DescriptionThey came by boat from a starving land, and by the Underground Railroad from Southern chains, seeking refuge in a crowded, filthy corner of hell at the bottom of a great metropolis. But in the terrible July of 1863, the poor and desperate of Paradise Alley would face a new catastrophe, as flames from the war that was tearing America in two reached out to set their city on fire.
DescriptionIn the winter of 1862, during the seemingly endless nightmare of the Civil War, a small miracle occurred. Just after Christmas, on the eve of the bloody battle of Stones River in Tennessee, the Union and Confederate armies set up camp within shouting distance of one another. To raise their spirits, they began a volley of patriotic tunes: "Yankee Doodle" drowned out by "Dixie". Then, during a pause, a Union band struck up the wistful strains of "Home Sweet Home". A Confederate band chimed in, and soon every regimental band and every soldier, Rebel and Yankee alike, had swelled the chorus. This bittersweet moment is the centerpiece of James McIvor's portrait in miniature of a country weary of war. Filled with soldiers' letters, marked by humor, yearning, and courage, as well as Christmas poems and songs from the period, this is a tale of unabashed holiday spirit for our own divided nation.
DescriptionRichard Peck is a master of stories about people in transition, but perhaps never before has he told a tale of such dramatic change as this one, set during the first year of the Civil War. The whole country is changing in 1861, even the folks from a muddy…
DescriptionWith the sweeping intensity of a master storyteller, best selling author John Jakes brings the Civil War to life in the epic Love and War, the second volume in the North and South Trilogy . In a land ravaged by war, two unforgettable families - the Hazards and the Mains - find their destiny in the searing struggle that surrounds them. From the carnage of battle to the shadows of espionage and the glory of love, this haunting saga weaves fact and fiction into a tapestry of emotions that captures the compassion, heartbreak, and courage of characters who found themselves a part of the infamous war between the states that would eventually divide the nation.
DescriptionJane Langton returns with another mystery in her 30-year-spanning series about the frumpy but sagacious detective, Homer Kelly. Of the battlefield at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln said, "The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract." Most of the Harvard men who were killed at Gettysburg died as valiant heroes. But according to Mary Kelly's family lore, one of her ancestors was a deserter, unworthy of the noble words in Lincoln's peroration. In setting out to clear her ancestor's name, Mary and her husband, the brilliant and lovable Professor Homer Kelly, uncover what may have been a very dastardly deed indeed. Through wit and scrupulous research, they illuminate this dark corner of Kelly family history.
DescriptionJoin John Jakes, the godfather of the historical novel, as he takes you back in time, to the America that once was. The Civil War may be over, but the battles between the Hazards and the Mains have only just begun. Meet the two families whose fates are irrevocably intertwined, and get to know them as they rebuild their lives in the wake of the most devastating war this country has ever seen. As they struggle to restore peace to their homes and hearts, these two proud families discover strengths, weaknesses and passions they never knew they had. Heaven and Hell is the compelling conclusion to the North and South Trilogy .
DescriptionWinner of the 2001 Christy Award, Lynn Austin captures the turmoil of the Civil War in this stirring novel. From vast plantations to the cramped closets of the Underground Railroad, it follows one young woman's inspiring journey of risk and sacrifice. Caroline Fletcher, the daughter of a wealthy family in Richmond, has never questioned her father's right to own slaves. But after a lengthy visit to her uncle's home in Boston, she learns of the abolitionist movement. Now, knowing that slavery is against God's will, she must risk betraying the people she loves to obey her convictions. Compelling characters and the searing conflicts between North and South create a vivid canvas for Caroline's struggle to make the right decisions. Through Christina Moore's hearfelt narration, Candle in the Darkness burns even brighter.
DescriptionWhen prize-winning war correspondent Tony Horwitz leaves the battlefields of Bosnia and the Middle East for a peaceful corner of the Blue Ridge Mountains, he thinks he's put war zones behind him. But awakened one morning by the crackle of musket fire, Hor…
DescriptionBest-selling premier Christian author Michael Phillips continues his tale of the transforming friendship between two girls from very different backgrounds. This second book in the Shenandoah Sisters series follows the popular Angels Watching Over Me…
