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A House Divided Againsts Itself
Period historians who have read about the Culp family and have knowledge of some of Bob OConnors characters will find this book intriguing and exciting. OConnor shows us how a familys inner struggle resembled our national conflict in a very readable fashion. James C. Price, Historian Laureate Town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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About the author
Bob O'Connor
82 books10 followersI am the author of two historical novels "The Perfect Steel Trap Harpers Ferry 1859" ( a finalist in the Best Book Awards 2006) and "The Virginian Who Might Have Saved Lincoln"."
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 14, 2018
Like many books about the Civil War within these pages there are dates and locations that were significant during the War Between the States. However this book goes the extra mile and puts not only faces, but personalities and experiences on the page. Although lacking a bit in description I enjoyed reading A House Divided Against Itself.
I am not a civil war buff and I admit I was several pages in before I got into the rhythm of this book. However the more I read the more I wanted to read. The 228 pages gave the reader a peak at the challenges faced not just by the soldiers that fought, but their families as well. Each played an important role in the story and the war. This historical fiction went the extra mile and brought the story to its conclusion and was an interesting read.
I am not a civil war buff and I admit I was several pages in before I got into the rhythm of this book. However the more I read the more I wanted to read. The 228 pages gave the reader a peak at the challenges faced not just by the soldiers that fought, but their families as well. Each played an important role in the story and the war. This historical fiction went the extra mile and brought the story to its conclusion and was an interesting read.
June 29, 2012
Historical fiction author Bob O’Connor examines the events of the Civil War battle of Gettysburg from the perspective of four real individuals: brothers John Wesley (known as Wesley) Culp and William Esias Culp, Wesley’s friend Johnston “Jack” Skelly, Jr., and Jack’s sweetheart Mary Virginia “Jennie” Wade, all from Gettysburg.
The Culp brothers found themselves on opposite sides in the fighting and faced each other in battle on at least two occasions. Wesley fought for the South, William and Jack fought for the Union. Through their stories, the reader experiences both the day-to-day routine and the heart-pounding terrors of battle.
O’Connor draws on historical military documents, existing personal records and an empathic interpretation to put the events into fictional monologues from each character’s perspective. These are real people and events. The book allows readers to walk the roads with the soldiers and see things from the enlisted man’s point of view. Actual photographs and maps are scattered throughout the volume. Although labeled fiction, the book’s careful scholarship lifts it to a new level.
There is a highly personal element to the book that draws the reader into the events on a less overwhelming level than many accounts of the war. Yet that same personal aspect makes the situation all the more tragic. The numbing effect of reading about thousands of casualties is negated by the personal accounts in “House.” These are people, not statistics.
“A House Divided Against Itself” takes the reader on a well-written journey into a nation’s nightmare through the eyes of real participants. I place this book on the “must read” list for any Civil War buff as well as those with an interest in American history in general. It delivers historical fact, adventure and romance and does it well.
Disclaimer: This review is based on a copy of the book provided by the author. No constraints were placed on the review. The opinions are my own.
The Culp brothers found themselves on opposite sides in the fighting and faced each other in battle on at least two occasions. Wesley fought for the South, William and Jack fought for the Union. Through their stories, the reader experiences both the day-to-day routine and the heart-pounding terrors of battle.
O’Connor draws on historical military documents, existing personal records and an empathic interpretation to put the events into fictional monologues from each character’s perspective. These are real people and events. The book allows readers to walk the roads with the soldiers and see things from the enlisted man’s point of view. Actual photographs and maps are scattered throughout the volume. Although labeled fiction, the book’s careful scholarship lifts it to a new level.
There is a highly personal element to the book that draws the reader into the events on a less overwhelming level than many accounts of the war. Yet that same personal aspect makes the situation all the more tragic. The numbing effect of reading about thousands of casualties is negated by the personal accounts in “House.” These are people, not statistics.
“A House Divided Against Itself” takes the reader on a well-written journey into a nation’s nightmare through the eyes of real participants. I place this book on the “must read” list for any Civil War buff as well as those with an interest in American history in general. It delivers historical fact, adventure and romance and does it well.
Disclaimer: This review is based on a copy of the book provided by the author. No constraints were placed on the review. The opinions are my own.
July 12, 2012
Although I do not normally read historical fiction, I thought this sounded interesting and jumped at the chance to read and review it. I really enjoyed it. I was not really familiar with the story of the Culps before, and I loved having this gap in my education filled in with such an entertaining story. The format did take a little bit of getting used to, because it jumped back and forth in time as the perspective switched from person to person. However, this allows the reader to experience some of the events from multiple perspectives. The amount of research author Bob O'Connor put into the book was astonishing, and thanks to that research he was able to include photos of the real-life characters, documents, buildings, and grave markers. I found A House Divided Against Itself to be a great read.
March 18, 2015
Very well done. I met the author at a local event and bought the book because I am currently writing a Gettysburg paranormal romance. O'Connor spins an excellent tale based on true events and does an expert job of bringing the real-life historical events to life. I knew what happened to some of the people in real life, while others I didn't know if they lived or died. I found myself on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out who made it out of the war and who was left behind. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews