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Reviews
A Civil War Novel Out of the Ordinary - 5 Stars - January 2008
The dramatic device of “brother against brother” has long been a cliché of novels and movies about the American Civil War. Thus, it was with some trepidation that I approached David H. Jones’s “Two Brothers: One North, One South.” Yes, this novel indeed centers about one Confederate and one Union brother, but it is also a novel firmly based upon fact and not merely melodramatic invention. The two brothers of the title were actual 19th century American brothers: William Prentiss of the 2nd Maryland Infantry (CSA) and Clifton Prentiss of the 6th Maryland Infantry (USA), and Jones’s novel is closely drawn from the two men’s genuine histories, from the months preceding the outbreak of war to the days following its end. Both men saw hard service in the Eastern Theater of the war, allowing the author to construct a fairly comprehensive survey of military events, the scope of the story being broadened when appropriate by reference to the two brothers’ friends and acquaintances.
A factor which is simultaneously a hurdle and a strength of the novel is that the characters speak like characters in a 19th century novel: formal, ornate, sometimes flowery language quite unlike that of our current day. This sustains an atmosphere that clearly places the story in a different era, giving the novel an unusual feeling of authenticity, but also might be an obstacle to those readers unable or unwilling to cope with the emotional distance created by that language.
The story is told in an episodic manner spread out over four years of tumultuous events; each segment, however, is clearly identified with regard to time and place, helping the reader maintain orientation. In the first half of the book, the story is clearly weighted towards the Confederate side of history, but the balance swings more towards a Union perspective as the war goes on. What could have been a magnolia blossom and mint juleps Southern-romanticized picture of the American Civil War instead ends up a more evenhanded portrait, examining how the perception of issues altered over time and how Secessionist dreams turned dry and barren by the end of the war.
One unexpected element of the novel is the use of Walt Whitman as a major character and narrator when his duties at an Army hospital bring him into close contact with both brothers (it is historical fact that both were severely wounded in one of the last engagements of the war). Bruce Trinque - Amazon Top 500 Reviewer
Much in the Vein of "The Killer Angels" - 5 Stars - January 2008
David H.Jones has written a truly remarkable work of Historical Fiction about two real-life brothers, both Marylanders, who chose different sides when the Civil War began, both fought throughout the war, and sadly enough were both mortally wounded in Grant's final offensive against the Confederate defenses at Petersburg.
Their nurse and the book's narrator? None other than the famous Poet Walt Whitman who was a Nurse at the Armory Square Hospital in Washington, D.C. He listened to the Prentiss brothers in their final months, and jotted down their recollections - giving them a voice.
The Battle scenes are realistic, the historical figures like Stonewall Jackson and others real, as well as the human drama of two brothers forced to take different sides.
My only wish is that Mr. Jones had provided more factual information about the brothers? The book is also vague in whether or not the Prentiss boys actually met and spoke with Walt Whitman at the hospital. I hoped that he would have shed some light about what interested him to write this book, and why did he pick this family? I would like, for example to see a historical fiction work revolve around the Terrill Brothers - both of whom went their separate ways, the father calling William Terrill a traitor for choosing to stay loyal to the Union. Like the Prentiss' brothers - both of the Terrills were killed fighting for North and South -William at Perryville, the other brother at Petersburg - but in the earlier stages of the siege.
If you are a Civil War buff or better said, an enthusiast the cover is attractive with the two uniforms captured in a sepia tone (Whitman's photo between them) - and will capture the reader's eye - but so will the contents of this book truly in the vein of "The Killer Angels". Alan Rockman - Amazon Top 100 Reviewer
A Civil War Novel Out of the Ordinary - 5 Stars - February 2008
West Virginia author David H. Jones, a former U. S. Navy officer, combines his military training with his passion for writing in a new Civil War novel from Staghorn Press; Two Brothers: One North, One South. While I typically am not a fan of historical fiction, there have been a few works that I have liked over the years. Now, I will add Jones' interesting story to that relatively short list. Unlike many quasi-historical novels that are poorly researched with glaring errors, Jones has skillfully mixed solid research with a creative and well-executed storyline. The end result is a wonderful book that captures the imagination of the reader, while intermixing enough history to be highly credible.
The central character is the famous poet, Walt Whitman, who visits a military hospital in Washington D.C. and meets two brothers-one Union, one Confederate-who are patients in different wards. Through his compassion and tender care, the two opposing brothers are united through a common linkage, despite their inability to directly communicate. Although a work of fiction, the book draws the reader into the plot in a fashion that almost makes you believe the events actually occurred.
Eminently readable with a good flow and timing, Two Brothers is a work you may have a hard time putting down. Unforgettable characters, set in the turbulent backdrop of Civil War America, make this work stand apart from the recent rash of historical fiction. It's well worth a leisurely read. Scott L. Mingus, Sr. - Charge! Civil War Wargaming & News
Historical Novel Society - Online Review - February 2008
Walt Whitman is well known as a great American poet, but few know of his compassionate visits to military hospitals during and after the U.S. Civil War. Two Brothers is based on Whitman’s encounters with William and Clifton Prentiss, two Maryland brothers who fought on opposite sides during the war. Whitman spoke extensively with William during the final days of his life, learning about his experiences fighting for the Confederacy. Whitman then shares this information with Clifton Prentiss, who is in the same hospital recovering from injuries sustained in the same battle.
While the book is mainly about William Prentiss’s experiences, there are also flashes of other peoples’ lives present: mainly the Cary sisters, who were the toast of Richmond during its years as the Confederate capitol. The sections about the Cary sisters often serve as entertaining interludes between the battles, and they describe what the Confederate home front was like for women of means. The Carys were very resourceful, aiding the troops in any way they could, including smuggling supplies from Maryland to Virginia across the Union blockade.
Two Brothers is so grounded in fact that it sometimes reads like narrative nonfiction or, at times, a textbook about the Civil War, rather than a biographical novel. The plot is very linear, following the war’s timeline from the early battles to the surrender at Appomattox and beyond. Military maneuvers are often described in detail, including both the big-picture view of the war and the personal view of individual troops. Maryland was a battleground state during the Civil War, with residents’ loyalties torn between North and South, but the Prentiss brothers’ story is unique in that it was well documented. An appendix provides fascinating excerpts from some of Jones’s research, including quotes from contemporary accounts of the Prentiss brothers’ story. Jones makes good use of this source material, crafting a novel with strong appeal for military history buffs. Nanette Donohue
Curled Up With A Good Book - February 2008
The “brother versus brother” theme in American Civil War fiction is by no means new, but David H. Jones breathes new life into it in Two Brothers - One North, One South. Jones’s characters are real-life Civil War soldiers who fought on opposing sides – and whose story was told by Walt Whitman.
Whitman volunteered in military hospitals during the Civil War, and in this story, he tended to a young Confederate soldier, William Prentiss. William was expected to die within a few days, and he asked Whitman to listen to his story. Whitman was a patient listener, gathering all of William’s details. When William died, Whitman sought out the brother, the injured Clifton Prentiss, who was staying in the officers’ ward at the same hospital.
When Whitman found Clifton, he also met the other two Prentiss brothers, John and Melville. The brothers invited Whitman to draw up a chair to tell William’s story. Whitman talked about William’s decision to fight for the South, his battle tales and stories about mutual acquaintances. The brothers chimed in throughout Whitman’s tale, especially Clifton, who described what he was doing as he fought for the Union.
The story ends with a remarkable coincidence: both brothers were injured at the same battle, nearly 100 yards away from each other, and within minutes of each other – and days before the Confederate surrender.
Jones hit a gold mine when he discovered this family of Union and Confederate soldiers for his story. Having relatives fight on opposite sides of the Civil War was not unusual for those living in the Border States such as Maryland, but their coincidental injuries add further interest to this tale. He struck it even richer by telling the story of the Cary cousins - Hetty, Jenny and Connie - who were an integral part of the Confederate war effort on the home front. These women smuggled goods to the South, created the battle flag for the Confederacy, and tended to the sick and dying. Their story is a welcome tributary of that of the Prentiss family.
The research into Maryland’s divided loyalties, their battalions (both Union and Confederate) and the battles in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania is thorough – probably to a fault. Pages pass where the reader learns a lot about the battle history but nothing about the Prentiss brothers who fought in them. I wonder if Jones was unsure about whether to tackle this book as fiction or nonfiction. So much emphasis is placed on providing historical background that it overshadows the main characters. It is, after all, a story about two brothers divided by a war. I wish more had been said about the brothers – and not so much about the “big picture” military tactics of the Eastern Theater.
Despite this, I would recommend Two Brothers - One North, One South to avid readers of Civil War fiction, especially fans of Howard Bahr and Michael Shaara, and to those with an interest in Maryland’s contribution to the war. Jones’s research can provide the reader with an insightful tutorial of this era – and remind us how devastating war is for both sides of the battle. Jill Celeste
All Wars Are Civil Wars, Because All Men Are Brothers - February 2008
Families were torn apart and brothers went off to war sometimes on opposite sides. It is, however, highly unlikely that brothers would meet on the same field of battle. This is just such an unlikely but true story of two brothers facing each other at the climax of the "Civil War".
David Jones richly details the human drama of the four years that led to such a dramatic confrontation. Walt Whitman, the poet, was working as a civilian aide in the union military hospitals at the end of the war. He takes interest in a young mortally wounded rebel soldier, whose union brother has fallen at virtually the same place at the same time. Whitman lends a wonderful perspective to this well written book.
It has been said "All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers" These men were in fact brothers one north and one south and the Civil War, for them, was a special Hell.
If this were pure fiction it would be a compelling read. The fact that it is historically accurate makes it a must read. Surely this book is a film waiting to be produced. R.H. Bo Hitchcock - 5-Stars
A Very Moving Story, Well Told - February 2008
As a young Rebel soldier lay dying of wounds in a Union hospital, he gets a visitor. He and the visitor do not know each other for the visitor is a volunteer who has been moved by the suffering and sacrifice of the young men on both sides of the war. For several weeks, the visitor sits daily with the young man, talking and offering some comfort and is with him as he dies. The visitor is Walt Whitman and the young soldier is Private William Prentiss of the 2nd Maryland Battalion.
In another part of the hospital a Union officer is being treated for his wounds. His name is Major Clifton Prentiss, William’s other brother. After William’s death, the remaining brothers gather at Major Prentiss’s bedside and ask that Whitman relate what he and William had talked about.
Whitman is able to give the family an account of William’s life after he joined Maryland’s Confederate army and as they talk, Major Prentiss shares his experiences with the 6th Maryland Volunteers. With a mingling of facts and imagination, the author brings back to life the Prentiss family that went from ideal to tragic in four horrifying war years. Clifton and William had not seen nor spoken to one another since William joined the Confederacy. Wounded in a battle at the end of the war within 20 yards of each other, both were taken to the hospital in the same ambulance. This was their only and final reunion.
This fictionalized account about a real Maryland family and their friends from 1861 to 1865 is so engrossing it’s difficult to put down once you begin. The author has researched Maryland’s history during that period and has taken events from letters, diaries and notes of Walt Whitman along with newspaper articles and other correspondences.
If you are a Civil War buff, make room on your shelf for this one; if you love history, you don’t want to miss this one and if you love an incredibly moving story indulge yourself by reading Two Brothers: One North, One South. Diane Snyder - Armchair Interviews. Armchair Interviews says: History brought to life by excellent storytelling.
We rated this touching novel five hearts - March 2008
This is about a well to do family in Maryland torn apart by the Civil War. One son goes off to fight for the South. The older brother ends up as an officer in the North. Both end up in units comprised of members from Maryland. Both are severely wounded and end up dying a couple of wards away from one another. A government civil servant who became one of America’s great poets, Walt Whitman, visits and provides succor to wounded soldiers, including the younger Rebel brother. He tells that boy’s story through his eyes to the rest of the family when they come to visit the dying older brother. This is a highly charged emotional rendering of what has become so wrong when families are torn apart by war, politics, and willfulness. Bob Spear - Heartland Reviews
An American family's struggle woven onto the tapestry of one of the most bitter times in US history! - March 2008 - 5-Stars
Many authors who attempt to write historical fiction have difficulty weaving their story onto the backdrop of the historical time-period they use as a setting. Those authors could learn a lot from David H. Jones. Taking only a few snippets of journals, memoirs, and obscure newspaper articles, Jones expertly tells the tale of a Maryland family driven apart by the Civil War. The youngest brother takes up arms with the Confederacy, while an older brother becomes a Union officer. Both serve with distinction, meeting on the field of battle at Petersburg.
The main characters in the book are all historical figures, and the esteemed poet Walt Whitman is a key figure in the book, as he spends time with both brothers as they are recuperating from wounds. The author does a masterful job of taking the historical characters and events and filling in the gaps in the historic timeline with completely believable events which only add to the rich tapestry of the story. Civil war enthusiasts as well as those who enjoy good family drama stories will find this book hard to believe. Rob Ballister, author, “God Does Have A Sense of Humor” - 5-Stars
News Releases
For release in January of 2008
Brotherly Bitterness Healed by a Poet
New novel based on true events tells the story of two brothers who fought an opposite sides during the Civil War and how Walt Whitman healed their divided family.
LOS ANGELES-For three intense years, Walt Whitman was dedicated to visiting and comforting wounded, sick, and dying soldiers in a number of hospitals in the Washington area.
Fearing that the real story of the Civil War would be lost to time, he recorded his impressions of many wounded soldiers in Memoranda from the War. Included in this number was William Prentiss, a mortally wounded young man who had fought for the South against his brother Clifton, a Union officer.
Whitman, strongly disposed to preserving the Union and ending slavery, wrote about William, whose political views he did not share, but whose heart intrigued him.
Filling in where history left off for Walt Whitman and the Prentiss brothers in his richly imagined historical novel, Two Brothers author David H. Jones springboards off these true events from the Civil War.
Beginning at the point when Whitman first meets William at Armory Square Hospital, Jones's impeccably researched book reaches back in time to prewar Baltimore, to the battlefields where the brothers collide, and into the drawing rooms of wartime Richmond where belles like Hetty, Jenny, and Constance Cary reign.
Whitman's role in healing the Prentiss family commenced at William's bedside, where he absorbed stories about William's wartime life. After William's death, Whitman reaches out to the Prentiss family, becoming their sole link with the deceased brother.
Though many Civil War stories have survived time's march, none are as unique and remarkable as that of Clifton and William Prentiss of Baltimore. A snapshot of America's bloodiest era, Two Brothers vividly portrays a country ripped apart at its most precious foundation: The family.
About the Author:
David H. Jones, born and raised in West Virginia, has been a lifelong student of the Civil War. His research took him into the swamps of Dinwiddie County, Virginia, to rediscover the lost location where a pivotal event in the book took place.
A graduate of Kentucky Military Institute and Babson College, former Navy officer, and entrepreneur, he currently lives and writes in Los Angeles, California.
News Releases PDF
Author Appearances
November 10/11, 2007 Tierra Rejada Ranch, Moorpark, California: appearance at a reenactment sponsored by the Moorpark Rotary Club
December 12, 2007 Presentation/Book Signing, The Civil Warriors Round Table, 7PM, Weilers West Hills Deli, 22323 Sherman Way, West Hills, California
February 19, 2008 Presentation/Book Signing, The Civil War Round Table of Los Angeles, 7PM, the Clubhouse of Villa Velletri, 4330 Glencoe Avenue, Marina del Rey, California
March 19, 2008 Presentation/Book Signing, The San Diego Civil War Round Table, 7:30 PM, Palisades Presbyterian Church, 6301 Birchwood Street, San Diego, California
March 27, 2008 Presentation/Book Signing, The Civil War Round Table of the San Gabriel Valley, 8PM, Allendale Branch Library, 1130 S. Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, California
April 3, 2008 Presentation/Book Signing, The North Shore Civil War Round Table, Huntington, New York
April 5, 2008 Presentation/Book Signing, Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site, 1 PM, 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station, NY
April 6, 2008 Presentation/Book Signing, The Green-Wood Cemetery Historical Foundation, 1PM, Historic Chapel, Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, New York
April 10, 2008 Presentation/Book Signing, The Port Deposit Heritage Corporation, Port Deposit, Maryland, 8 PM, Port Deposit Presbyterian Church, 44 South Main Street, Port Deposit, Maryland
April 26-27, 2008 Booking Signing, Authors Coalition Booth, LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books, 2 PM each day, UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, California
June 21-22, 2008 Presentation/Book Signing, Civil War Weekend, Pamplin Historical Park and National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, Virginia
June 23, 2008 Presentation, Teacher's institute, Richard Bland College of William & Mary, 1:15 PM, Pamplin Historical Park and National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, Virginia
September 16, 2008 Presentation/Book Signing, Orange County Civil War Round Table, 6 PM, Carrows Restaurant, 16931 Magnolia Avenue, Huntington Beach, California
Photos
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Book Descriptions
105 words version:
Walt Whitman, whose compassion for the wounded and dying soldiers of the American Civil War is well documented, navigates the journey of Two Brothers: One north, One South. The first chapter finds him at the bedside of William Prentiss, a mortally wounded Rebel soldier. As fate has it, William’s brother, Clifton, a Union officer, is being treated in another ward of the same hospital and Whitman becomes the sole link between the brothers. The reader is taken seamlessly from Baltimore before the war, to many battlefields where North and South collide, and to wartime Richmond, where Hetty, Jenny, and Constance Cary are the reigning belles.
74 word version:
Walt Whitman navigates the journey of this Civil War novel based on real people and events. The first chapter finds him at the bedside of William Prentiss, a wounded Rebel soldier. Whitman becomes the sole link with William’s brother, Clifton, a Union officer being treated in another ward. The reader is taken seamlessly from Baltimore before the war, to many battlefields, and to Richmond, where Hetty, Jenny, and Constance Cary are the reigning belles.
59 word version:
Navigated by Walt Whitman and based on real people and events, Two Brothers: One North, One South is the story of the Prentiss brothers who served on opposite sides during the Civil War. The reader is taken seamlessly from Baltimore before the war, to many battlefields, and to Richmond, where Hetty, Jenny, and Constance Cary are the reigning belles.
53 word version:
Two Brothers: One north, One South, navigated by Walt Whitman and based on real people and events, follows the Prentiss brothers who served on opposite sides during the Civil War. The reader is taken seamlessly from Baltimore before the war, to many battlefields, and to Richmond, where Hetty Cary is the reigning belle.
42 Word Version:
Two Brothers: One north, One South, a novel of the American Civil War, navigated by Walt Whitman. Based on real people and events ranging from Baltimore before the war, to many battlefields, and to Richmond, where Hetty Cary is the reigning belle.
38 Word Version:
A novel of the American Civil War, navigated by Walt Whitman and based on real people and events that range from Baltimore before the war, to many battlefields, and to Richmond, where Hetty Cary is the reigning belle.
23 word version:
Two Brothers: One north, One South, a novel of the American Civil War, navigated by Walt Whitman. Based on real people and events.
