Question of the Week: 1/27-2/2/20
Last week Chris Mackowski featured several Civil War historical fiction novels in the series… Do you have a favorite Civil War fiction book?
Last week Chris Mackowski featured several Civil War historical fiction novels in the series… Do you have a favorite Civil War fiction book?
Foote;s “Shiloh,” Bahr’s “Black Flower,” and “Gone With The Wind.”
“The Widow of the South”, by Robert Hicks
“The Killer Angels”, by Michael Shaara
In addition, I have very much enjoyed all of the Civil War novels by Jeff Shaara
I read “Rifles for Watie” when I was a kid and really enjoyed it.
“The Red Badge of Courage” also stands up . . .
I also loved, “Rifles for Watie.” The author interviewed Civil War veterans for the book. It’s a book that I read as a kid, but would like to revisit.
The “Killer Angels” has been my favorite by far.
The Falling Hills by Perry Lentz.
E.L. Doctorow’s “The March.”
That’s a very good read, as well!
GWTW and Widow of the South.
The first that comes to mind is Gone With The Wind, but I also enjoy Civil War historical fiction by author Stephenia McGee and Jocelyn Green. Both devote themselves to the research to make sure all the details are correct (or as close as anyone can get) to the essence of the era.
“Andersonville” by MacKinlay Kantor; I read it at 16 back in 1968 and have been hooked on the Civil War ever since!
The History of Rome Hanks and Kindred Matters, by Joseph Stanley Pennell. Excellent read, not very well known book.
Two thumbs up for Foote’s “Shiloh.”
The Killer Angels, followed by all of Peters’ series. My lovely spouse still sighs over Rhett Butler, however!
Unholy Fire by Robert J. Mrazek, also Gone With the Wind was a great read. The Civil War is by far my favorite era to study and read about, but nobody holds a candle to entertaining me better than Kenneth Roberts in his Revolutionary War novels, Arundel and Rabble in Arms.
Few historical novels, IMHO, are as thoughtful as “Varina” by Charles Frazier
The Judas Field, an account of the Battle of Franklin. I use portions of the book in class and author Howard Bahr’s account of the fighting always registers with the undergraduate students.