White Doves at Morning: A Novel of the American Civil War - Hardcover

The author of the steamy Dave Robicheaux detective stories has turned his hand to a historical novel. White Doves at Morning tells the story of James Lee Burke's ancestor--a Confederate soldier in the American civil war. The novel illuminates the panoramic events by following the lives of a handful of people involved. The hero Willie Burke is a cheeky but brave solider who interacts with a courageous Yankee abolitionist, an intelligent and persecuted slave girl and a rogues' gallery of colourful and corrupt confederate soldiers.

Burke writes with an economical, passionate and vivid style. The violent desperation of the battlefield is described with gripping realism while the violent and sweaty atmosphere of the Confederate USA is evoked brilliantly. Burke's plot is somewhat episodic, and he assumes that his readers have more knowledge about the history and culture of America than many actually do. For the non-American reader especially, some maps, a glossary and an outline of key events would have helped enormously. Therefore this book is best read by those who already have some background knowledge about the Civil War. These cross cultural problems aside, Burke still captivates with the power of his observation and the sympathy of his storytelling. For those who like their history in realistic, but fictional form White Doves of Morning mustn't be missed. --Dwight Longenecker

"People" [A] Civil War blockbuster....Extraordinary.

"The Washington Post Book World" Violent, lyrical, and engrossing....The man has a touch of the poet in him.