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Title details for White Doves at Morning by James Lee Burke - Available

White Doves at Morning

by James Lee Burke
Will Patton
Audiobook
7 of 7 copies available
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7 of 7 copies available
A riveting evocation of the Civil War, drawn from the true family history of "America's best novelist" (The Denver Post), JAMES LEE BURKE

1861. Two young Southerners, friends despite their differing political views and backgrounds, enlist in the 18th Louisiana regiment of the Confederate Army: Robert Perry, wealthy and privileged, and irreverent Willie Burke, the son of Irish immigrants, face the trials of battle and find redemption in the love of a passionate and committed abolitionist, Abigail Downing, and in the courageous struggle of Flower Jamison, a beautiful slave. Filled with a cast of unforgettable characters, and penetrating a landscape of shattering Civil War bloodshed as few novels have, this epic from an American literary giant endows readers with the gift of experiencing the past through new eyes, while its timeless prose style—at once luminous and brutal—ensures the legacy of this bloodiest of conflicts will never be lost.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    November 1, 2002

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780743541183
      • File size: 198156 KB
      • Duration: 06:52:49

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The heroes of James Lee Burke's fascinating novel of the Civil War and Reconstruction are two of his own ancestors--Robert Perry and Willie Burke, both Confederate soldiers. Willie seems to be Burke's own voice in the novel, that of a reluctant fighter torn between his opposition to slavery and his loyalty to his Louisiana home. The two men's lives intertwine with those of Abigail Dowling, an abolitionist; Flower Jamison, a slave fathered by plantation owner Ira Jamison; and Rufus Atkins, a violent overseer who finds outlets for his hatred in both eras. Will Patton captures the dialects perfectly, with a voice laced with tension even as it lingers over the smallest details. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      October 14, 2002
      Following the publication of his 11th Dave Robicheaux thriller, bestselling Burke (Bitterroot; Purple Cane Road) keeps the action in Louisiana, turning back the clock to the Civil War. Central to this brooding saga are hotheaded young idealist Willie Burke, son of a boardinghouse owner, and a beautiful slave girl named Flower Jamison. She is the illegitimate daughter of Ira Jamison, the callous owner of the infamous Angola Plantation. Flower's mother was murdered by a brutal overseer, Rufus Atkins, just after she gave birth, and Rufus has been a malevolent presence in Flower's life ever since. Secretly taught to read and write by Willie Burke, she now does laundry for the town brothel. Befriended by Abigail Dowling, a young Yankee abolitionist who is helping slaves escape the South, Flower clings to the hope that Jamison will acknowledge her as his daughter; meanwhile, Jamison has his eye on Abigail. The war gets into full swing, and Willie loses his best friend at Shiloh because of Jamison's cowardly dereliction. Wounded and left to die, Willie is saved by Abigail, who brings him home and nurses him back to health. Against her protests, he attempts to return to battle but is taken captive and—the war now over—escapes to confront racist vigilantes intent on shutting down Flower's school for ex-slaves. Burke has created a cast of strong, if somewhat stereotypical, characters; readers will warm to outspoken, irrepressible Willie as much as they deplore the evil Atkins. Although at times a bit forced, this moving morality play shows a different dimension of this gifted writer. Agent, Phillip Spitzer.(Nov.)Forecast:Fans of John Jakes will particularly enjoy this rare historical offering from Burke.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      In his first historical fiction, James Lee Burke explores one man's experiences in the American Civil War. Willie Burke doesn't believe in slavery. He teaches a young black woman to read and write. He has a strong affection for a woman who secretly assists the Underground Railroad. Yet, even with his conflicted beliefs, Willie enlists in the Confederate Army. He's from Louisiana, and he's a patriot. Burke has written what may be his finest novel to date. The powerful opening scene immediately holds the listener in thrall. An extraordinary performance by Ed Sala brings freshness to every scene and believability to every character. Sala gives Burke's elegant, poetic descriptions the care they deserve. Based on Burke's ancestors, this fascinating story is fiction at its finest. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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