What do you think?
Rate this book
Jubilee
"A Novel about Sherman's Army". With compelling vividness, the author not only brings to life the fighters of the 195th New York, but also re-creates the stirring events that closed the Civil War: the sacking of Atlanta, Sherman's ruthless 'March to the Sea', the pillaging of South Carolina -- and finally, victory for the Union.
316 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 24, 2021
I posted a batch of book purchases to my Facebook personal page and my sister saw it. She reported this book was a particular favorite of my grandparents. Since I will be visiting with my sister in a week, I decided to kick this book to the front of the line and take in what my grandparents so liked.
Reading this book, I find why they loved this book. It is an epic, sprawling story of Union soldiers venturing from home and into the heart of the War between the States, eventually to be lead by Sherman and his eastward plunge across the center heart of Georgia.
The balance of the tale is very good. A cursory look at the start of those involved and enough to engage the reader. Especially with so much to cover ahead. The book proceeds into battle after battle after battle. Certainly the best written within the book. The trials and tribulations well covered.
Brick shapes his main character as a solid military man who only suffers for his stance. This book might even be viewed as a bit of anti-war in it's presentation. Brick write this as the U.S. war in Korea was only beginning to turn into war in east Asia.
Brick does a terrific job presenting the Union view. That is his goal. Though the reasons for war are never covered, beyond restoring the country, which is a central theme found in most all recorded documents and letters involving the Union. This is also often ignorred in today's presentation of the time period.
The Southern view is almost entirely ignored. Nor are there any characters from the Confederate side written in anything but a discarded view, if even that. Those couple of characters that are run into by members of the military force have a pro-Union view. Brick should have been more open to give more depth to the battle.
Thus this is a narrow view from a battalion of the Union operation. That approach works. The reader must dredge through battles as the characters do. Until near the end. There is far too much focus on the "Bummers" who are looting the scenes of battle. More than two dozen pages of this. All written as if the Union did nothing wrong during this. That runs into the buzz saw of so much documentation that states clearly otherwise. Here, brick goes too far glorifying the Union soldiers.
The ending is abrupt. After trailing the characters so far, it might've been a good idea to flesh out some direction they were taking after the war. Especially two of the characters. Brick writes as for our own assumptions.
Bottom line: i recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.
Reading this book, I find why they loved this book. It is an epic, sprawling story of Union soldiers venturing from home and into the heart of the War between the States, eventually to be lead by Sherman and his eastward plunge across the center heart of Georgia.
The balance of the tale is very good. A cursory look at the start of those involved and enough to engage the reader. Especially with so much to cover ahead. The book proceeds into battle after battle after battle. Certainly the best written within the book. The trials and tribulations well covered.
Brick shapes his main character as a solid military man who only suffers for his stance. This book might even be viewed as a bit of anti-war in it's presentation. Brick write this as the U.S. war in Korea was only beginning to turn into war in east Asia.
Brick does a terrific job presenting the Union view. That is his goal. Though the reasons for war are never covered, beyond restoring the country, which is a central theme found in most all recorded documents and letters involving the Union. This is also often ignorred in today's presentation of the time period.
The Southern view is almost entirely ignored. Nor are there any characters from the Confederate side written in anything but a discarded view, if even that. Those couple of characters that are run into by members of the military force have a pro-Union view. Brick should have been more open to give more depth to the battle.
Thus this is a narrow view from a battalion of the Union operation. That approach works. The reader must dredge through battles as the characters do. Until near the end. There is far too much focus on the "Bummers" who are looting the scenes of battle. More than two dozen pages of this. All written as if the Union did nothing wrong during this. That runs into the buzz saw of so much documentation that states clearly otherwise. Here, brick goes too far glorifying the Union soldiers.
The ending is abrupt. After trailing the characters so far, it might've been a good idea to flesh out some direction they were taking after the war. Especially two of the characters. Brick writes as for our own assumptions.
Bottom line: i recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.
December 26, 2011
When Jeff Barnes graduates from West Point and shortly afterward joins the 195th in order to fight for the Union, his priorities are clear: duty, honor, country. If this means sadness for friends, family and fellow soldiers, then so be it. Through bull-dogged determination, he pulls together a crack team, but loses things that may, in the end, be more important.
Some of the supporting characters are terribly underwritten, especially as they have very interesting backstories. Even so, they do better than some others. When certain characters are introduced and very little said about their history, you know that they'll be like the officer in the red shirt on Star Trek. The dialogue is stilted and some of the death scenes are just written like a grocery list: "and he died." Every now and again, however, there is a scene that works beautifully, and makes you wish the whole book were that good.
Anytime Sherman shows up in the story, he lights up the pages. Pity the same couldn't be said, or at least not said as often, for the main character.
Some of the supporting characters are terribly underwritten, especially as they have very interesting backstories. Even so, they do better than some others. When certain characters are introduced and very little said about their history, you know that they'll be like the officer in the red shirt on Star Trek. The dialogue is stilted and some of the death scenes are just written like a grocery list: "and he died." Every now and again, however, there is a scene that works beautifully, and makes you wish the whole book were that good.
Anytime Sherman shows up in the story, he lights up the pages. Pity the same couldn't be said, or at least not said as often, for the main character.
June 22, 2019
This had really good insight into the intricacies of the Union Army and its workings, which was provided by the perspective of a West Point Army officer. I really liked that unique twist.
Unfortunately, nothing--besides the Civil War itself--was resolved, and the part about Sherman's army was largely glossed over. Not only was the ending not resolved, but it was a bad ending. It couldn't be resolved, because the terrible event that ended the book couldn't couldn't be turned around.
Also, there was a good amount of language that increased as the book went on. Even people who were well-bred and followed upright lives in the beginning began swearing, and though it may have been realistic, (war does do that to people, I suppose) I lost respect for the men I initially took a liking to.
My conclusion is that this Jubilee is good for Civil War research, but not for an enjoyable, purely-for-recreation story.
Unfortunately, nothing--besides the Civil War itself--was resolved, and the part about Sherman's army was largely glossed over. Not only was the ending not resolved, but it was a bad ending. It couldn't be resolved, because the terrible event that ended the book couldn't couldn't be turned around.
Also, there was a good amount of language that increased as the book went on. Even people who were well-bred and followed upright lives in the beginning began swearing, and though it may have been realistic, (war does do that to people, I suppose) I lost respect for the men I initially took a liking to.
My conclusion is that this Jubilee is good for Civil War research, but not for an enjoyable, purely-for-recreation story.
July 15, 2017
A much better book than I had expected.
September 26, 2022
A Book that is hard to put down.
January 6, 2014
Excellent portrayal of the effects of the civil war on soldiers and those at home. I might not agree with why it was fought or how it was fought, I think this book definitely will help anyone reading it understand what war does to people.
Worth reading.
Worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews