When Philosophers Were Kings (Hardcover) [Hardcover]

Steven M. Best (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

As the Confederacy celebrates its victory over Fort Sumter, Socrates Best and his wife, Ellen, are living in Northeast Texas where Socrates has been teaching school for five years. Educated in the philosophy of Plato and the religion of Knox, Socrates hopes to ignore the war and continue developing ruler guardians who will help make Texas great. But two former students, Buck Malneck and Billy Morse, seize this chance to put their former teacher to the test. Join the conflict or hang-those are their demands. Meanwhile, a thousand miles to the north stands Socrates' cousin Swift. Raised with Plato's Republican philosophies, but steeped in the passionate abolitionism of the Northern Methodists, Swift leaves law school to be part of the Second Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Portage City explodes with joy as they send Swift's company off to war, but all the well wishing in the world could never prepare Swift for what awaits him at Bull Run. Amidst the revelry, Socrates' youngest brother, Ed, watches with bated breath. This crowd will one day cheer him, he decides, and everyone will know that he is finally a man. Fighting with the Army of the Cumberland across the Southeast, he will learn there is a far greater challenge in life then being a man-staying alive. This novel is based on the true story of a Wisconsin family caught up in the American Civil War, but it is also the story of the multidimensional human soul-spiritual, philosophical, and physical-and how it is affected by war. It is the story of man's ability to love, endure, survive, and find a meaningful purpose for life in a world turned upside down with hate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a remarkable family tested in the crucible of battle. The results are unforgettable and thought-provoking." -- TRUE WEST MAGAZINE, October, 2003

About the Author

STEVEN M. BEST is a former military intelligence analyst, and retired chiropractor. After being given an extensive letter written by his great grandmother detailing the family's experiences during the war, Best spent seven and a half years researching and writing his family story. He has visited every village and battlefield presented in this novel from Big Spring and Portage, Wisconsin, in the North, to Dangerfield, Texas, in the South; and from Perryville, Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) and Devil's Backbone in the West; to Perryville, Kentucky and Chickamauga at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in the East.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 364 pages
• Publisher: Sunstone Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865343624
• ISBN-13: 978-0865343627
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,513,734 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:

5.0 out of 5 stars An impressively written Civil War saga of dilemmas, August 7, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Philosophers Were Kings (Hardcover) (Hardcover)

Based on the true story of a Wisconsin family drawn into the dramatic and dangerous events of the American Civil War, When Philosophers Were Kings by former military intelligence analyst Steven M. Best is a powerful novel of two men, both educated in the philosophy of Plato, who must confront the horrors of the American conflict that pitted brother against brother. An impressively written Civil War saga of dilemmas, both physical and spiritual, ruthless conflicts and unforgiving tolls, When Philosophers Were Kings is thoroughly entertaining and will linger in the mind and imagination of the reader long after the novel is finished and placed back upon the shelf.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars When Philosophers were Kings: A Historical Novel, July 21, 2003

By 

S. C. Jenkins (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Philosophers Were Kings (Hardcover) (Hardcover)

Sagas of the Civil War continue to abound. This novel has a most unique twist in that is is based largely on the experiences of a family, as taken from period family letters and other research. While many novels are produced from growing and building on an idea, this novel is constrained to the experience of the Best family, a group of Wisconsin River valley pioneers. In the 21st century it is hard for us to relate to the hardships and determination of the folks that built this great nation. This novel carefully weaves together the lives of the family in those engaging times.
The author made me a part of the determination of these families. He swept me into the youthful enthusiasm of the early volunteers for the Union army. His descriptions are vivid and appropriate. Yet, you also feel the anxiety of those left at home -- mothers and fathers and the other brothers. With one of the brothers and his family now in East Texas, you feel their determination to make the new life they sought, so far from the rest of the family.
The vivid battle scenes are also uniquely portrayed through the eyes and feelings of the private on the line, not knowing the plan of battle, but doing what soldiers do -- follow orders. Much of the chronicling of the Civil War is from the "grand strategy" viewpoint, and that is important. This novel give a very personal view to the impact of that strategy. The horrors of battle are not avoided. The private's eyes see much. Andersonville Prison is shown for what it was -- gripping.
Who could not sympathize with one who was forced to fight, and for a cause he could not respect? The agony he felt was always apparent. While the author is very aware that no one today could really know the feelings and dialogue he writes for the characters portrayed, any even modest student of the time will find the author's handling of these dimensions of the novel most believable.
My congratulations to Dr. Best in bringing me "down to earth" on the realities of the struggles and determination of this family.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, July 23, 2003

By 

Ted Stearns (Carlsbad, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Philosophers Were Kings (Hardcover) (Hardcover)

Just finished this great little book last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Steven's depiction of his ancestors, the reality of their doubts about the goodness and plans of the Lord and yet perseverance to push on to obtain character and hope that does not disappoint, I'm sure, characterized his own personal struggle over the last 20-30 years. Through all their struggles, losses, awful death and carnage, they believed that God was in control... they might not know the reason why something happened... but that's ok, cuz that's why God is God and we're not. May I be able to describe to my children and grandchildren as well as he did what their ancestors and forefathers were like and have them relate or hold fast to those precious roots. As you are reading the book, you may want to access his website ... to see pictures of his real ancestors and what happened to them after the Civil War. I would highly recommend the book to any reader