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Delirium of the Brave
Two Confederate soldiers leave their families to set up fort at Raccoon Island in a last-ditch effort to save their beloved city. The men are killed, but not before hiding the family treasure on Raccoon Island. After many years, four friends will meet on the Island to find where they buried Driscoll's treasure-and to uncover the dangerous secrets of a prominent Savannah family.
A gripping novel of history, intrigue, war, and love, Delirium of the Brave follows four generations of families contemplating the pain of the past and the promise of the future. Get swept away by this glorious saga rich with the sights, sounds, flavors, and people of the South's most stunning locale.
A gripping novel of history, intrigue, war, and love, Delirium of the Brave follows four generations of families contemplating the pain of the past and the promise of the future. Get swept away by this glorious saga rich with the sights, sounds, flavors, and people of the South's most stunning locale.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 10, 2009
I picked up DELIRIUM OF THE BRAVE because I thought it was historical fiction. As it happens, the "historical" portion of the book ends with the first chapter. Then it becomes a generational saga reaching from the 1930s up through the 1990s. I quite enjoyed reading it, but I feel sorry for the agent who had to categorize this debut novel in their pitch to publishers, and the shortcomings to this book make it difficult for me to recommend it without several caveats.
It starts with a Civil War vignette, but it's not historical fiction. It has a brief mystery in it, but the mystery is solved almost immediately. There is a Vietnam character study, but it is so hastily and superficially written that it can't be measured as a major part of the work. There is a huge amount of a religiosity, focusing on Catholic guilt and redemption, but that becomes an annoying subplot rather than a narrative lynchpin. I came to look at DELIRIUM OF THE BRAVE more as a series of set pieces featuring the same characters than I did a truly linear novel. Some characters show up long enough to get you interested in them, and then Mr. Harris makes them disappear for 200 pages.
My writer friends tell me that it is imperative that you say dialogue out loud in order to determine if it feels and sounds "real." It is painfully clear that Mr. Harris either never heard or did not follow this advice. The dialogue is absolutely awful; nobody would actually speak in this stilted, herky-jerky fashion. He is much more successful with his characters' internal, emotional journeys. While some aspects of the story are rushed through in an obvious attempt to get to the next "big plot point," others are explored in an interesting way, and it is this that kept me turning the pages.
There were no surprises here for me - it was fairly easy for me to predict the sequence of events and how the book would end, but DELIRIUM OF THE BRAVE was still mostly pleasant to read for this frequent visitor to Savannah. I'm told that if you grew up in this gorgeous City and are familiar with its denizens, you can guess at the identities from whom Harris borrows for the accuracy of the story. I can make no such claim, but I know I'd be curious to hear what really happened.
Even though this debut had its problems, I'm still looking forward to reading Mr. Harris' follow-up, NO ENEMY BUT TIME. The stories he finds to share are excellent; it will be interesting to see if his writing style improves as he gains experience.
It starts with a Civil War vignette, but it's not historical fiction. It has a brief mystery in it, but the mystery is solved almost immediately. There is a Vietnam character study, but it is so hastily and superficially written that it can't be measured as a major part of the work. There is a huge amount of a religiosity, focusing on Catholic guilt and redemption, but that becomes an annoying subplot rather than a narrative lynchpin. I came to look at DELIRIUM OF THE BRAVE more as a series of set pieces featuring the same characters than I did a truly linear novel. Some characters show up long enough to get you interested in them, and then Mr. Harris makes them disappear for 200 pages.
My writer friends tell me that it is imperative that you say dialogue out loud in order to determine if it feels and sounds "real." It is painfully clear that Mr. Harris either never heard or did not follow this advice. The dialogue is absolutely awful; nobody would actually speak in this stilted, herky-jerky fashion. He is much more successful with his characters' internal, emotional journeys. While some aspects of the story are rushed through in an obvious attempt to get to the next "big plot point," others are explored in an interesting way, and it is this that kept me turning the pages.
There were no surprises here for me - it was fairly easy for me to predict the sequence of events and how the book would end, but DELIRIUM OF THE BRAVE was still mostly pleasant to read for this frequent visitor to Savannah. I'm told that if you grew up in this gorgeous City and are familiar with its denizens, you can guess at the identities from whom Harris borrows for the accuracy of the story. I can make no such claim, but I know I'd be curious to hear what really happened.
Even though this debut had its problems, I'm still looking forward to reading Mr. Harris' follow-up, NO ENEMY BUT TIME. The stories he finds to share are excellent; it will be interesting to see if his writing style improves as he gains experience.
April 23, 2024
A chest containing gold coins and Jewels is buried during the Civil War on remote Racoon Island near Savannah by the Driscoll family to protect it from Sherman. It disappears into history and becomes a legend. For years, four young men, all students at Benedictine Academy, search the island for the treasure and come up empty. Over the intervening years, as they grow up, fall in love, deal with the war in Vietnam and pursue their careers, they are too busy to thing about the treasure. But at a reunion during a St. Patrick Celebration, they go back to the island and find more than they bargained for.. . . a skeleton with a bullet in the head. As the search for the identity of the skeleton progresses, an old secret is revealed and the four young men have to do much soul searching as to what to do.
This book not only chronicles the story of the families of the these four young men but also a high ranking political family and the history of Savannah itself. It is beautifully constructed and written with a compelling plot and well developed characters. I have had this book on my shelf for years and am only sorry I ignored it up until now. I highly recommend it.
This book not only chronicles the story of the families of the these four young men but also a high ranking political family and the history of Savannah itself. It is beautifully constructed and written with a compelling plot and well developed characters. I have had this book on my shelf for years and am only sorry I ignored it up until now. I highly recommend it.
April 3, 2016
3.5 stars. Really liked the ties of people throughout generations and the history that was incorporated. Often found myself googling to find out what was real and what wasn't. I truly couldn't put the book down; at the same time, the entire book felt a little like I was on the outside looking in, and felt that the ending was a bit out there. Rounding to 4 stars as I truly couldn't put it down.
August 15, 2007
This book was written by a doctor right here in Savannah; It follows a few families through a century or so. I loved this book for its descriptions of Savannah. It is also a book that appeals to a wide variety of people; everyone from my high society Aunt to my cowboy father enjoyed it.
May 9, 2020
The story line was engaging but a bit stilted. Too much time spent developing minor characters just to dump them later in the story. There were moments of really great prose which made it worth the reading.
June 14, 2018
The first 50 pages or so weren't bad but then the writing turned, it got amateurish with unnecessary detail that seemed to be designed to simply add words. I finally gave up.
May 21, 2019
This was great book about 2 generations of men and what they went through as boys young men in combat and adult men The journey they took to get them where they became outstanding men
May 23, 2019
A nice change from historical fiction. It’s really a generational saga set in the lowcountry of Savannah. I wasn’t sure what to expect and it was a fascinating read. It’s not really about the Civil War. I did learn however, why Savannah has the second biggest St Patrick’s Day parade in the country!
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May 28, 2022B: The beginning and end were really good; however, the middle was a bit lame.
July 31, 2013
As a home-sick Savannah native, I gave this a 4 star because I enjoyed the over-arching story and the Savannah setting references and descriptions. I found myself wondering a lot about what parts were true and which were completely made up.
I do have to say that this book is in need of a good editor. There were portions of the book that were somewhat confusing due to the abrupt interjection of random characters that were never developed, tangent descriptions of unrelated scenarios and a lack of depth to certain descriptions etc. All that said, the book is still good enough to read and enjoy. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the South or Savannah in particular.
I do have to say that this book is in need of a good editor. There were portions of the book that were somewhat confusing due to the abrupt interjection of random characters that were never developed, tangent descriptions of unrelated scenarios and a lack of depth to certain descriptions etc. All that said, the book is still good enough to read and enjoy. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the South or Savannah in particular.
February 26, 2016
Though it begins with Civil War era events, most of the story takes place in the 60’s, and follows a group of young boys into manhood -- through Vietnam, romance and marriages (and divorces), local political issues, etc. Not well written -- the author’s style maintained a sense of distance between reader and characters, as if he were telling “about” the story rather than letting the story itself unfold.
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January 21, 2016This book began with a story of a Savannah, Georgia family prior to the Civil War. The story carries one through the Civil War and the characters are developed as family members grow old and new children are introduced. The story goes through World War I, World War II and Vietnam. The last part of the book connects with the first part to make the story complete.
May 2, 2012
I really like historical novels. This story is about Savannah, Georgia and a few of the families living there. The story starts during the Civil War and ends in the 1970's. Family treasure was buried to hide it from the Yankees, politics, love and murder, makes it hard to put this book down.
August 21, 2012
Raw Southern historical fiction, spanning generations of Savannah families from the Civil War to modern times. All the usual aspects are here: race relations and good old boy politics,plus murder and a buried treasure. Not great literature, but interesting enough to finish.
August 31, 2013
This was an ok story but as usual there was a bad family who got away with iuyt time after time. I thought in the end it would all work out like these stories usually do.but this time there was a surpriese. Parts of the book was history of the characters that could have been left out.
January 31, 2010
I bought this one summer from Island Booksellers in the Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island.
A great book.
A great book.
February 9, 2011
A compelling story of politics, corruption, murder, romance and buried secrets involving some of Savannah's most prominent families.
May 6, 2012
Fun because of the Savannah - Catholic connection.
June 8, 2016
This story set in Savannah. Written by my dad's foot doctor,
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews