Jim Stempel

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About Jim Stempel

Jim Stempel was born in Westfield, N.J.,in 1948,and graduated from the Citadel, Charleston, S.C., in 1970 with a degree in political science. He is married and the father of three. His first novel, American Rain was hailed by critics and labeled a "masterpiece" by the West Coast Review of Books.A student of the human condition, Stempel's works span a range including satire, spirituality, and military nonfiction. His most recent work is an examination of the psychological roots of human warfare (The Nature of War: Origins and Evolution of Violent Conflict) that Choice,the publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries, said "..offers ripe fruit by which to contemplate humanity's future." Stempel is considered an authority on the Eastern campaigns of the American Civil War, and his books on that topic have drawn an international audience. His novel Albemale was nominated for the James Fenimore Cooper Prize in Historical Fiction, and his newest novel, Windmill Point was released in March, 2016. http://www.jimstempel.com

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Windmill Point Mar 20, 2016

by Jim Stempel

( 13 )

$5.00

Windmill Point is gripping historical fiction that vividly brings to life two desperate weeks during the spring of 1864, when the resolution of the American Civil War was balanced on a razor’s edge.
At the time, both North and South had legitimate reasons to conclude they were very near victory. Ulysses S. Grant firmly believed that Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was only one great assault away from implosion; Lee knew that the political will in the North to prosecute the war was on the verge of collapse.
Jim Stempel masterfully sets the stage for one of the most horrific battles of the Civil War, contrasting the conversations of decision-making generals with chilling accounts of how ordinary soldiers of both armies fared in the mud, the thunder and the bloody fighting on the battlefield.
“We must destroy this army of Grant’s before he gets to the James River. If he gets there it will become a siege, and then it will be a mere question of time.” General Lee.

Jim Stempel’s Windmill Point captures the dreadful fury and desperate humanity of the American Civil War with a power and immediacy few authors have been able to achieve. I recommend it highly for anyone interested in a vivid portrayal of that violent crucible from which our modern society ultimately emerged.
Mark Robert Waldman, Executive MBA Faculty, Loyola Marymount University and
author of Words Can Change Your Brain

Other Formats: Paperback

The CSS Albemarle and William Cushing: The Remarkable Confederate Ironclad and the Union Officer Who Sank It Oct 14, 2011

by Jim Stempel

( 5 )

$9.99

On October 27, 1864, two marvels of the Civil War collided on the Roanoke River near Plymouth, North Carolina. The first was the formidable Confederate ironclad Albemarle, a 376-ton behemoth that had for months roamed the nearby rivers and waters of Albemarle Sound, defeating in turn everything the Federal Navy could throw at it. The second was William B. Cushing, a 21-year-old Federal naval lieutenant who had been selected to lead a virtual suicide mission to destroy the ironclad in her berth. This chronicle of the young officer's "David vs. Goliath" victory over the daunting ironclad presents a tale of courage and accomplishment.

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Albemarle Jan 22, 2015

by Jim Stempel

( 4 )

$3.99

“The destruction of the rebel ram Albemarle by Lieut. Cushing proves to be one of the most daring and romantic naval feats of history”

A truly remarkable account of a heroic action during the Civil War. A fascinating read.

In the early winter months of 1864 Confederate General Robert E Lee devised a plan to retake critical areas of eastern North Carolina then occupied by the Federal Army. If successful a new supply line would be established to Richmond, and the Southern war effort greatly bolstered as a result. Central to his plan was the use of the new rebel ironclad Albemarle then nearing completion on the Roanoke River. The CCS Albemarle was considered to be a formidable weapon by all concerned and its destruction soon became a high priority of the Lincoln administration.
So successful would the Albemarle prove to be against the blockading squadron, however , that in utter desperation the Federal high command ultimately turned to a twenty one year old lieutenant who had demonstrated daring and success on the rivers of Virginia and North Carolina. The mission to destroy the Albemarle, nevertheless, was a high stakes gamble of the most desperate and heroic variety. Its remarkable success became a bitter disaster for the Confederacy, a much needed boost for Abraham Lincoln and catapulted Lt William Barker Cushing in legend.

"Highly entertaining, well researched and original in thought. It has the makings of a
classic."

“Albemarle is one of those rare gems, a work of historical fiction that keeps the reader turning the pages of this powerful, true story. The book comes as close to living history as anything I have encountered in print, and I highly recommend it for anyone in search of a deeper grasp of the torturous evolution our society has undergone. It’s an exciting and rollicking good tale.”
–Mark Robert Waldman, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Author of Words Can Change Your Brain

"...Cooke’s role makes an interesting story, but what follows is high adventure. A daring nighttime mission, in which 15 brave sailors under young Lt. Cushing sent the Albemarle to the bottom, marked a turning-point in the coastal war.

Written in conversational style, but well-documented, Albemarle is for all readers (and would make a great movie!)." –Historical Novel Society

Other Formats: Paperback

Valley Forge to Monmouth: Six Transformative Months of the American Revolution Jan 11, 2021

by Jim Stempel

( 6 )

$17.99

From December 1777 through June 1778, the American Revolution achieved a remarkable turnaround. I these months the Continental Army recovered from abject demoralization at Valley Forge to achieve a stunning victory against the British at Monmouth Courthouse. This compelling history chronicles how the war began to turn--from the consequential leadership of General Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette to the experiences of the men who marched and fought in the ranks--and reexamines one of the most controversial periods of early American history.

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The Battle of Glendale: The Day the South Nearly Won the Civil War Apr 13, 2011

by Jim Stempel

( 8 )

$9.99

It is commonly accepted that the South could never have won the Civil War. By chronicling perhaps the best of the South's limited opportunities to turn the tide, this provocative study argues that Confederate victory was indeed possible. On June 30, 1862, at a small Virginia crossroads known as Glendale, Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee sliced the retreating Army of the Potomac in two and came remarkably close to destroying their Federal foe. Only a string of command miscues on the part of the Confederates--and a stunning command failure by Stonewall Jackson--enabled the Union army to escape a defeat that day, one that may well have vaulted the South to its independence. Never before or after would the Confederacy come as close to transforming American history as it did at the Battle of Glendale.

Other Formats: Paperback

American Hannibal Apr 16, 2018

by Jim Stempel

( 119 )

$5.50

On January 17, 1781, a remarkable battle took place in the backwoods of South Carolina. British Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton, handpicked by General Charles Cornwallis for command due to his dash and record of accomplishment, was opposed by Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, a rough-and-tumble son of the American frontier. Morgan employed a scheme so brilliantly conceived and masterfully executed that within an hour, the British found themselves overwhelmed, enveloped, and routed from the field. In response to this stunning American victory, Cornwallis embarked on a reckless, desperate trek north in pursuit of Morgan—a strategy that ultimately led to his own defeat at Yorktown.

In his compelling account of the Battle of Cowpens, Jim Stempel makes the case that Morgan’s victory closely mirrors Hannibal’s extraordinary triumph at Cannae, regarded by many as one of the greatest military accomplishments of all time. With a narrative style that plunges readers into the center of the events, American Hannibal will enthrall students of American history and newcomers to the subject alike.

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The Nature of War: Origins and Evolution of Violent Conflict Sep 6, 2012

by Jim Stempel

( 2 )

$9.99

For over 12,000 years human beings have warred, slaughtering each other with persistence and brutality. From spear point to thermonuclear ordnance, human ingenuity has had a serious downside. In the 20th century alone, wars claimed more than 90 million lives. Yet war's origins, meaning, and evolution over the millennium remain to this day a mystery. Why is warfare "almost" as old as man himself? How is it that a creature capable of producing great art, architecture, literature, medicine, and wondrous acts of compassion is simultaneously capable of such cruel and wanton slaughter? To answer these and other questions, this thoughtful study journeys across time and disciplines to examine and sensibly explain human warfare, clarify its source and driving energy, and thoughtfully develop the prospect of a true and lasting peace.

Other Formats: Paperback , Mass Market Paperback

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