The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
Book Title: The Widow of the South
Author: Robert Hicks
Genre: Historical Fiction, Civil War
My Grade: A-
# of Pages: 418
Summary: Carnton Plantation, 1894: Carrie McGavock is an old woman who tends the graves of almost 1,500 soldiers buried here. As she walks among the dead, an elderly man appears - the same soldier she met that fateful day long ago. Today, he asks if the cemetery has room for one more.
Based on an extraordinary true story, this brilliant, meticulously researched novel flashes back to 1864 and the afternoon of the Battle of Franklin, five of the bloodiest hours of the Civil War. While the fierce fighting rages on Carrie's land, her plantation turns into a Confederate army hospital; four generals lie dead on her back porch; the pile of amputated limbs rises as tall as the smoke house. But when a wounded soldier named Zachariah Cashwell arrives at her house, he awakens feelings she had thought long dead - and inspires a passion as powerful and unforgettable as the war that consumes a nation.
My Thoughts: What an addicting read. A little hard to follow at times, but you're really so enthralled the entire time the difficult bits just fly by.
Though the novel bounces back and forth to different perspectives, it's truly Carrie McGavock that carries the novel, just as she carried so much during and after the Battle of Franklin. An amazingly strong woman, I wonder how much was her real character and how much was added upon by Robert Hicks. As for her relationship with Zachariah, it seemed at times unneccessary and would drag the novel down.
Hick's writing, though, makes up for any character flaws in the novel. I felt that his descriptions and narratives really brought in the nature and attitude of the South near the end of the Civil War. He doesn't vilify anyone in the novel (i.e. Confederates, Union soldiers, blacks, ideals of the south) which is a relief for any reader wanting to read a (relatively) hopeful story of the War.
There's not much else I can say about this book. It's a really excellent and moving read, any fan of historical fiction, especially Civil War fiction should do themselves a favor and pick up this book.
Next Book: I Was A Non-Blonde Cheerleader by Kieran Scott • review
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Author: Robert Hicks
Genre: Historical Fiction, Civil War
My Grade: A-
# of Pages: 418
Summary: Carnton Plantation, 1894: Carrie McGavock is an old woman who tends the graves of almost 1,500 soldiers buried here. As she walks among the dead, an elderly man appears - the same soldier she met that fateful day long ago. Today, he asks if the cemetery has room for one more.
Based on an extraordinary true story, this brilliant, meticulously researched novel flashes back to 1864 and the afternoon of the Battle of Franklin, five of the bloodiest hours of the Civil War. While the fierce fighting rages on Carrie's land, her plantation turns into a Confederate army hospital; four generals lie dead on her back porch; the pile of amputated limbs rises as tall as the smoke house. But when a wounded soldier named Zachariah Cashwell arrives at her house, he awakens feelings she had thought long dead - and inspires a passion as powerful and unforgettable as the war that consumes a nation.
My Thoughts: What an addicting read. A little hard to follow at times, but you're really so enthralled the entire time the difficult bits just fly by.
Though the novel bounces back and forth to different perspectives, it's truly Carrie McGavock that carries the novel, just as she carried so much during and after the Battle of Franklin. An amazingly strong woman, I wonder how much was her real character and how much was added upon by Robert Hicks. As for her relationship with Zachariah, it seemed at times unneccessary and would drag the novel down.
Hick's writing, though, makes up for any character flaws in the novel. I felt that his descriptions and narratives really brought in the nature and attitude of the South near the end of the Civil War. He doesn't vilify anyone in the novel (i.e. Confederates, Union soldiers, blacks, ideals of the south) which is a relief for any reader wanting to read a (relatively) hopeful story of the War.
There's not much else I can say about this book. It's a really excellent and moving read, any fan of historical fiction, especially Civil War fiction should do themselves a favor and pick up this book.
Next Book: I Was A Non-Blonde Cheerleader by Kieran Scott • review
Back to the Book List.