A Separate Country will be released September 23Set in New Orleans in the years after the Civil War, A SEPARATE COUNTRY is a novel based on the incredible life of John Bell Hood, arguably one of the most controversial generals of the Confederate Army--and one of its most tragic figures. Robert E. Lee promoted him to major general after the Battle of Antietam. But the Civil War would mark him forever. At Gettysburg, he lost the use of his left arm. At the Battle of Chickamauga, his right leg was amputated. Starting fresh after the war, he married Anna Marie Hennen and fathered 11 children with her, including three sets of twins. But fate had other plans. Crippled by his war wounds and defeat, ravaged by financial misfortune, Hood had one last foe to battle: Yellow Fever.
A SEPARATE COUNTRY is the heartrending story of a decent and good man who struggled with his inability to admit his failures--and the story of those who taught him to love, and to be loved, and transformed him.
In an Author's Note at the end of his book The Widow of the South, Robert Hicks tells us that "when Oscar Wilde made his infamous tour of America in 1882, he told his hosts that his itinerary should include a visit to 'sunny Tennessee to meet the Widow McGavock, the high priestess of the temple of dead boys.'" Carrie McGavock, The Widow of the South, did indeed take it upon herself to grieve the loss of so many young men in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, which took place on November 30, 1864. Nine thousand men lost their lives that day. She and her husband John eventually re-buried on their own land 1,481 Confederate soldiers killed at Franklin, when the family that owned the land on which the original shallow graves had been dug decided to plow it under and put it into cultivation.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 12:57AM Is it just a bad dream. Surely, this isn't Labor Day! Is this really the last day I can wear seersucker until next Easter? Why isn't there a dispensation for folks who live in the South? They should be able to wear it until the last day of summer...or, just maybe even longer depending on how far south they hail from?
;)
Reader Comments (4)
Us yankees wouldn't know a seersucker from a sucker born every minute. Just wear it. Who care if old southern ladies sneer at you? Just read "A Separate Country." I always tried to see God's purpose in things and reading your new book really socked it home for me. A man who is responsible for the slaughter of thousands of his own soldiers completely redeeming himself." WOW!!!
Derald in Raleigh NC
Just found you and was reading your blog. I hope you just wore the seersucker! Few follow, or even know, the old rules. Just sayin' ...
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