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How Can A Man Die Better
How Can a Man Die Better is a thrilling combination of battle tales, black comedy, and military history flawlessly arranged to convey the stories of Ohio’s place in the American Civil War through the eyes of college professor Cage Carew.
Despite taking every effort to entirely avoid the fighting, Cage finds himself reluctantly submerged in the violence of wartime and undergoes a forced metamorphosis from meek, bookish scholar to vengeance-seeking warrior. His pursuit of revenge for a terrible murder leads Cage to join the army, where he is put in the path of epic battles and real historical characters fleshed out in this rousing fictional tale, including the Union’s Colonel Dan McCook (of the “Fighting McCooks”), General John Wilder, Private Sam Watkins, and General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Roy V. Gaston’s portrayal of the Civil War era reveals the historically true, lesser-known pivotal moments that shaped the outcome of the Civil War. Military history buffs will revel in the author’s meticulously researched depiction of the battles and campaign life. This black comic novel recreates the American Civil War in a vibrant historical adventure that ends in climactic gunfight for the Lost Confederate Gold in the Okefenokee Swamp.
- GenresFiction
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2018
86 people are currently reading
825 people want to read
About the author
Roy V. Gaston
3 books35 followersHow Can A Man Die Better is Roy V. Gaston's first novel, written after he retired from a career supervising housing units in Ohio prisons. Gaston has had a fascination with the American Civil War since his early elementary school days, after discovering Bruce Catton's American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War and David Greenspan's wonderful battlefield map illustrations. A native of Athens, Ohio and a graduate of Ohio University, his favorite genres are historical fiction, noir, hard boiled, Southern Gothic, alternative history, and westerns. He is fan of Harry Flashman, Hitch and Cole, Gus and Woodrow, Hap and Leonard, Spenser and Hawk, Marty and Rusty, Gravedigger and Coffin Ed, Statler and Waldorf, Buck and Roy, Willie and Waylon, and Conspiracy Theories.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 7, 2018
Very interesting and well developed characters in this book, from England, India, the Louisiana swamps, and Ohio. It took a while for the story to come together, but it finally did, embedded loosely in the Civil War battles in Kentucky and Tennessee. I have read a lot of Civil War history, so was gratified that the story stayed true to history in the broad strokes of events. I enjoyed the writing about the battles (from Mr. Carew's perspective) and the (sometimes very) graphic descriptions of carnage and violence. The latter contrasted well with scenes in which the Yankees and Rebels came together for short periods as "friends". Overall a very enjoyable story, even though my favorite character got offed about two-thirds of the way through the book.
April 21, 2018
If you are interest n the civil war you will love this view. Comes from a different direction than you have ever thought of. In the end what every story of this time in war everyone thinks they are right but nobody is right if you have to go to war to settle it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2018
How Can a Man Die Better weaves through time from (about) 1840 to 1870 by snippets of the lives of a VERY diverse bunch. They're real people. Even the ones who aren't real are real people. Some are so totally lovable that you gasp when...well, I don't want to spoil it for you. Others are so despicable that you cheer when they get theirs! A few you HOPE will "get theirs" live to fight another day! It isn't all written in language you'd hear in Sunday School. But, then, neither is life. The first 60 plus pages are backstory. That sounds like a lot but the author weaves backstory into the overall plot in such a way that you can't help but realize every word was necessary. The book is dramatic and humorous, informative and frivolous, mesmerizing and cathartic.It is also historically accurate from the profane mouth of Bull Nelson, to his murder at the hands of the northern Jefferson Davis, to the southern Jefferson Davis's capture in his wife's robe. Whatever else, it's guaranteed not to be a "dreadful bore."
June 26, 2019
Whoa! I was not expecting this! What a well written compelling story. I've read quite a few war and military themed novels, and this book stood out from them all. If you have a weak stomach or are not a fan of violence, you may need to white knuckle through some scenes, but it really is worth it. This book made me see the Civil War in a whole different light. And despite its heavy subject matter, it's a pretty quick read. I really loved this one. Bravo, Gaston!
July 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and this novel beautifully uses fictional characters to bring to life true-life stories from the Civil War. As a Brit, I'm woefully ignorant on this subject, so, for me, this book was not only entertaining but also educational. I particularly enjoyed how the character's lives intertwined and crossed over, and the helpful prologue at the beginning that tells you which characters were real-life people.
December 1, 2018
The beginning of the book introduced several different characters from different backgrounds and places around the world. At first I was confused and wasn’t sure how they were connected but as the book went on all the different characters’ paths started to cross. Once it was clear to see the connection between Carew and Ardent and Devol among other characters, it was very interesting to see the journey that Carew went on in order to avenge the death of Ardent in the midst of the Civil War. I found myself hooked on what would happen next to see how Devol’s evil tirades would finally come to an end.
Overall, this was a fantastic book! Thanks for the giveaway. 😊
Overall, this was a fantastic book! Thanks for the giveaway. 😊
June 24, 2019
This story is immediately immersive, and once I started reading I did not want to put it down. All of the characters were well written, and when the stories come together they blend almost effortlessly into one another.
I liked all of the Victorian slang and colloquialisms. Most of them were easy enough to figure out from context clues, but there were a few that I had to look up.
I also liked that this book begins with a list of historical people, places, and events. I am adding them to my list of things to research further - I love learning things!
I liked all of the Victorian slang and colloquialisms. Most of them were easy enough to figure out from context clues, but there were a few that I had to look up.
I also liked that this book begins with a list of historical people, places, and events. I am adding them to my list of things to research further - I love learning things!
June 21, 2019
Once I started reading, I could not put the book down, and I wouldn't have minded if it was longer.
In this book, you are taken back in time on a blood-soaked adventure that spans the entire world and contains many historical events with a large part of the story taking place during the civil war.
The characters are as diverse as the environments, and many of them are real historical figures. We get a good look at these people and get a real sense of what it was like to live in each location during that time.
The story is extremely violent, and the author describes every bit of the violence with such clarity that will it make you wince a few times as you read the story.
Well told story!
In this book, you are taken back in time on a blood-soaked adventure that spans the entire world and contains many historical events with a large part of the story taking place during the civil war.
The characters are as diverse as the environments, and many of them are real historical figures. We get a good look at these people and get a real sense of what it was like to live in each location during that time.
The story is extremely violent, and the author describes every bit of the violence with such clarity that will it make you wince a few times as you read the story.
Well told story!
May 29, 2018
How Can a Man Die Better is filled with unforgettable characters, some heroic, others utterly demonic. Gaston is a compelling story teller who spends considerable time on character development, creating a very strong sense of place. The novel is not for the squeamish. It is graphic. The early scenes of Francois Devol's depravities and brutally realistic British Colonial combat - against real life warlords Wazir Akbar Khan of Afghanistan 1842 in and Nana Sahib in The Indian Rebellion of 1857 - burn the violence into your mind.
The scene shifts to 1862 America, where the plot follows a pacifist Ohio University professor, "Cage" Carew, whose fiancee is murdered by slave traders, led by Devol, who crossed the Ohio River pursuing a fleeing slave. In hope of finding the killers and exacting vengeance, Cage joins the Union Army and marches off to war.
Cage and his mentors - Captain Lyman Dunnock, a retired officer of the British East India Colonial Wars, the fearless and dashing real life Col. Dan McCook, Ty, a stoic lawman with a mysterious past - and a large cast of colorful of characters, track Devol through the war-torn South inside the actual campaign of the 52nd Ohio Infantry. In some ways, the comfortable, confident bonding of men on a dangerous quest felt like Woodrow F. Call and Gus McCrae's friendship in Lonesome Dove or Robert B. Parker's Hitch and Cole buddy westerns. As soldiers must do in war, they developed a moral code to justify the killing while hanging on to their humanity. All wars are terrible, this one perhaps even more so because of brother against brother.
Aside from the Confederate Army - including Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, Braxton Bragg, Captain Henry Wirz of Andersonville Prison, and the often-quoted PVT. Sam Watkins of Company Aytch - our heroes are up against vividly evil people with bad intentions: Francois Devol, a diabolical slave trader filled with violent, sadistic lust; an orphaned-by-the Queen - seven- -foot tall Thuggee Indian; and their lackey, a Faith-healer/abortionist and general grifter. It's rare, perhaps never in Civil War fiction, that evildoers are so delightedly created to commit such execrable havoc, and certainly never one woven so intricately into in the real events. Filled with these larger-than-life characters, fictional and historical, the historical accuracy is on point, and it is nearly impossible to parse out fact from fiction. The looming showdown between good and evil provides tension throughout the book with plenty of gallows humor along the gripping, suspenseful journey filled with highs and lows, fear and anger, excitement and sorrow.
There are plenty of moments of comedic relief from book's many grim moments, the hard-boiled delightful dialog is a hoot, and the usage of the poetry of the day bares the emotions and motives of the Civil War soldier. How Can A Man Die Better is a gripping, suspenseful journey full of highs and lows, fear and anger, excitement and sorrow.
The scene shifts to 1862 America, where the plot follows a pacifist Ohio University professor, "Cage" Carew, whose fiancee is murdered by slave traders, led by Devol, who crossed the Ohio River pursuing a fleeing slave. In hope of finding the killers and exacting vengeance, Cage joins the Union Army and marches off to war.
Cage and his mentors - Captain Lyman Dunnock, a retired officer of the British East India Colonial Wars, the fearless and dashing real life Col. Dan McCook, Ty, a stoic lawman with a mysterious past - and a large cast of colorful of characters, track Devol through the war-torn South inside the actual campaign of the 52nd Ohio Infantry. In some ways, the comfortable, confident bonding of men on a dangerous quest felt like Woodrow F. Call and Gus McCrae's friendship in Lonesome Dove or Robert B. Parker's Hitch and Cole buddy westerns. As soldiers must do in war, they developed a moral code to justify the killing while hanging on to their humanity. All wars are terrible, this one perhaps even more so because of brother against brother.
Aside from the Confederate Army - including Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, Braxton Bragg, Captain Henry Wirz of Andersonville Prison, and the often-quoted PVT. Sam Watkins of Company Aytch - our heroes are up against vividly evil people with bad intentions: Francois Devol, a diabolical slave trader filled with violent, sadistic lust; an orphaned-by-the Queen - seven- -foot tall Thuggee Indian; and their lackey, a Faith-healer/abortionist and general grifter. It's rare, perhaps never in Civil War fiction, that evildoers are so delightedly created to commit such execrable havoc, and certainly never one woven so intricately into in the real events. Filled with these larger-than-life characters, fictional and historical, the historical accuracy is on point, and it is nearly impossible to parse out fact from fiction. The looming showdown between good and evil provides tension throughout the book with plenty of gallows humor along the gripping, suspenseful journey filled with highs and lows, fear and anger, excitement and sorrow.
There are plenty of moments of comedic relief from book's many grim moments, the hard-boiled delightful dialog is a hoot, and the usage of the poetry of the day bares the emotions and motives of the Civil War soldier. How Can A Man Die Better is a gripping, suspenseful journey full of highs and lows, fear and anger, excitement and sorrow.
August 27, 2018
Great
Lots of action hard to put down. A good read on the civil war. But the West and South parts of the wat.
Lots of action hard to put down. A good read on the civil war. But the West and South parts of the wat.
June 25, 2019
The story starts off in London where a former apprentice named Lyman has possibly killed his employer and also stolen a good size treasure. This allows him to join the military where he has a successful career, albeit one that’s fraught with him surviving unlikely situations. Readers are next introduced to an unsavory character named Devol in Louisiana who begins his story by murdering two of his family members. He then apprentices himself to a quack doctor and befriends a local slave owner. The next character to make an appearance (Ashok) comes from India where he’s a member of the Thuggee cult. After his father surrenders to the authorities, he is sent to America with his uncle where he ends up being captured in a Native American raid. Ashok spends some time with them before going on an unnecessary killing spree and escaping.
The narrative then cuts to the story of a scholar named Cage and his finance Ardent. The young lady is killed in the course of her Abolitionist work along with one of her friends, an African American woman who was one of their town’s brightest stars. Cage naturally swears revenge on those responsible. He then joins the Union army along with a group of his friends to extract his vengeance on the culprits (two of whom were protagonists in the earlier sections of the book) rather than simply hunting them down, which would have made a great deal more sense.
The story does initially present a somewhat interesting take on various cultures and places from the mid 1800s. It should nonetheless contain a strong warning for violence, murder, assault, and other thematic elements that readers may find disturbing. I also found a good many typos. The first few chapters were additionally so full of (what I assume is) period slang that it was hard to figure out what’s going on and this problem occasional crops up in later chapters.
I generally like historical fiction and found parts of the story to be interesting. However, given the amount of battle sequences and some reoccurring elements, it wasn’t entirely to my tastes. I also think the narrative could have been greatly improved by starting off with Cage’s adventures rather than giving readers unnecessary background information on his eventual adversaries and one of his allies before he is ever introduced. Readers simply have to get through a good deal of text first, much of it from unlikable narrators, before they reach the real backbone of the story.
In conclusion, the story is fairly well-written and I’m sure there are plenty of people (action-adventure and historical fiction fans) out there who will enjoy it.
The narrative then cuts to the story of a scholar named Cage and his finance Ardent. The young lady is killed in the course of her Abolitionist work along with one of her friends, an African American woman who was one of their town’s brightest stars. Cage naturally swears revenge on those responsible. He then joins the Union army along with a group of his friends to extract his vengeance on the culprits (two of whom were protagonists in the earlier sections of the book) rather than simply hunting them down, which would have made a great deal more sense.
The story does initially present a somewhat interesting take on various cultures and places from the mid 1800s. It should nonetheless contain a strong warning for violence, murder, assault, and other thematic elements that readers may find disturbing. I also found a good many typos. The first few chapters were additionally so full of (what I assume is) period slang that it was hard to figure out what’s going on and this problem occasional crops up in later chapters.
I generally like historical fiction and found parts of the story to be interesting. However, given the amount of battle sequences and some reoccurring elements, it wasn’t entirely to my tastes. I also think the narrative could have been greatly improved by starting off with Cage’s adventures rather than giving readers unnecessary background information on his eventual adversaries and one of his allies before he is ever introduced. Readers simply have to get through a good deal of text first, much of it from unlikable narrators, before they reach the real backbone of the story.
In conclusion, the story is fairly well-written and I’m sure there are plenty of people (action-adventure and historical fiction fans) out there who will enjoy it.
July 23, 2019
For those who like a tale of murder, revenge and historic battles of the American Civil War, this storyline would make for an interesting read. This story is fairly well-written. I found the slang a bit tedious at times, and I also found a lot of typos. Despite that -- I think this read is one filled with unforgettable characters. It's built on emotions, and it is filled with the good and bad in this world. There are some despicable characters you love to hate and then see them get their just rewards. While there are others polite and likable and also keep you turning the page. I think history buffs would find this a completely different take than most stories about the civil war. Those who like action-adventure would be sure to like, too.
September 4, 2019
How Can A Man Die Better is a good book that is well written. I enjoyed reading this book and would read more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews