For years, critics have acclaimed the power of James Lee Burke's writing, the luminosity of his prose, the psychological complexity of his charact...
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reviews
Sep 19, 2008
Jen
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White Doves at Morning is a historical fiction novel, published in 2002 and set around New Iberia, Louisiana, during the Civil War. Of course, since it occurs during the Civil War, it does not include Burke's reknowned Dave Robicheaux. Instead, this book focuses on Burke's ancestry. Willie Burke is the son of an Irish immigrant who joins the Confederate forces more out of fear than support for the "cause." Robert Perry, Burke's friend, is the son of slave owners and is a staunch suppor
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Sep 07, 2011
Siobhan
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Count me as an unabashed James Lee Burke fan. He is among the finest mystery writers out there. I always feel like I’m in Louisiana when I’m reading one of his books – the heat and humidity, the cane breaks (I think that's how it's spelled) and bayous. He’s a wonderful writer who paints pictures with words.
White Doves at Morning is a departure, not from Louisiana (yes, I know he has set some of his mysteries in Montana, but I’ve never read them) but from genre. The setting is the Ci More...
White Doves at Morning is a departure, not from Louisiana (yes, I know he has set some of his mysteries in Montana, but I’ve never read them) but from genre. The setting is the Ci More...
Mar 05, 2011
Phil
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A Historical Novel written with great passion and patience.
I loved this book! It is well written with the author’s ability to take you back in time to New Iberia, LA just preceding the Civil War. Three high school boys volunteer for the Confederate Army, an Abolitionist named Abigail Dowling (I’m still not sure she is a fictional person or real) assists Negro slaves escape to the North, a slave girl learns to read and teach others, and the Plantation owners and overseers who More...
Nov 22, 2008
David
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This is one of several novels and histories I've read in recent years that try to convey the mood and atmosphere of the Civil War. Many elements are similar in most of these books: persecuted and abused slaves (physically and sexually), familial struggles in the conflict, suffering of the innocent landowners, desperate conditions of the troops. In this book, set in Louisiana during the war and shortly after, Burke supposedly draws from his own ancestry to bring together a host of characters, wit
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Feb 06, 2010
Rosina
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This might best be called creative non-fiction, as Burke has written a novelized version of his own family history and an ancestor, Willie Burke, the son of Irish immigrants who settled in New Iberia, Louisiana.
Willie Burke -- impulsive and idealistic -- is drawn into the Civil War with his best friends, despite his doubts about the cause and his dislike of slavery. The story moves back and forth between his experiences (including the bloody battle at Shiloh) and what's going on in More...
Willie Burke -- impulsive and idealistic -- is drawn into the Civil War with his best friends, despite his doubts about the cause and his dislike of slavery. The story moves back and forth between his experiences (including the bloody battle at Shiloh) and what's going on in More...
Dec 14, 2011
Lynn
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Wanted to like this one since I've enjoyed his Robicheaux books. Evidently based on some ancestor, the book starts in New Iberia (home of Tabasco sauce) where we visited very many years ago. [Off-topic alert] Did you know they put tiny little bottles of Tabasco in GI C-rations -- way before the advent of MREs?
Anyway, his local yokels were too politically correct for the time ("Don't call them niggers, call them Negroes" and of course, the polite term at that time would ha More...
Anyway, his local yokels were too politically correct for the time ("Don't call them niggers, call them Negroes" and of course, the polite term at that time would ha More...
Nov 11, 2008
Sandie
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James Lee Burke takes us back to the 1860's as he weaves the tale of two young Southerners, Robert Perry (Burke's great-grandfather) and Willie Burke (his great-great uncle) as they are drawn into the Civil War. Utilizing the journals of his great-great uncle Willie, we experience the shattering reality of a war fought on U.S. soil that pitted friend against friend and brother against brother.
Two characters in the novel, Ira Jamison and Clay Hatcher, certainly must be composites of More...
Two characters in the novel, Ira Jamison and Clay Hatcher, certainly must be composites of More...
Dec 21, 2007
Johnsergeant
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Downloaded from Audible.com
Narrator: Will Patton
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio, 2002
Length: 6 hours and 56 min. (abridged)
Publisher's Summary
In a startling departure, James Lee Burke has written an epic story of love, hate, and survival set against the tumultuous background of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
At the center of the tale are James Lee Burke's own ancestors, Robert Perry, who comes from a slave-owning family of wealth and privilege, an More...
Narrator: Will Patton
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio, 2002
Length: 6 hours and 56 min. (abridged)
Publisher's Summary
In a startling departure, James Lee Burke has written an epic story of love, hate, and survival set against the tumultuous background of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
At the center of the tale are James Lee Burke's own ancestors, Robert Perry, who comes from a slave-owning family of wealth and privilege, an More...
Aug 04, 2009
Judy
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This book had a historical background of Mr. Burke's family, Willie Burke and Robert Perry. An excellent narrative of the Civil War. Mr. Burke does an outstanding job of describing battles and the struggle to survive for the families left behind. He also provides great insight into the life of a slave girl who's father was the plantation owner and what she must endure from his overseers. This is an excellent read for anyone who is a fan of Civil War literature.
Mar 04, 2011
Toni
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Immediately appreciated the life & character of Willie Burke. In real life I wud have adored him. He makes me laugh - the way he thinks! The slave girl Flower is so honorable and Abigail makes one want to do more in this world, for others. Characters are so different from each other & so rich in personality that you immediately realize that they are real!
Set in the deep south during emancipation, the lives of these brave heros and some of their dispicable enemies are told through the eye More...
Set in the deep south during emancipation, the lives of these brave heros and some of their dispicable enemies are told through the eye More...
Aug 09, 2011
Cheryl
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I truly wanted to like this book. I started the unabridged version and switched to the abridged version since I love Will Patton's narration. But I just could not get past the Civil War versions of cookie cutter black and white characterizations. Once I was so invested in the book I had to make myself finish.
Apr 01, 2011
Mike
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He's my favorite author. Read a Burke book and your in a dark theater by yourself surrounded and engulfed by his images. I've read them all but can only do so once every 3-4 months because in the end they are their message about the human condition is not hopeful.
Nov 01, 2010
Terra
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James Lee Burke does much better with his mysteries/crime fiction. Some of the period details in this foray into historical fiction were off and the characters all seemed to be cut from the same cloth. That being said, he does create vivid scenes and keeps the plot moving along.
Nov 05, 2010
Angie
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Stunning, if you are interested in Civil War stories at all, this is amazing. It covers so many of the complex relationships during that war. The hurt, the pain, the secrets, the generosity and courage of so many. I found it inspiring.
Feb 14, 2009
Chuck
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Being a history and civil war buff, I found this book to be most enjoyable. Occasionally I like to break away from non-fiction and enjoy an easy read. I was not disappointed in this author and his story telling
Aug 13, 2010
Viki
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White Doves at Morning by James Lee Burke was not your typical Civil War novel. It was stripped of the romance and chivalry that you normally expect of this genre. Burke was very graphic in his descriptions of battles and injuries to the soldiers. Doves gave at little insight from both the Reb and Yank sides.
Burke was one of my dear friend's (David Jones) favorite authors. David was a writer himself but mainly wrote short stories. He shared those with me and I was fortunate enou More...
Burke was one of my dear friend's (David Jones) favorite authors. David was a writer himself but mainly wrote short stories. He shared those with me and I was fortunate enou More...
Dec 30, 2008
Mikel
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This is a great wide-spanning drama from the Civil War. It's probably the most atypical James Lee Burke novel that he's written, but still has all of his prose stylings. Good read.
Mar 06, 2009
Dereka
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I tried James Lee Burke before but found his work too humid and violent and mosquitoey and gave up but this novel, about the Civil War, was really great. Should I give his regular books another try?
Apr 29, 2011
Kristen
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If you enjoy good historical fiction, you'll enjoy this story, set in the Civil War in Louisiana. Willie Burke helps a mulatto slave named Flower Jamison learn to read. He also gets into trouble and then joins the war with his friends, Robert Perry and Jim S. During the four years of the war, each character tells their story. Flower's battles with her white father and being taunted, Abigail Dowling, an abolitionist, who helps free slaves and the KKK, Willie's years in the war, amongst other cha
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Jan 19, 2011
Brandon
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The 1st few chapters of this book are AMAZING!!! I just think this book is one that you can learn from and use. So well written. Transported me right back to the Civil War.
Aug 28, 2010
Patricia
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His books always walk the line of melancholy, and yet I enjoy his characters and his descriptive text and find myself picking up his books about mens men time and again.
Aug 14, 2009
Jane
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Ah, the American Civil War - rape, pillage and all the rest of it. Not the most gripping read I've read on the topic, but an ok story.
Oct 15, 2007
Shruts
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I am, at heart, a mystery novel reader, and have devoured Burke's "Dave Robicheaux, Coon-Ass Detective" series. Great characterization and the settings take me back to my oilfield days in South Louisiana
Burke occasionally writes historical novels as well as other mystery/suspense series. I found this work on what happens "down home on de bayou" during the Civil war and the Carpetbagger era riveting.
My dear wife on the other hand found it plodding. More...
Burke occasionally writes historical novels as well as other mystery/suspense series. I found this work on what happens "down home on de bayou" during the Civil war and the Carpetbagger era riveting.
My dear wife on the other hand found it plodding. More...
Feb 06, 2009
Wonder Civil war book from the view point of the loser, not as dark as Cold Mountain.
Jan 31, 2009
Sherri
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AS FAR AS THE CIVIL WAR GOES, I AM NOT AN OFFICIONADO. THIS BOOK WILL BRING YOU CLOSE!
Jun 17, 2011
Maura
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Very good. Good characters and atmosphere. Civil war theme in the old South.
Apr 03, 2010
Suzanne
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Set in mostly Louisiana, Civil War story--departure from his usual writing.
Aug 30, 2009
Melissa
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A good story not often told of the South.
I learned-I will do the right thing.
I learned-I will do the right thing.
