This Scorched Earth: A Novel of the Civil War and the American West

by William Gear

The Hancocks of Arkansas were true American pioneers: tough, enterprising, eager to make their own destinies.

Then came the Civil War, the deadly, murderous conflict that sundered the bonds between brothers, destroyed most of a generation, and cast the Hancocks to the winds...

Against this bloody backdrop, filled with the ravages of war and the struggle to rebuild, William Gear draws his readers irresistibly into the hopes, dreams, and despairs of the Hancock siblings: Philip, the doctor whose life is destroyed upon his return home; Butler, the teacher whose path leads to mysticism and insanity; Billy, who fails to protect his mother and sister and, in his guilt, becomes a monster; and Sarah, the stunning beauty who flees West to reinvent herself after surviving a brutal attack.

Through the tragedies and triumphs of a single family, this sprawling epic shows how ordinary people deal with unimaginable devastation, and how the bonds of family can never truly be broken.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Civil War, Historical, Westerns, Audiobook, American Civil War

704 pages, Hardcover

First published April 3, 2018

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a big book with a big story to tell. Following a prominent Arkansas farming family from 1861 through 1868, the Civil War is the centerpiece of this novel. This is not a sugar coated portrayal of the Civil War. The butchery, madness, murder, violation and starvation of both sides (civilian and military) are quite sobering. Butler furnishes a “you are there” view of the battles at Shiloh and Chickamauga which eventually push him over the edge of sanity. There’s a little Carlos Castaneda present in Butler’s story. Philip (Doc) tries to save as many people as possible on and off the battlefield. The carnage is beyond imagining. Their sister, Sarah, does everything she can do just to survive and many of the things she does would never have entered her mind prior to the war. The youngest sibling, Billy, unable to cope with what he felt was a tremendous failure becomes the devil incarnate. In short, all are deeply scarred by their experiences. In some ways, this grand tale is a timely novel. The impact of the Civil War can still be felt today as cities across America debate, remove and relocate symbols of the Confederacy.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Scorched Earth
by William Gear
William Gear is not a new name to historical fiction and with connections to his more famous historical fiction books Coyote Summer, and the Morning River, this is a magnum opus of stories. The dynamic characters bring these controversy to prominence, drawing the reader into changing their mind of the history we learned in school. He dives right into the conflict and controversy of the Civil war. Not from the Northern or the Southern opinion but from the good men and women affected by a war they did not want to join the battle for ideals. He defines his characters as a family that does not agree with slavery. Yet they find themselves forced to rationalize it in defense of their home. His characters are affected profoundly by the politics, and effects of the war. William Gear looks at so many parts and controversies of the turbulent history connected to this battle for freedom, life and choice. The Civil War was a battle of wills, ideals, and controversy that made men fight battles against violent, diversive ideals that tore at the fabric of America. Its repercussions have not yet dissipated in the waves of the world history. William shows the brutal reality of the battles, with the repercussions of technological developments of weapons and tactics that are devastating in their effect. He looks into the medical developments before and after the war that changed society, from surgical practices, to the care and maintenance of prisoners. Particularly the mental health changes that have repercussions with our military today like PTSD and other war time affects. The later half of the book looks into the personal changes that happened to those who survive not only the battles but prison camps, and jayhawkers, and other war atrocities. This family is torn apart limb from limb by the war, as all parts of it is divided and devoured by the evil brought from both sides of the conflict. And just surviving is not an option. This book will bring a new light to an old conflict and show men and women today how the whitewashed history books got it all wrong. War is not glory, it is not fame, it is not ideals but a touch of insanity in a world without reason.

[Lili Naghdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was at the airport waiting for my flight when I realized I'd left the book I was reading at home, so I picked this book from the store shelf and started reading it! I should confess that I really enjoyed reading the whole thing during my whole trip. This is a must-read Civil War epic, in my opinion. I couldn't stop reading it and I think the realistic view of William Gear makes it truly intriguing. "War" can ruin anyone and anything as we all know, but, unfortunately, what it does to the survivors is another world to explore. The main characters are interesting and the plot by itself is inviting. You can get connected to the characters and feel their extent of challenges in a realistic way. Gear put lots of effort into creating this work and I am pleased to give this story 5 stars!

[Brian Durfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping. Brutal. Loved it. Not since Lonesome Dove was I moved by a piece of historical fiction so much. Now off to re-read Gear's Spider trilogy!!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5. A VERY thick novel, in which I was so engrossed I devoured it quickly. A fascinating look at the nitty-gritty of the Civil War and its effects on a simple farm family from Arkansas. Each of the siblings reacts in their own way and afterwards, the siren call of the West pulls them there. I don't think I'll ever look through rose-colored glasses at the Civil War again. They all make new lives for themselves there. I wondered how authentic the author's descriptions of the Indians were later in the novel, when one brother lives among them. Too much sexual description disgusted me in the last half.

Recommended.

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was droning. The Civil War part, that's 300 pages. Then our characters are off on meaningless and pointless travels west. It becomes completely wrapped up in everyone's sex lives, and there isn't any kind of hero's journey. Our characters aren't learning, they aren't growing, and we just have to keep moving. 700 pages is too long for a book that isn't world building. The battles and war are skimmed over so we can get to these travels west.

I wasn't a fan of the war story either. The south is pretty much reduced to "WE WANT SLAVES!" Except for our protagonists, they're inexplicably different, and they will continue to remind you of that. We never see west of Tennessee, or General Lee, who was one of the greatest military minds in all of history. Two of our characters have nothing to do with the war, a third is a doctor, and the fourth becomes an officer because he . . . read classic books?

The officer is in three battles before being in the same place as his doctor brother, so . . . If we can't even get different POVs of the war from different characters, than why is that the premise of the book?

Billy goes from fourteen year-old who likes to hunt with a Native-American and is too young to join the war, to a stone-cold mercenary killer. He also wants to sleep with his sister, you'll get to read all about that.

Sara is brutally gang-raped, but she'll still need a man to save her in the end.

300 pages would have made this a readable, but not great, book, but 700 made this completely unreadable.

[Dan Dundon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Scorched Earth” is not for the faint of heart. Then again, the Civil War was not for the faint of heart. This book is raw and represents the most gruesome account of the war and its aftermath that I’ve ever read.
To be sure, the characters are compelling and the action riveting. It follows one family, the Hancocks, and details how it was torn apart by the war. In many ways it undoubtedly reflects the damage done to many families who were forever affected by the Civil War. Unlike many historical fiction novels where you are likely to forget the main characters, most readers will never forget the characters of Doc, Sarah, Butler and Billy. You become invested in their struggles and hopes.
But beware, the descriptions are graphic, although that element undoubtedly contributes to making the novel so memorable.

[Edie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I became a bit bogged down in the middle of the book but story quickly grabbed me. Somewhat unpleasant during more the graphic descriptions but they needed to be included.

Life was anything but easy during the Civil War.

[Julie Stauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story of this family. The description of the war is very disturbing but true. What I didn't care for was that the story could probably have been told in half the words.

[Ellen Spes · Rating 3 out of 5]

1000 pg book took too long. Learned about Arkansas during civil war. Last 3/4 book not worth it.

[John Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting theme tracing three brothers and a sister from western Arkansas through the Civil War. Story concludes in 1868 Denver.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very compelling read. I love historic fiction because it tells us about the events we learned in history class through the lens and experience of an individual. William Gear has mastered this in his novel bringing an interesting, at times heartbreaking, and captivating perspective on the Civil War.

[Marylee Lannan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the details about life at the time were interesting. The characters seemed more like caricatures than real people.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is long, 700 pages, but it held my attention the whole time. The story centers on the Hancock Family, living in Arkansas, focusing on the four siblings from 1861, before the Civil War, until 1868. The War takes each member of the family far from the path they ever imagined.
Philip, the eldest, studied Medicine in Boston, planning to establish himself as a doctor for those who could afford his services, enlisted as a way to make some money. He remained a field doctor for the entire war, feeling he was inadequate to help, and was scarred with the senseless loss and destruction. Butler, had planned to teach, but was drawn into the war. Initially he acted as a secretary, helping formulate strategies and defenses. When his general is injured he had to assume lead, and the fruitlessness of the fight, and the responsibility of command, left him a different person. Sarah and her mother remained at the homestead with Billy the youngest. They sent Billy away to the woods to protect the animals, and to avoid being conscripted. He knows his duty is to protect the women as best as any 15 year old can and supply them with food from his hunts. Their homestead is taken over and used as a hospital, stripped of anything valuable, such as food and building materials, and attacked by rogue units of the confederacy. The Civil War was a brutal war, leaving so many dead, and changing the landscape and way of life. Post traumatic stress syndrome is recognized now, but clearly left many, many effected in previous wars.

[Tina Osterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge Epic! The Civil War brought HOME!

I have studied war for many years. I read, then re-read the heart of this novel. As an empath I can say William Gear has done something no one has ever done. He had me living a book First person. The colors, sights, smells, sounds, and taste. All turns to unknown ,things change quickly, strange happening, adrenaline, fear, revulsion, abuse, pain, fire and death. No one has control when it's over. The children of the Hancock family move on to find whatever peace they can in a post war world that is moving west. Finding themselves will they each other? Will they find peace? Forced work for and against them in the over the top EPIC tale of survival in a Scorched Earth. I recommend this book to everyone who really cares about why we are who we are.
Thank You my friend William Gear
Sincerely - Tess Cole

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is very dark. I had a hard time caring very deeply about the characters and found it full of needless extremely graphic violence. The historical setting didn’t really provide context so much as it did an excuse for the violence. I expected battle scenes and harsh details but really found it just too much.

[Sandra The Old Woman in a Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Epic 4.5 star novel. This book is billed as a novel
of the Civil War but it is much more. The first half follows an affluent family in northern Arkansas through the prelude and actual fighting of the war. The writing is excellent and the Arkansas perspective was especially interesting as this region is rarely covered in Civil War fiction. It seems well researched as every aspect I did further research on supported the novel. The author, rather than presenting a heroic battle fighting story, focuses more on the impact of war on individuals. The reader of course knows the war’s outcome but the detailed descriptions through the eyes of his characters makes the experience so vivid it is not for the squeamish. The second half of the book is where I was completely drawn in though. Very little is written about the impact of the Civil War on westward expansion. This book ties together the trauma and related pathology to individuals and how many of those severely damaged people went West. They did so because they no longer had homes or more likely because they were so damaged,hurt, disillusioned by the war they left the East. These individuals and their pathos fed the Indian Wars, the gambling houses, the brothels, the competition for resources and the outlaw mentality of the late 19th century Wild West. This thesis the detailed exploration of individuals through the experiences of one family was masterful. If you enjoy history and psychology and are comfortable reading a graphic exploration of war and its aftermath, or if the HBO series Deadwood hooked you, you will likely appreciate this novel. I check Arkansas off my 2019 50 state challenge. For more states to get to.

[Vic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerfully entertaining and worthy of five stars. First and foremost, I couldn't stop reading the story. Solid characters driving an interesting story that covered a lot of ground in a relatively short span of time. From Arkansas at the beginning of the American Civil War to San Francisco seven years later. Second, solid characters to care about—one family's series of tragic events and how the war changed the lives of four siblings and all their dreams of the future. Third, did I mention the characters?

Gear is a wonderful story teller. Don't be fooled by the lack of publications under the name William Gear. Look up W. Michael Gear and there are literally dozens upon dozens of stories ranging from first class science fiction to the history of Native Americans. A prolific writer who came to fame literally writing a history of Native Americans with his wife Kathleen O'Neil Gear. Elements of this work, This Scorched Earth: A Novel of the Civil War and the American West, have appeared in various other stories over the years and long time fans will recognize his unmistakable writing style.

The story of the Hancock family as war came to their part of rural Arkansas is nothing short of an American tragedy. It's relevance in the timeline of our nation's history strikes a particularly macabre note as current day Americans bandy about talk of another Civil War, most likely by those ignorant of history. Ignorant of the wreckage of lives and loss of personal property that resulted from rich white men insisting on the right to enslave another human being, but needing the poor to do the fighting. Dress it up any way you choose, but the southern states in the 1860s were willing to blow up our fledgling nation for the right to own people.

Gear is very particular in how he portrays war. Without judgment or delving into issues of morality, he instead focuses on the impact of the war on the soldiers. Bodies being blown to bits in graphic detail. The extreme devastation of life and limb. And like with all wars, it's often the young and innocent who bear the brunt of the maiming and killing.

In, This Scorched Earth, Gear follows the lives of three brothers and a sister whose lives are broken by the war: rape, human degradation, shattered souls and wounded hearts. Innocence lost. Minds lost. Love lost. As the war dragged on for years, evil was unleashed on America. Families torn apart. A lifetime of hard work stripped bare or burnt to the ground. Death, starvation, mental illness and permanent physical disabilities spreading like a plague as armies fought, neighbors turned on neighbors and bad actors pillaged and plundered with impunity.

Each of the siblings suffered their own personal hell. Each absorbed tragedy after tragedy; and finding themselves traveling the road to perdition, each must look deep into heart and soul. Either find a way to carry on or give in to the darkness that has stolen the light from their eyes.

It was not difficult to see where Gear was taking his story. He built, This Scorched Earth, around survival and redemption. Free from religious teachings about morality and sin, and by allowing his characters to simply react, respond and navigate their lives as human beings responding to circumstances, This Scorched Earth, is classic Gear: a novel showcasing the best and the worst of human nature.

I thought the story had a little bit of a pulp fiction feel to it, only more complex and nuanced. In some ways his characters are archetypes and easy to identify with. Most everything is out in the open: low hanging fruit to be enjoyed without much effort, as well as deeper concepts and ideas to be mulled over. This Scorched Earth is another fine piece of writing that will only further cement Gear's standing as an outstanding American novelist.

[Earl McDermitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work is subtitled "A Novel of the Civil War and the American West." A number of reviewers have commented at length about the Civil War part (the first 300 pages). I felt much more drawn in by the American West portion (the last 400 pages).

As many have stated, this is a dark and often bleak novel, yet there are windows of hope scattered throughout. The choices made by the protagonists were a mix of obvious, questionable, and infuriating. I found myself identifying with all four primary characters. I felt for them and with them, and I was rewarded by accompanying the Hancocks on this journey.

This Scorched Earth was a Finalist for the 2019 Spur Award for Best Western Historical Novel.

[Linda Bridgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over 100 chapters covering four siblings from around Fayetteville, Arkansas in post civil war era. Their mother and father were able to homeschool and sent older two for higher education and only daughter with ambition of marriage to a Little Rock man of wealth. Her father was in politics and war strategy at the Little Rock's capitol but their plan for introduction to a suitor was ended by the Pea Ridge battle bringing pillage to their home. The elder brother, Butler, commanded a regiment and Phillip was a medical doctor who patched the wounded. The youngest, Billie, ran with an Indian brave and had excellent hunting, shooting, and tracking skills. Sarah and her mother were left at home and were not able to stop the hardships of what war brings to most. The author follows the next decade of these separated lives of the siblings and takes you to Wyoming, Colorado, Texas and California. How does each survive or do they?

[Veronica Shields · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of the elements are there for an epic family story, but somewhere in the plotting, the author lost sight of the connecting thread that made this family’s story worth telling. In other places, the gravitas of certain events in the novel is undermined by weaker prose and muddled attempts at reflecting war, patriarchy, and poverty without having a clear image to what greater purpose the characters’ endless suffering serves to the greater narrative. Instead, we find ourselves meandering through disconnected storylines that are often poorly tethered to each other.

Still, it was engaging enough for me to make it through nearly 700 pages of content. With a strong editor, this could have been a novel worthy of its page count, but I warn interested readers that you may find as I did that, while the attempt and ambition is laudable, the story may not earn the size of the investment required.

[Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big surprise. I didn't know the author and was expecting another quick read Western when I downloaded the book.
This Scorched Earth is a great Saga set before, during and after the American Civil War. The Hancocks of West Arkansas are farming family with two well educated sons. The older a Boston educated doctor and surgeon, the younger a classics scholar. The two younger siblings still on the farm with Maw.
The Civil War is presented in its full gory detail with the siblings scattered and scarred by the War. Maw shot down at the farm. Paw assumed dead. The brothers are re-united in a Union POW camp in Chicago and struggle together after the War ends. I will say no more.

A recommended must read.

[Patricia Stoltey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has ever glorified war should read This Scorched Earth. I couldn't stop reading, even though the battle scenes are gruesome (realistic instead of romanticized) and the horrors of war planted firmly in the lives of the main characters. This is the story of a family whose members are scattered to different parts of the country during and after the war, each surviving but damaged in different ways. The first part of the novel is the war, and the second part is the aftermath. The only reason I gave the book four stars instead of five is because I like tighter writing. Doc's sharp scalpel could have pared this book from 698 pages to 400 without losing much of the story.

[Elgin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and entertaining story about a well-to-do Ankansas farm family and the devastating changes to their lives caused by the Civil War. Going off to war is bad enough, but this book describes the horror of actually trying to live where the war is taking place. Both confederate and Union and local renegrade militias swept through the family farm again and again, destroying property and lives. The family is scattered and Gears marvelous story follows them through the war and post war years. A bit bloody (especially the descriptions of battle scenes at Shiloh and Chickamunga) but well worth reading. Highly recommended.

[Taryn Braband · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and would give it a solid 4 stars. I couldn't give it 5 because there was too much sex (repetitively) and some of the story meandered to the point of, well, to almost no point. However, I did like many of the main characters and I enjoyed many of the themes of the book. I guess I wished that they would have learned more and grown more (although the three older siblings did grow, in their own ways). In any event, I particularly like the genre and I thought the book was interesting.

[Flowergarden24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw, down and dirty, rough and really good! This is not a civil war book about bravery and heroism but rather an up close look into a family affected in many different terrible ways by the reality of war.
It is gruesome and harsh but writing about the civil war in a nice way is not realistic. I looked further into the real people and places mentioned which is interesting. The ending was not sweet and wonderful but fine and just. This is a good old time reminder that we should be careful of the paths we take today.

[Satchmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a seriously long book about a dysfunctional family that endures and survives the Civil War to each become bat ass crazy in their own peculiar and disturbing ways. The character development is so slowly and thoroughly developed you know exactly why they are crazy and you can hardly blame them. There is no sugar coating the war and its aftermath here. You get it all in its senseless brutality. It was a bit too long, a bit too tedious at times, and way to crude to merit five stars but it's a very interesting and well written historical novel.

[Steve Cushman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is could have been great, but it loses it’s way. The Saga of the Hancock family is good, great twists and turns. Not being a prude, I found a lot of the sexual content to be more than a little twisted. While I know that ties to the violence of the times, much of it seemed to be over the top. Twisted sex just for the sake of it. Not really adding to the story. On the back of the book someone calls it the “Lonesome Dove” of our decade.”Lonesome Dove” was literature, this comes nowhere near that high praise.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellant story. civil war era.

family of absent father and beautiful daughter. three sons as different as night and day. youngest good of nothing but hunting, one brilliant and one very delicate. tough mother. these characters play out during and after civil war.

such tragedy, none of them have easy or happy life. surprising where they end up, some dead, one in wilderness and two wealthy in san Francisco. no, you wont be able to pick out their ending at the first of the story.

worth the long read.

[Christine Irvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the epic story of the Hancock family: Ma, Pa, Philip, Butler, Sara and Billy. They lived in Arkansas. The story takes place during a seven-year period, 1861-1868. It begins just before the Civil War starts, and ends few years after the war.

In the telling of the tale, author William Gear not only shows how something as horrible as war can tear families apart, but he also throws lots of historical information into the narrative, even though the story is a fictional one.

It's just over 700 pages of fairly small print, but it's well worth the read.