brings in any money, a woman who buys several items. Not long afterward, that same lady dies in a car crash at nearby Devil's Hairpin. Soon afterward the museum curator Victoria Gallagher vanishes. Raleigh County Sheriff Thad Reader asks divorced failure analyst Owen Allison to look at the car accident scene; Owen concludes a homicide occurred. Soon he and other winning bidders are under attack by an unknown assailant for an unknown reason as all he bought was a cheap box of baseball cards for sixteen years old orphan Jeb Stuart Hobbes.

As with the four previous appearances Owen is a terrific lead character, the support cast is solid and realistically portrayed, especially the locals, and the mystery subplots tie together quite nicely in this fine police procedural investigation. However, the novel is owned by the fascinating Museum of Fakes and Frauds with each chapter opening with a fun paragraph on a particular hoax. John Billheimer entertains mystery fans with this lighthearted salute to Pt Barnum.

Harriet Klausner

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books