The Parting: A Story of West Point on the Eve of the Civil War

by Richard Barlow Adams

It is July 18, 1861 in Winchester, Virginia. The Civil War has begun, and Lieutenant John Pelham, formerly of the West Point Class of 1861, is about to play a pivotal role in the First Battle of Bull Run. The confident Lieutenant Pelham bears little resemblance to the seventeen-year-old who journeyed alone five years earlier from Jacksonville, Alabama, to West Point, New York, to attend the United States Military Academy. As he immerses himself in West Point, both Pelham's life and his beloved country see substantial change. While Pelham and his classmates witness the unraveling of the Union and the birth of the Confederacy, Pelham meets Clara Bolton, a Philadelphian belle who captures his heart-all while Pelham and his compatriots are preparing for the reality of combat. Told against the backdrop of slavery and states' rights, the Democratic and Republican Parties, the fire-eaters of the South and the abolitionists of the North, The Parting portrays how profoundly historical events di

Genres: Historical Fiction

408 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2010

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very engaging story that follows the lives of soldiers at West Point on the eve of the Civil War. Every character truly comes to life on the page, causing the reader to fall in love with each one. The author's attention to detail in not only setting and battles, but also in the everyday lives of the soldiers helps the reader really become involved in the story.

[Dick Jessup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good historical fiction

[Military Writers Society of America (MWSA)]

MWSA Review

This story weaves several time periods deftly, with the present established as the days leading up to the Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) and the battle itself. The majority of the book centers on the cadets days at West Point (United States Military Academy – USMA) and describes military training details as well as the feelings and positions on a state’s right to secede from the union and the hope for peace versus the possibility of war. The cadets are well aware of the tensions between the cotton-producing states and the manufacturing states and their interdependence. The reality of the situation affects not only the relationships of the cadets but also their personal lives. This is a period piece that will appeal to a broad audience.

Period photographs on the cover and in the first few pages enhance the book. The author provides a list of main characters that includes the states from which the cadets come, which helps you to understand their positions. In the Foreward, Brigadier General Peter M. Dawkins (ret) notes that this book “brings American history to life and, in the process, makes you think, smile, and sometimes weep.” How true.

Review by Nancy Kauffman. MWSA Reviewer

[Robert Enzenauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Adam's book THE PARTING is historical fiction of the first order. His vivid descriptions of cadet life, training, and combat reflect an incredible accuracy and passion for detail. His written panorama of cadet rivalries, cadet hops, Flirtation Walk, company tactical officers, and the close friendships forged in this turbulent times of 1961 were changed little I suspect from experiences for Cadet Richard Adams 100 years later. Only Benny Havens was absent a century later. And his dialogue is rivaled only by Pulitzer Prize winning Shaara in the Gettysburg classic Killer Angels.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book transports the reader back to the 1860's where the lives of the cadets at West Point are forever changed by the events leading up to the Civil War, and the aftermath of the War. The reader is given a close up view of life at the Academy and the friendships and comeraderie that are forged there. In addition, the author weaves a romance into the story which makes the characters very endearing. A great historical fiction read!