The Hard Road to Gettysburg: A Novel [Paperback]

Ted Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1994

This epic novel traces the lives of identical twin brothers who, separated at birth, wind up on opposite sides of the Civil War conflict.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Civil War buffs and fans of Jones's first novel ( Grant's War ) will enjoy his expert weaving of historical characters and events into a suspenseful story of brothers separated at birth who end up fighting on opposite sides in the war. Samuel and Simon are twins, but there is a birthmark on Samuel's forehead. That disfigurement is the rather unconvincing reason his mother in Alabama gives the child to her twin, Caroline, in Gettysburg. At the war's outset, Samuel and Simon are in their early twenties, graduates of West Point and VMI, respectively. Between the two of them, they manage to see action in nearly every major battle in the east from Bull Run to Gettysburg. The story, though, focuses primarily on the Union kin: Samuel, impersonating his brother, engineers the fatal shooting of Stonewall Jackson, while Caroline, a shoe manufacturer, has her own dealings with the rebel army since her warehouse is stocked with desperately needed shoes. The premise and the numerous subplots may sound somewhat preposterous, but in fact Hard Road has some powerful writing (particularly the pages of Caroline's diary) and manages to animate the human aspect in the history.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-A creative plot full of twists and surprises will hold readers' interest. Twin brothers are separated at birth in 1839 and raised on opposite sides of the Mason-Dixon line, one by their mother and one by their aunt, not knowing that the other exists until the Civil War rages, and they are fighting on opposite sides. Jones's imaginative use of the aunt's diary brings readers quickly along in time between the boys' birth and the outbreak of the war. Characterization is developed in the beginning of the novel. Once the war starts, the author emphasizes action, portraying exciting battle scenes in detail.
Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Press (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891415343
• ISBN-13: 978-0891415343
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,890,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hard Road to Probability, August 5, 2004

By 

David W. Nicholas (Van Nuys, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hard Road to Gettysburg: A Novel (Hardcover)

This book starts out with one of those improbable things upon which more than one romance novel has hinged: a mother splits twins at birth, and they wind up on opposite sides of the Civil War. This, however improbable it may seem, is one of the more believable events that take place in this book. Mistaken identity, imposters, infiltration of the enemy army, and general skullduggery are all plot twists as the Civil War churns on.

I enjoyed this book a great deal, and only noticed a couple of minor inaccuracies in its depiction of the Civil War. However, the implausibility of the plot was a major detraction, and overall I only partially enjoyed the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! We couldn't put it down!, May 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hard Road to Gettysburg: A Novel (Paperback)

Who would have thunk it - Ted Jones, our former superintendent of schools, has really come to the forefront in Civil War tales. We loved the whole book - made the Civil War come alive for us. He's great

5.0 out of 5 stars I read this wonderful book twice!, October 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hard Road to Gettysburg: A Novel (Hardcover)

This book will keep you up at night as you try to finish the next chapter. The story follows twin sons, raised apart, who fight on opposite sides in the Civil War from Bunker Hill to their emotional meeting at the battle of Gettysburg. This excellent work of fiction is combined with accurate accounts of the major battles of the Civil War and its leaders. The sequel is great too!