Sherman's March

Kristine Dietrich Stevens 8th block Sherman's March by Cynthia Bass is a Civil War tale that takes place in the autumn of 1864. The war had come to a standstill. General William Tecumsch Sherman of the Union Army led 60,000 troops from the city of Atlanta, Georgia and marched eastward to the port of Savanna. This tale is told thought the eyes of three people, General Sherman, a solider called Nick, and a civilian called Annie. The reader follows these characters through the (few) twists and turns of the story, through their experiences, and their hardships in the America Civil War. On a scale of 1-10, I would give this book an 8. The history was accurate and the idea was there but the characters were very unrealistic. All of them acted like whining teenagers of today rather that people engaged in a civil war in the late 1800's. Sherman's March is a story that would have been a better read at the late elementary school and early middle school level. In Sherman's March, the times shaped the individuals. The Civil War was a fight for people, by people, and about people. It was a conflict between slavery and freedom. A period in our country's history where its strength was tested as was its ability to act when it was split in two. During this time, thousands of young men fought and died for what they believed in or for what their families expected. The times brought them to that. For Annie, the death of her husband lead her to seek revenge, The slave saw an opportunity for freedom and risked everything in its quest. The slave owners feared the loss of their fortunes and fought hard to keep that from happening. All had their lives forever changed by a war the outcome of which was uncertain. Sherman's March is a story of unity and of separation where the times shaped the individuals and altered the lives of all who came after.

Cynthia Bass' Sherman's March is historical fiction as it should be: well researched and splendidly told. She tells the often repeated story of the Yankee swath of destruction though Georgia through three narrators: Sherman himself, a junior Yankee officer, and a Confederate widow who becomes a refugee. For those seeking a pleasurable read, I recommend it. For those seeking a study of the historic March, it can serve as a good primer to introduce readers to the topic. Then, a thorough study of non-fiction works can suffice.

With all my so called "Civil War" knowledge, I never knew it was Sherman who coined the phrase, "war is hell". This is the kind of book that educates you without you even feeling it. It is a first novel which I find usually are really special. This one was great. It's not your typical Civil War book in that there isn't great detail of positions, units, etc. But it gives you a side you rarely see so well written, the everyday person, especially a women, and everyday soldiers. This is a book you will remember for years and recommend to all your friends.

This tiny little work of historical fiction is amazing. The story of Sherman's march on Atlanta as told by him, an officer, and a Southern lady. Simply a great read. Anyone who is interested in the Civil War will enjoy this book. I agree with the reviewer before me, this book ranks up there with "Killer Angels." I highly recommend this book. It is a short book and reads quite fast.

This is an absolutely splendid novel, which has never received the attention it deserves. Few if any Civil War novels manage to intertwine so effectively a story of military action with a story of civilian experience; here both are given credible and powerful treatment. Though quite short, this book captures what the "March to the Sea" meant to the soldiers who took part, and to the civilians who were in its path, with honesty and tremendous emotional force. Her characters are so alive they could walk off the page. Only Michael Shaara, in The Killer Angels, has drawn major figures of the war with such vividness as her portrayal of General Sherman. The story itself is beautifully conceived, and its three converging strands come together unexpectedly and brilliantly.This is a MUST READ for all Civil War buffs. But, whether Civil War buffs or not, I would also recommend it in particular to women who think they don't like "war stories," and to men who think a good "war story" takes place only on the battlefield. You will be pleasantly surprised.