Cleburne: A Graphic Novel [Perfect Paperback]

Justin Murphy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 26, 2008

Some stories have yet to be told. CLEBURNE is the true story of Irish immigrant and Confederate General Patrick Cleburne and his plan to enlist slaves to fight for the South during the American Civil War. According to Cleburne's proposal, all African Americans who served the Confederacy as soldiers would receive their freedom upon enlistment. This was a revolutionary concept for its day and sent Cleburne's life spiraling down a perilous road. Set during the critical year of 1864, and culminating in the bloody Battle of Franklin, CLEBURNE is a tale of unbeatable courage in the face of racism, conspiracy and war. This fully illustrated, full color graphic novel features story and pencils by Justin Murphy, inks by Al Milgrom and colors by J. Brown.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up—Patrick Cleburne was an Irish immigrant and Confederate soldier who quickly rose to the rank of Major General. He is best known for his 1864 proposal that emancipated slaves should be allowed to join the Confederate Army, an act that marred his military reputation. He died soon after in battle. Cleburne's story is well written as Murphy merges struggles on the battlefield with Cleburne's courtship of Susan Tarleton, exploring their budding relationship and examining the war from her standpoint. The artwork is well defined and realistic, and the use of overlapping images in the skirmishes gives a chaotic feel to the battle scenes. The author brings a fresh perspective to the war, examining a part of it that is often overlooked. This graphic novel has high crossover appeal for any Civil War history buff and will help teens consider the many angles from which our past may be seen.—Kelliann Bogan, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH
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From Booklist

This important and affecting graphic novel chronicles the events during the last year of the life of Confederate Major General Patrick J. Cleburne (1828–64), one of the best military strategists of the Confederacy. An Irish immigrant, Cleburne was loyal to the Confederacy but not to the cause of slavery, and proposed freeing any slaves willing to join the army. One response to Cleburne’s proposal was derision and ridicule. Another was to strip him of any further military decision-making and promotions, possibly costing the South several battles in Tennessee. Ironically, shortly after Cleburne died at the Battle of Franklin, Jefferson Davis signed into law a bill freeing slaves who joined the Confederate forces. Winner of the Xeric award and well researched, Cleburne looks slightly blocky, but that doesn’t interrupt the flow of the story. The use of color is particularly effective. The writing is sure and quotes Cleburne occasionally. A bibliography of further reading is included. --Stephen Weiner

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Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rampart Press; First Printing edition (November 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979957907
• ISBN-13: 978-0979957901
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #635,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Graphic Novel on Cleburne, August 16, 2009

By 

Chris "Chris906" (Biloxi, MS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cleburne: A Graphic Novel (Perfect Paperback)

Patrick Cleburne has been a fascinating figure to me in my study of the Civil War, especially in the Western Theater. This graphic novel is a interesting addition to other works on Cleburne. The artistry is quite beautiful and the story of Cleburne in 1863-1864 is quite well told. The battle scenes are very well done and do not sugar coat the absolute horror of Civil War battlefields. Actually the work on the Battle of Franklin is very truthful and shows just how horrible that battle was.

The illustrations are really worth the price of the book and readers after reading this graphic novel should go onto to read even more books on Cleburne such as 'Stonewall of the West: Patrick Cleburne and the Civil War ' by Craig Symonds and readers who are fascinated by Justin Murphy's graphic depiction of the Battle of Franklin should definitely pick up 'For Cause & for Country: A Study of the Affair At Spring Hill & the Battle of Franklin' by Eric A. Jacobson and Howard Bahr's novels 'The Black Flower' and 'The Judas Field' for further excellent reading on this horrible battle.

Hopefully a graphic novel could be done on Cleburne's prewar life and service from 1861-1863. If done by Mr. Murphy in the same manner as 'Cleburne: A Graphic Novel' I would have to pick it up.

Highly Recommended!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, February 20, 2009

By 

Avid Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cleburne: A Graphic Novel (Perfect Paperback)

This is the first graphic novel I've ever owned. I bought it because of the subject matter, General Cleburne, C.S.A. As a historian and author, I was greatly impressed by Murphy's attention to detail, story-telling, and wonderful artwork which brought Cleburne's fascinating, albeit tragic story to life.

Murphy does a fantastic job bringing out Cleburne's proposal to free the slaves and allow them to fight for the Confederacy which makes the issues in this novel relevant and current on many levels.

The artwork was spot on and at just a glance, I recognized Lucius Polk, Braxton Bragg, Hiram Granbury, Hood, and others. The scenes depicting the Franklin battlefield were moving and terribly beautiful.

I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone interested in learning about the war in the west's best general and one of the Confederacy's finest citizens.

I look forward to Murphy's next project and hope it is historical in nature.

Debra Glass (co-author of Skeletons of the Civil War - True Ghost Stories of the Army of Tennessee)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Meteor continues to shine..., December 18, 2008

By 

Ozark Trail Outrider (Jenks, OK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Cleburne: A Graphic Novel (Perfect Paperback)

For those of us who consider ourselves serious students of the Civil War, there is no more compelling figure to emerge from that momentous struggle than CSA General Patrick Cleburne.

And as you study the life of this Irish Immigrant turned Confederate General, you are amazed that you have never heard about him before.

Well as the foreward predicts, this graphic novel will help spread the story of Pat Cleburne to a entirely new audience of readers. Murphy confines his story to 1864, the years that Cleburne meets the love of his life and embarks on a quest to convince the Confederate Leadership to employ African-American soldiers and secure Southern Independence.

The story and the artwork combine wonderfully to draw you into the story and the motivations that drive Cleburne to risk his military career and ultimately his life for his adopted nation.

Personally, I have never purchased a graphic novel before, but I am thrilled to have this graphic novel and consider it a wonderful addition to my Civil War library and yet another great way to experience the story of Pat Cleburne.

Let's hope that this graphic novel can bring the life of this extraordinary man to the attention of more Americans.