White Doves At Morning
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Amazon.co.uk Review
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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
We have secured a feature interview with James Lee Burke in THE OBSERVER magazine which will appear on Sunday 16 March. We have sent journalist Euan Ferguson to meet James in Louisiana; Euan is a big fan already and has read most of James's backlist. James has been interviewed from the US for BBC RADIO 3 NIGHTWAVES on Wednesday 12 March. The broadcast date is still to be confirmed,but it be around publication. And also for BBC RADIO 4 FRONT ROW, to be broadcast to coincide with publication. We are expecting lots of the usual excellent review coverage for White Doves at Morning, and the following are confirmed already:THE GUARDIAN, THE MIRROR, THE DAILY MAIL and UNCUT magazine 'In White Doves at Morning, Burke demonstrates again his bravura skill at memorablecharacterisation, acute dialogue and wonderfully evocative descriptions.' OBSERVER 30/3/03 'a compelling riposte to Margaret Mitchell's nostalgic myth-making' THE SUNDAY TIMES 6/4/03 'White Doves at Morning is an uncompromising examination of the "moral insanity" of war and slavery. It's a rare venture into historical fiction for Burke, a celebrated crime writer, but his established readership won't be disappointed...it reveals a greater complexity of characterisation and overal subtlety than his previous work. ... Burke places an uncomfortable spotlight on white American history, but the profundity of the issues never interferes with the drama and excitement of the story.' DAILY TELEGRAPH 22/3/03 'Best known as a crime writer, James Lee Burke spreads his wings to fine effect in this stirring tale of the American Civil War. ... White Doves at Morning makes a worthy addition to the canon. It captures the roller-coaster excitements of fast-changing times. SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 13/4/03 'This is a departure for Burke, who is best known for his contemporary detective novels, and anyone who has read those will already know he writes like an angel.His prose id deceptively fluent and, his pacing unbeatable and the subject of White Doves at Morning is close to his heart.' DAILY MAIL 28/3/03 'This is both a moving account of the horrors of war and a subtle yet powerful examination of the strengths and weaknesses of human nature. Written with a wit and wisdom reminiscent of Mark Twain, it is nothing short of a masterpiece.' WATERSTONE'S BOOKS QUARTERLY 'When writing about the physical world of the Deep South, Burke has feel equals. ... In White Doves at Morning, he brings this gift to bear on the experience of battle in the Civil War. These are among the best things Burke has ever written, and they deserve to be read alongside TheRde Badge of Courage.' TLS 18/4/03 'As well as a fascinating examination of the ethical chasm at the heart of battle, White Doves at Morning is also a beautifully written. Clearly a novel the author wanted to write it's not just areturn to form - it's terrific.' UNCUT magazine May 03 'A wonderfully colourful novel that yet again creates a vivid atmosphere that is almost tangible' CRIME TIME 'James Lee Burke is a gifted writer whose words echo in your mind hours after you read them... This is another winner from Burke, who manages to educate as well as entertain with plenty of factual snippets from a very turbulent period in US history.' syndicated local press review 'The characters are colourful and well-written. Burke keeps the reader's attention by focusing on plot and character development yet keeping the story just on the edges of the great battles and events of the time. This is a simple yet finely crafted story about the cost of war and slavery soaked in the atmosphere of the period.' GOOD BOOK GUIDE 'White Doves at Morning is yet another remarkable and recommended work.' DUBLIN EVENING HERALD James is being interviewed for the GL
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Complex Situation,
By A Customer
This review is from: White Doves At Morning (Hardcover)
White Doves at Morning is a fine book about the American Civil War as seen through the eyes of a handful of people, both white and black, slaves and slaveowners. Its take on the material is particularly Southern, and all of the events take place in the deep south, in territory not that different than the setting of his Dave Roubiceaux novels. Indeed, there is a similar style to the writing, similar descriptive phrases and characterization. But this isn't a flaw. Burke is a strong writer any day of the week and this is a novel deserving of readers.I'm not sure one has to be up on Civil War history ahead of time, becuase the novel can be taken as it is. And as it is it adds a much needed perspective to the conflict - a Southerner's. As with many Southern writers who deal with historical material Burke is not afraid to examine the truly complex issues of race. In this novel we meet a rich planter who owns his daughter, and we watch their relationship as she eventually becomes free and he eventually acknowledges her. Strong stuff. The fact that it happened so recently in America is still shocking. I think, really, that Burke deals with many subjects that "Cold Mountain" doesn't. Another novel I'd recommend is "Walk Through Darkness", by David Anthony Durham. It's also brilliantly written and complex and - in terms of pure narrative drive and suspense - very fulfilling.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
White Doves at Morning,
By Andy Collings (Winchester, Hants. United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: White Doves At Morning (Hardcover)
Another taste of James Lee Burke’s genius. The author’s ancestor Willie Burke and his story is a raw slice of the old south with it’s heroes and villains, true causes and dreadful flaws all painted in Burke’s wonderful style. The Louisiana and Cajun country is there. It’s bayous and decaying towns and the people that inhabit them are vividly portrayed as in the Robicheaux series but there is an extra historical depth to the story which ends almost too soon. I can shut my eyes and still see the morning mist in the live oaks and the dust on the ‘butternut’ uniforms.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crime's greatest stylist 'does' Civil war,
By
This review is from: White Doves At Morning (Paperback)
James Lee Burke is, following the sad death of Robert B Parker, my favourite living crime novelist and, like Parker, he has digressed to the Old West for a couple of stand alone novels; Two for Texas and this, a take on the Gulf Coast during the Civil War.
The prose is - as you might expect - magical and the descriptions of Shiloh particularly good. However I did not find this book as compelling as the Robicheuax series, nor was it as readable as Two for Texas. Burke - apparently - was writing a fictionalised account of his ancestor Willie Burke's participation in the War Between the States and I wonder if a little too much reverence was involved preventing the reader getting as involved with the characters as we do with the contemporary stuff. The 'goodies' were a bit too perfect - notably the abolitionist woman Abigail, who I found a real credibility stretch - and the slave girl Flower - who probably (improbably actually) would give most post-graduate students a run for their money in insight and intellect. I notice Burke does this occassionally; load up a character with almost divine prescience to the detriment of their authenticity; he did with Pete Flores in 'Rain Gods.' Also the plantation owner; overseer; poor white trash overseer's mate do not live in the way the baddies do in the crime stuff. They do not learn or grow like Troyce Nicks - the savage prison guard - in 'Swan Peak' or Dixie Lee Pugh, the wiped-out singer in 'Black Cherry Blues.' That - I feel - is Burke's greatest skill; making you care about apparently awful, sometimes diabolical, people. As any reader can tell, I am a Burke fan and any criticisms have to set into context. If you've never read James Lee Burke and you come to this you will be stunned by how good it is; the descriptions, the humanity; the atmosphere. I would strongly recommend that everyone reads it, but I'd recommend that everyone reads everything James Lee Burke has written.
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