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Author Gary E. Parker presents an intimate view of the US Civil War and the harrowing personal challenges faced by the men and women affected by it. Based on the true story of his friend's ancestor, James Booth, Parker adds many other characters, real and imagined, into the tale: states-rights patriots and paid substitutes, career soldiers, war profiteers, black and white Union prisoners of war, and disillusioned or practical-minded deserters, accompanied by the women who stand by them or put up with them, depending upon status. The individual journeys of the primary protagonists lead them to Blue River, a fictional town in northwest Georgia that is home to some and a karmic destination for others.
The shifting opinions and realizations of these characters not only play out against the sweeping backdrop of the Civil War but are also deeply intertwined with the action as the final, brutal months of the Confederacy unfold. The choices each character makes influence their life far beyond the physical battlefield. Some decisions are the inevitable result of direct experience that contradicts their original beliefs, such as the observation by Confederate Colonel Axel Strong that "the hug of a black man felt exactly the same as one from a white."
This title is a tour de force by a prolific author with well-developed writing chops, adding some luster to the already illustrious body of Civil War fiction meant to educate and entertain readers, some of whom might not be motivated to absorb historical nonfiction accounts of the war. The award-winning author's stellar writing, his firm grasp of plot and character development, an innate sense of human nature, and good research converge to make this tale one that will enthrall both Civil War enthusiasts and eclectic readers who simply appreciate a thoughtful, compelling story.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review