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The Heavens Falling: A Novel of the American Civil War
The first installment in a sweeping family saga that will convey the reader through the drama and sorrow of the American Civil War. Follow the members of one Pittsburgh family as they embark on a journey through America's most consequential and searing experience. From the halls of Congress to the bloody fields of battle, from the windswept decks of gunboats to the solitude of Lincoln's telegraph office, The Heavens Falling will transport you into the middle of this harrowing American experience, while plumbing the deepest depths of its meaning for the world of today.
670 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2023
35 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Lucci
4 books2 followers I sincerely believe that fiction can put us in touch with the most meaningful mysteries and truths of our human experience. My writing is admittedly prone to jumping genres, and someone who loves one book may not necessarily care for another. Nevertheless, I hope that in some small way my writing can help others grapple with the meaning of the past and the promise of the future.
My education is in history, philosophy and Catholic theology. As such, my writings fall into two very distinct categories: historical fiction and what I hope are intellectually challenging works of religious and supernatural fiction.
Born in Pittsburgh, I was raised by the best people I’ve ever known. I attended Franciscan University, worked as a political speechwriter, and I now co-own a highly successful business with locations in five states. I live for my wife and my cat, Sidney.
Please enjoy my work.
My education is in history, philosophy and Catholic theology. As such, my writings fall into two very distinct categories: historical fiction and what I hope are intellectually challenging works of religious and supernatural fiction.
Born in Pittsburgh, I was raised by the best people I’ve ever known. I attended Franciscan University, worked as a political speechwriter, and I now co-own a highly successful business with locations in five states. I live for my wife and my cat, Sidney.
Please enjoy my work.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 2, 2023
I loved this story. It’s beautifully written and the descriptions reminded me of how The Gentleman in Moscow was written. The whole book is very erudite. Theology,morality, philosophy, are mixed with the shocking violence and reality of battle.
These brothers are each dealing with their own shit but are trying to survive the civil war. And their issues are so familiar.
I learned so much about the American Civil War from this book. I had some background knowledge of battles and leaders, but this book laid everything out in a chronological order that you can see the cause and effect of the events. You can see how everything played out and why. I’ve learned about battles and people as isolated events and individuals but this book put everything together for me.
Ok, I maybe a tiny bias because I’m married to the author, but this review is an honest one. As a slight insight, our house is full of books. Like over a thousand. Like storage is an issue. When people come over, I pretend they are all mine for fun. I am extremely proud of my husband and admire his freakish intellect. Now that he is finished writing the first book of the series, I’ll be able to get him to take out the trash! 😂
These brothers are each dealing with their own shit but are trying to survive the civil war. And their issues are so familiar.
I learned so much about the American Civil War from this book. I had some background knowledge of battles and leaders, but this book laid everything out in a chronological order that you can see the cause and effect of the events. You can see how everything played out and why. I’ve learned about battles and people as isolated events and individuals but this book put everything together for me.
Ok, I maybe a tiny bias because I’m married to the author, but this review is an honest one. As a slight insight, our house is full of books. Like over a thousand. Like storage is an issue. When people come over, I pretend they are all mine for fun. I am extremely proud of my husband and admire his freakish intellect. Now that he is finished writing the first book of the series, I’ll be able to get him to take out the trash! 😂
August 12, 2023
Jonathan Lucci has put together a really good story that involves one family and how the father and their five sons get involved in the Civil War in their own individual ways. Historical characters are included in the story and from President Lincoln, down to the privates in the Army and seamen in the Navy give the story its multi-dimensional depth. Without spoilers, this book was enjoyable from beginning to end. I enjoyed reading the way Lucci included the fear, anger, and even rage of real people influenced their actions in combat and because of the war. The only thing I would like to know is what happened to the others? (The other What? The other Who? Read it to find out.) That's the only thing that kept me from giving 5 stars. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction and even to those who love any kind of fiction because it is well-written, well-researched, and an all around good story.
August 9, 2023
The Heavens Falling is a piece of historical fiction that uses the 1960s civil rights struggles as a framing sequence to explore the story of two brothers fighting in the American Civil War. It's dense, meticulously researched, and also concerned with the human cost of war. Not only is the perspective of soldiers on the ground represented, but the political maneuverings of those far up the chain of command are also explored. The author captures the cadence of that era's writing very well, and those looking for a lengthy historical novel to dive into will likely enjoy.
August 12, 2023
Right from the beginning this novel keeps you gripped. There is a lot of sentiment in this novel that rings through in the passages related to the American Civil War. The author got the feeling of the difficulties faced by do many during that time.
The author managed to get the feeling's across at a general level as well as at a personal level with the brother’s.
Very well written, chronological and informative, this novel is as much of a diary as a gripping story of the war and how a family was affected.
The author managed to get the feeling's across at a general level as well as at a personal level with the brother’s.
Very well written, chronological and informative, this novel is as much of a diary as a gripping story of the war and how a family was affected.
August 21, 2023
A rousing novel of the War Between the States
The Heavens Falling follows the experiences of five male members of a Pennsylvania family during the war from its beginning until 1862. The father, William Dawson, becomes a congressman while his sons go off to the war in various theaters as both officers and enlisted men, and one as a civilian employee in Washington. This allows for various aspects of the conflict to be thoroughly explored.
The battle scenes are well written and appropriately horrifying and the history well researched. Historical figures are also honestly portrayed. There is a focus on the evils of slavery, as well as the fact that it was not the important aspect to everyone who participated in the war.
The weakest part of the book was the beginning, a character analysis of each of the Dawsons, which perhaps could have been done better by showing us the various facets of each man’s character rather than spending too many words telling us.
It is also important to note that the novel is unfinished, taking us only to 1862.
The Heavens Falling follows the experiences of five male members of a Pennsylvania family during the war from its beginning until 1862. The father, William Dawson, becomes a congressman while his sons go off to the war in various theaters as both officers and enlisted men, and one as a civilian employee in Washington. This allows for various aspects of the conflict to be thoroughly explored.
The battle scenes are well written and appropriately horrifying and the history well researched. Historical figures are also honestly portrayed. There is a focus on the evils of slavery, as well as the fact that it was not the important aspect to everyone who participated in the war.
The weakest part of the book was the beginning, a character analysis of each of the Dawsons, which perhaps could have been done better by showing us the various facets of each man’s character rather than spending too many words telling us.
It is also important to note that the novel is unfinished, taking us only to 1862.
June 4, 2025
Fantastic - Well Researched
I’ve been a student of the Civil War for over 50 years and decided to take a break from denser reads on the subject. Ended up enjoying this novel immensely... I listened to the author interviewed on Addressing Gettysburg and was impressed with the host’s recommendation. I’m downloading the sequel now. Great summer read!
I’ve been a student of the Civil War for over 50 years and decided to take a break from denser reads on the subject. Ended up enjoying this novel immensely... I listened to the author interviewed on Addressing Gettysburg and was impressed with the host’s recommendation. I’m downloading the sequel now. Great summer read!
December 24, 2023
a good novel and start of a series
As a first book which must be a set, this novel captured my attention and carried it through the year prior to the start of the Civil War and into 1862.
Well written, detail driven, a truly readable book.
Highly recommend.
As a first book which must be a set, this novel captured my attention and carried it through the year prior to the start of the Civil War and into 1862.
Well written, detail driven, a truly readable book.
Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews