Dust jacket notes: "On February 9, 1864, 109 Union officers escaped from the notorious Libby Prison in Richmond by means of a tunnel, dug with only minimal tools. This escape was one of the most dramatic in military history and hastened the transfer of Union prisoners to facilities deeper in the South. Escape from Libby Prison tells the exciting story of the escape, as well as the escapees' unsuccessful earlier attempts. It also dramatizes the brutal conditions that prisoners on both sides were required to endure. Written with meticulous attention to detail, this story will be of interest to the casual reader and the student of the Civil War alike." The book includes a tabulation of 107 of the 109 escapees, with biographical details researched by the author, plus an extensive bibliography.
| ||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews
Stalag 17 on the Chickahominy River, with Bluecoat and Secesh stand-ins for Cookie and Sergeant Schultz. During the Civil War, amateur historian Gindlesperger writes, the South captured some 200,000 Union soldiers. Most wound up in hellholes like Andersonville, Ga., and the equally notorious Libby Prison of Richmond, Va. Early in 1864, Pennsylvania infantry colonel Thomas E. Rose, who had spent two years inside Libby, organized a daring escape, and he and 108 of his comrades tunneled their way into the prison's rat-infested sewers. Forty-eight of those men eventually made their way to Union lines and freedom, while the others were recaptured or killed. This should be a compelling story, but Gindlesperger does not tell it well. In recounting Rose's feat, he falls into some of the worst excesses of you-were-there historical writing, especially with his annoying reliance on invented dialogue that resounds with every possible clich‚: ``Why don't y'all go back up North and leave us poor dirt farmers alone?'' Gindlesperger has one exasperated Southerner call out to the assembled prisoners, who probably would have liked to do just that, while a jailer promises, ``Y'all are going to get a chance to partake of some of our Southern hospitality.'' One suspects that if Gindlesperger had stuck to straightforward narrative, without these tedious inventions, he could have produced a longish article for a historical journal, a more appropriate venue for a discussion of this small sideshow in history. The problem of grating dialogue is compounded by unimaginative prose- -Libby's chief jailer is, of course, a ``cruel and ruthless man''- -and by the author's failure to discuss what significance, if any, the Libby breakout might have had on the course of the conflict. Adds little to Civil War literature. -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding!,
By Richmond Historian (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Escape from Libby Prison (Hardcover)
While the gentleman from California is entitled to his opinion, I personally fine myself to be his polar opposite. I thought this book was an outstanding portrayal of conditions at the time of the escape. I have lived in Virginia all my life, and I can assure the Californian that y'all is used both in the singular and plural. If y'all don't believe me, come to Virginia and listen to people ask if y'all had a good trip, or if y'all want another cup of coffee in a restaurant. I found the dialogue to be highly accurate. As for discussing northern prisons, why should that even come up when the story is about an escape from a southern prison. I didn't think Gindelsberger made any apologies or excuses for any of the northern prisons the Californian mentioned. Overall, I think the book was extremely well researched, well written, and from all the reviews I've read (except Mr. California's) well received by historians and the general public.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Work!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Escape from Libby Prison (Hardcover)
Picked up both of the author's books at a symposium afterhearing him speak. His talk was great, but didn't (or couldn't?) dothis book justice. The further I read the more I wanted to read. I hated to put the book down to go to eat, and those who know me know how much I enjoy eating! It is one of the best and most readable books I have in my collection, and I can't wait for the movie to come out. Thanks, Mr. Gindelsberger, for writing this outstanding book.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding account of important Civil War event!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Escape from Libby Prison (Hardcover)
I don't know what book Kirkus Reviews read, but the one I read was OUTSTANDING. If ever a book should be made into a movie, this is the one. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in human drama.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
