Customer Reviews

Two Brothers - One North, One South

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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).

Two Brothers is a historical novel based on the little known story of two real brothers from Baltimore who fought on opposite sides of the American Civil War.

The novel is narrated by Walt Whitman and tells a fascinating story that in a nutshell is the story of the American Civil War. From the two brothers and those around them, the reader gets a full and thorough explanation of the causes and results of the civil war on American society.

The book is strongest in putting the reader into the time period of the Civil War. From pre-war Baltimore to the seige of Petersburg, David Jones has done a terrific job of recreating the time period. The reader is transported back to this time period.

Unfortunately, the weakness of the book is the dialogue. The dialogue for the first 1/3 of the book is stiff and does not flow naturally. The writting of dialogue gets better as the book goes on and reaches the climax.

I really enjoyed how the book recreated the time period, but had a hard time with some of the dialogue.

I highly recommend this book to high school teachers and high school students who may cover the civil war in an American History of AP US History class. I feel for a teenage reader, where the dialogue problems will not be some much of an issue, that this book would be a great supplement or compliment to how the civil war is taught in school. A teenager reading this book would gain a complete picture of the civil war: causes, affects, tactics, combat, role of women, role of African-Americans from this book.

I would like to read more from David Jones. My one problem with this book, the dialogue, got better by the end of the book so I think his next book will be even better. Mr. Jones clearly has passion for the American Civil War and he has a gift of describing this time in history. I hope he continues to write on the subject. Again, the story the book tells is pretty amazing and is symbolic of the whole war. And again, if you know a teenager who would like to learn about the Civil War, get them this book.

"Moonlight glimmered on the distant capitol dome and cast long shadows from the gothic towers and battlements of the Smithsonian Institute. To the west, the partially completed shaft of the Washington Monument appeared like a giant white chimney protruding from the dark landscape. Between these edifices were fields filled with temporary streets and wooden buildings. Bathed in the dim light was a city transforming itself from a military bastion consumed by the business of war to a city intent on governing the once-again United States."

("Two Brothers: One North, One South" pg 7)



I have to say that I love the opening paragraph above. Sometimes when I go back to reread a book and I'm looking for a few good lines to use in my review, I have to look for quite awhile. In this case, it's the first thing you read- and they're perfect. As I mentioned in one of my recent reviews about another author, this is what Creative Writing teachers strive to pull from you. The imagery is fantastic. You can picture the capitol! Or perhaps it's even those first two words- "Moonlight glimmered"- a perfect descriptive hook.

The story itself is pretty good. The title is self explanatory, it's the story of two brothers during the American Civil War. I've not read much historical fiction set during this time. The only thing that comes to mind is Ann Rinaldi's The Last Silk Dress, but that is a completely different type of book (still good though!). "Two Brothers...." is based upon actual historical events which is what I think really makes it work. The author did a tremendous amount of research- and I think it shows in the story. (Not that I would know differently, as my knowledge in this area is lacking... but I'll take his word for it that most of the details and dates and such are historically accurate!)

What I liked most about this book is that it didn't read like a boring history book. I've come across so many historical fiction novels that put too much emphasis on history and not enough on fiction. There isn't enough 'story.' They attempt to write nonfiction disguised as fiction. In this case, "Two Brothers..." is the perfect balance. There's action and dialogue. The history is there, but you can tell that you're reading fiction. Hopefully you understand what I mean.

I would indeed recommend this to anyone looking for historical fiction set during or around the American Civil War. For that matter, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good story!

(Originally written for "Kathleen's Book Reviews")

I hesitate with the three stars thinking it may be a bit generous, but let me begin with what I did like about this book:
I liked the premise of Whitman getting close to these two brothers. He became the objective mediator between all of the brothers allowing them to heal their differences as they grieved over the wounded and dying brothers; while sharing stories of lost years Whitman was able to fill in.

I liked the added story of Hetty Cary and her smuggling efforts.

I enjoy historical novels based on true tales, which this one is based.

The setting of Maryland's conflict is one not often written about and was refreshing.

The author was very good with action sequences which allowed them to flow rather well.

Ok, now I have to reveal the elements of dislike:

The dialogue was painful. Especially through the first third of the book. In lieu of a narrator, the author uses the characters to fill in background historical information through their conversations. At times, one character would break out into a history lesson as though the person listening had extreme amnesia and didn't remember the events of the last several years. Luckily, this practice fades away as the story progresses and the author mercifully switches to narration at the beginning of chapters...much better!

The character development was almost non-existent. He was fine with describing what happened to the characters, but their internal struggles were glossed over. And don't get me started about how the women were portrayed: no depth of thought...just pretty faces running blockades and charming officers. The only true depth of feeling that was uttered out of the women was near the end when one woman learned of the death of her husband.

I also felt this story was very onesided. I understand that Whitman knew more about William's story, but the cover and synopsis leads the reader to expect the real struggles of both the north and south. Instead, we are treated with William's story with just a salting of his northern brothers' experiences, and he had several brothers in the north which presented plenty of opportunity.

It also seemed this story was a thinly veiled attempt at romanticizing the Confederate cause. True, the characters would have experienced the levels of patriotism described, but they were not balanced with the northern view of patriotism.

The storyline was linear, but many times disjointed and not cohesive. Some major events and characters seemed present for very brief times to simply act as filler, and did not serve any purpose.

In conclusion:
I am a big fan of historical fiction and it was apparent that this author has a wealth of historical knowledge about the Civil War....but the characters, dialogue and flow made this a book difficult to enjoy. Once finished reading it, I had absolutely no connection to the characters which meant I had no reader remorse generally felt when saying goodbye to fond characters. I was relieved when it was over. I think the main audience for this book would include Civil War buffs, mainly men who are interested in troop movements and battle descriptions. It might also be a good introduction for high-schoolers as it gives a spotty overview of war events while presenting the patriotic attitude of the southern cause. The violence is a bit graphic, but nothing too realistic to cause parental concern.

I have just got this book, every civil war buff should own the book. It is a very good account of a family's struggle during the civil war. The mixing of real history and fiction was great. I found that I couldn't put it down. I found it well written. The is the story of alot of families who where split , when the nation was torn in twain. Its the story of the civil war in all its horror. This book is a must read. Mr. Jones is a very good man and truly believe that He upholds the memory of the men who fought in butternut and blue. I hope in the future he writes more books.

This is a great story that, yes, has been mentioned, but never like this and in such a well researched manner. David H. Jones is a lifelong student of the US Civil War and it shows in this fictional story full of history.
Dave
[...]

Two Brothers: One North, One South
By David H. Jones
Publisher:Staghorn Press
Published: 2008
ISBN:9780979689857
Pages:303

This book takes the reader on a journey through the Civil War period allowing them to visualize--the pain, anger and pride--of the characters. It is a great depiction of such a difficult time in our history. I haven't come across a book of historical fiction that has caught my eye before Two Brothers: One North, One South.

Mr. Jones' novel spanned over a four-year period focusing on the Prentiss brothers who chose to fight in the war but on opposing sides. The characters are quite vivid allowing the reader to see the brothers as they stood in their uniforms--one blue and one gray--fighting in the same war on different sides of the country.

Walt Whitman visits with patients at the Armory Square Hospital and meets both brothers--William and Clifton Prentiss--when they are injured in the war. Mr. Whitman becomes the storyteller discussing the journey that each man takes during the war. He is the link between the two brothers as the story unfolds. The book embraces fiction and non-fiction but provides a good balance helping one to stay focused on the story rather than getting lost in the historical facts.

I am not a history buff nor do I generally read books like this, but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey I went on during this time period with Mr. Whitman and the Prentiss brothers. My only regret was some of the dialogue which I think slowed the pace of the book. I recommend this book for anyone interested in history--teens in AP classes, college students and adults-- and it might also be a great support in history classes that to some may be boring.

David H. Jone's "Two Brothers: One North, One South" is a fascinating look at the American Civil War from the perspective of two Maryland brothers who fought on opposing sides of the war. What makes this Civil War novel unique is that, while it is a work of fiction, several of the characters and events, in particular the brothers themselves, are based on actual people and events from the war itself. While the narrative is slow at times, the rich characters, and the description of pivotal battles, such as Gettysburg and the final assault on Petersburg, are riveting, and will leave the reader in or nearing tears. As a student of the Civil War, and of good literature, I recommend this book to other students of the war, and to those who enjoy enjoy a good read from time to time.
Grade: B+

Two Brothers, One North, One South, David Jones, Staghorn Press, 320pp., 2007, $24.95.

With a diligent handling of the primary sources and a creative approach, David Jones has crafted a fine story of Maryland brothers who are Civil War soldiers, one in blue the other in gray. With settings in Baltimore, Armory Square Hospital in Washington, D.C, and Virginia's battlefields, the author describes historic events from 1861 to 1865. The story is propelled forward by Walt Whitman who comforted soldiers at the Armory Square Hospital and where, in his post-war recollections, he states that he found two brothers in two different wards: Clifton Prentiss a brevet Union Colonel and William Prentiss, an enlisted Confederate soldier.

In Jones' novel, Whitman frequently visits the severly wounded William Prentiss and sits through his passing, and then gathers his two civilian brothers and his wounded brother, who was in the same hospital, together a few days after William's death. In the course of the story, John and Melville tell the civilian side of the war, Clifton the Union side of the war and Whitman the Confederate side of the war as it was told to him by William.

Jones faithfully pays attention to the war's social aspects. Friends of the Prentiss family, Hetty, Jenny, and Constance Cary are themselves divided by the war, their friendships and their loves during the war. At one pont on the veranda of Jefferson Davis' White House, the ladies discuss the role of women. The women past through joy and grief at weddings and funerals that held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond. The Prentiss family's free black servant, Elijah, leaves his wife and children to become a sergeant in the 7th U.S. Colored Regiment and the war, as viewed by blacks, is discussed around the unit's campfires.

The Prentiss brothers are reunited during a Federal assault on the Army of Northern Virginia in the Petersburg trenches. Each is founded within yards of the other; here in the story Jones is not recklessly melodramatic. He has the soldiers act like soldiers and not as Victorian era, post-war sentimentalists. With a writing style that is direct and to the point, Jones handles the myriad of characters well. No one character sees everything nor understands everything. It is in the meeting of the four storytellers that the full story is revealed.

There are times though that some characters speak as encyclopedia entries, listing and detailing lives that are tangential to the main story. It is interesting that Union General Benjamin Butler attended the 1860 Democratic conventions (there were three) and voted for the nomination of Jefferson Davis over 50 times, but it doesn't contribute to the main characters development or background story. At times a reader may feel that these characters did not exist outside the story because the events they expierence are so much greater than themselves.

An advanced placement U.S. history high school student who loves the Civil War could enjoy this novel as well as most Civil War buffs. Two Brothers does not read like Killer Angels though. Sharra's style, which is similar to Hemingway's newspaperman's writing style, is unlike Jones' more extensive descriptions of individual actions and behaviors. The author's diligence in staying close to the sources and also carefully layering the stories reminds CWL of John Dos Passos' hallmark USA Trilogy: 1919, The Big Money, and the 42nd Parallel. Like Dos Passos, Jones has achieved writing an intriguing tale of the nation and several individuals' stories while allowing the individuals to tell them.

The Civil War tore families apart like no other war in American history has ever done. It was not uncommon for brothers, or fathers and sons, to fight the war from opposing armies, a fact that serves as the central theme of the David H. Jones novel, Two Brothers - One North, One South.

Maryland, as a border state, saw its families suffer greatly from the divided loyalties of its citizens and Jones focuses on the Prentiss family, an actual Baltimore family of the time, to tell his story. William Prentiss, the family's youngest son, fought with the Confederacy's 2nd Maryland Battalion but his older brother, Clifford, remained loyal to the Union and was an officer in the 6th Maryland Volunteers. The brothers experienced numerous battles and much personal danger but survived to the end of the war when both were severely wounded in one of the war's last battles, the breaking of the siege at Petersburg.

Sadly, the brothers who had not seen each other in four years only met again because of those battlefield wounds suffered only a few yards from each other. They were carried off the field together, treated by the same doctors, and transferred to the same Washington D.C. hospital. In this fictionalized version of their story, Walt Whitman, who spent countless hours in Washington D.C. hospitals visiting and nursing wounded soldiers from both armies, became well-acquainted with William before he died while the two discussed William's war experiences. And when the other two Prentiss brothers arrived to visit Clifton, Whitman was able to describe their brother's war experiences in detail as the four discussed those years.

Much of Two Brothers is told in dialogue between the Prentiss brothers and Whitman but the dialogue does not consistently ring true. In order to inform his readers of historical facts, Jones at times has the brothers exchange war details that would have been all too obvious to those who lived those events. The reader might also begin to wonder how it was possible that Walt Whitman could recall one young soldier's history in such great detail considering the hundreds and hundreds of soldiers he came to know during the war.

Two Brothers will serve as a good Civil War history primer for those not already familiar with the war and how it ultimately played out but, as a novel, it would have been stronger had it focused more on the tragedy of brother-against-brother and less on battle details. It does not quite reach the emotional level needed to turn the Prentiss brothers into the real human beings that they were in the 1860s. That said, the novel is an interesting one and it will be welcomed into the personal libraries of many a Civil War buff.