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The Photographer's Boy: A Novel
A set of antique photographic plates is the key to uncovering hidden truths of the Civil War, Great Depression, and 9/11 eras in this “unflinching” novel (Publishers Weekly). A teenage boy and his grandfather travel across America to attend that last great reunion of Civil War veterans at Gettysburg in 1938, where secrets and lies are revealed about the old man’s past. Perhaps he was not the hero his grandson thought, but he still has a valuable treasure to reveal, which will shed intriguing light on the war and his part in it. Interweaving three periods of crisis in American history—the Civil War, the Depression, and 9/11—The Photographer’s Boy explores the power of photography and journalism to inform or mislead; raises questions about love; and offers “an unflinching but sympathetic, often touching, look at the comforting fictions people wrap themselves in to protect themselves from the cold of reality” (Publishers Weekly).
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2013
14 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Bates
6 books9 followersI am a British journalist and author. In a 36 year career in Britain, until 2012, I worked for the BBC, the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail and for the last 22 years for the Guardian. I specialised at various times in covering education, politics, Europe and the European Union, religion and British royalty and I reported from more than 40 countries across the world.
The Photographer's Boy is my first novel and has been more than a decade in the making. Set against the background of the US Civil War, it's a story of journalism, early war photographers, war and politics: there's even a little sex.
I've previously written three books combining my twin interests of history and journalism: A Church at War was about the struggle over homosexuality in worldwide Anglicanism; God's Own Country was about the history of American religion and politics and Asquith was a short biography of the Edwardian prime minister H.H. Asquith. I also edited the Bedside Guardian 2012: the annual anthology of the paper's best articles.
I've been fascinated by American history ever since I was a student more than 40 years ago and have visited (and reported from) the US many times - including the locations and battlefields of my novel.
I have two more books coming out next year: both history and both non-fiction:
An Immense Scheme in View: Britain in 1846 is about the great political, economic and social upheavals at the heart of Victorian politics.
And The Poisoner: The Short Life and Deep Crimes of William Palmer is about a man Charles Dickens called "the greatest villain ever to stand in the Old Bailey dock", a serial killer whose trial transfixed the nation, from Queen Victoria downwards. But did anyone ever really prove that he was guilty? Read the book from next Spring and find out!
I live in Kent, England, have been married to Alice for 27 years and we have three grown-up children. I was brought up a Roman Catholic but covering religious affairs managed finally to kill off my faith, so I am now an agnostic.
Hope this tells you a little bit about me and my latest books!
The Photographer's Boy is my first novel and has been more than a decade in the making. Set against the background of the US Civil War, it's a story of journalism, early war photographers, war and politics: there's even a little sex.
I've previously written three books combining my twin interests of history and journalism: A Church at War was about the struggle over homosexuality in worldwide Anglicanism; God's Own Country was about the history of American religion and politics and Asquith was a short biography of the Edwardian prime minister H.H. Asquith. I also edited the Bedside Guardian 2012: the annual anthology of the paper's best articles.
I've been fascinated by American history ever since I was a student more than 40 years ago and have visited (and reported from) the US many times - including the locations and battlefields of my novel.
I have two more books coming out next year: both history and both non-fiction:
An Immense Scheme in View: Britain in 1846 is about the great political, economic and social upheavals at the heart of Victorian politics.
And The Poisoner: The Short Life and Deep Crimes of William Palmer is about a man Charles Dickens called "the greatest villain ever to stand in the Old Bailey dock", a serial killer whose trial transfixed the nation, from Queen Victoria downwards. But did anyone ever really prove that he was guilty? Read the book from next Spring and find out!
I live in Kent, England, have been married to Alice for 27 years and we have three grown-up children. I was brought up a Roman Catholic but covering religious affairs managed finally to kill off my faith, so I am now an agnostic.
Hope this tells you a little bit about me and my latest books!
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 7, 2013
Civil War Fiction: The Photographer's Boy by Stephen Bates
Title: The Photographer’s Boy
Author: Stephen Bates
Genre: Historical Fiction/Contemporary
Publisher: Premier
Available: July 22, 2013
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary: Gene and Izzie Hofsettler are an upscale NY couple who buy a rural home in Massachusetts after the 9/11, to get away from the madness from the city. While renovating the home to transform it to a Bed and Breakfast, they come across a trunk of old photographers plates from what appears to be the Civil War. The author then brings the reader back in time to the Civil War era and also the 1930s to discover who the photographer was in his youth and in his old age. There are real stories of these characters buried in the action of the various time frames – stories of mistakes and heartaches, and yet of honor.
Review: This is a very different book for a lot of reasons. It’s hard to decide who the main character is, as in the various pieces of the story, the main emphasis is not on the same character. The pieces of the story fit together in an odd way. The reader is pulled into a commentary on how our culture has shifted in the 150 years since the Civil War. In fact, in many ways, the Civil War has been marginalized and left to a group of reinactors, who (according to the story), may or may not represent it in a positive way. We see that the youth of today’s culture do not understand it at all.
The part that I most enjoyed was the story of how Albert came to be “The Photographer’s Boy”- and the details shared about Matthew Brady and his group of photographer’s assistants. It discussed his famous gallery and portrait studio and the thinking behind the creation of these post battle shots. These men were the paparazzi of their day – following the army and waiting for the battle to end so they could record it. They were another kind of pioneer in the era as well. There was no established code of conduct for this type of thing and they made it up as they went along. The author uses actual Civil War photos from the era and weaves their creation into the story.
I enjoyed the book, but ultimately it is a sorrowful tale – talking of cultures past and the present that refuses to see it. Although the contemporary storyline carries the plot, it is the detail of the past that will draw the reader into the action.
Note: I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
Title: The Photographer’s Boy
Author: Stephen Bates
Genre: Historical Fiction/Contemporary
Publisher: Premier
Available: July 22, 2013
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary: Gene and Izzie Hofsettler are an upscale NY couple who buy a rural home in Massachusetts after the 9/11, to get away from the madness from the city. While renovating the home to transform it to a Bed and Breakfast, they come across a trunk of old photographers plates from what appears to be the Civil War. The author then brings the reader back in time to the Civil War era and also the 1930s to discover who the photographer was in his youth and in his old age. There are real stories of these characters buried in the action of the various time frames – stories of mistakes and heartaches, and yet of honor.
Review: This is a very different book for a lot of reasons. It’s hard to decide who the main character is, as in the various pieces of the story, the main emphasis is not on the same character. The pieces of the story fit together in an odd way. The reader is pulled into a commentary on how our culture has shifted in the 150 years since the Civil War. In fact, in many ways, the Civil War has been marginalized and left to a group of reinactors, who (according to the story), may or may not represent it in a positive way. We see that the youth of today’s culture do not understand it at all.
The part that I most enjoyed was the story of how Albert came to be “The Photographer’s Boy”- and the details shared about Matthew Brady and his group of photographer’s assistants. It discussed his famous gallery and portrait studio and the thinking behind the creation of these post battle shots. These men were the paparazzi of their day – following the army and waiting for the battle to end so they could record it. They were another kind of pioneer in the era as well. There was no established code of conduct for this type of thing and they made it up as they went along. The author uses actual Civil War photos from the era and weaves their creation into the story.
I enjoyed the book, but ultimately it is a sorrowful tale – talking of cultures past and the present that refuses to see it. Although the contemporary storyline carries the plot, it is the detail of the past that will draw the reader into the action.
Note: I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 2, 2013
"The Photographer's Boy" by Stephen Bates is an intriguing tale of intertwined and parallel narratives spanning 140 years.
Part of the book is set in the Civil War, follows war time photographers and amazingly describes their work and some of the battles. It uses some real people and some fictional characters and in the course of this narrative the reader learns much about the tricks of the trade at the time and the technology used.
In a separate narrative Jim, the grandson of the photographer Alfred, loves playing out Civil War battles by himself and he meets Annabelle-Lee, although their liaison is not well received and stirs up latent issues between the families in the early 20th century.
The third narrative is set in the times following 9/11. The new owners of the photographer's old house, find some photographic plates and wonder if they can make some money from it. Annabelle-Lee one day comes to their home and tells them her story.
Not a fan of overly complex narrative structures I had a hard time settling in, but gradually was won over by the informative and entertaining story.
There are also some great lines and thoughtful passages on the morals of photography, such as truth versus sensationalism, cults created from pictures and the difficulty to guarantee their authenticity.
Part of the book is set in the Civil War, follows war time photographers and amazingly describes their work and some of the battles. It uses some real people and some fictional characters and in the course of this narrative the reader learns much about the tricks of the trade at the time and the technology used.
In a separate narrative Jim, the grandson of the photographer Alfred, loves playing out Civil War battles by himself and he meets Annabelle-Lee, although their liaison is not well received and stirs up latent issues between the families in the early 20th century.
The third narrative is set in the times following 9/11. The new owners of the photographer's old house, find some photographic plates and wonder if they can make some money from it. Annabelle-Lee one day comes to their home and tells them her story.
Not a fan of overly complex narrative structures I had a hard time settling in, but gradually was won over by the informative and entertaining story.
There are also some great lines and thoughtful passages on the morals of photography, such as truth versus sensationalism, cults created from pictures and the difficulty to guarantee their authenticity.
June 2, 2016
Set in three different eras of US history – the 1860s of the Civil War, the 1930s and the present day – this well-researched and potentially interesting novel never quite fulfils its promise. Although I enjoyed the period detail, especially the scenes with Matthew Brady and his photography, ultimately the book failed to engage me. The characterisation is shallow, the prose workaday and the integration of the three time periods weak. Overall I found the novel bland and uninteresting.
July 6, 2025
Interesting story, great research - annoying vocabulary
I really liked this story. It was dramatic and interesting, and the historical facts were spot on. It was really hard to slog through, though, because although it was historical fiction set in 1863,1938 and 2002 America, the vernacular was strictly British. It was distracting to see “colour”, “humour”, “favour” and the like, and to have the main characters, especially the modern ones, consistently use British dialogue (we called it an answering machine, not an “answerphone”). Perhaps the author should have made Gene and Izzie British expats? That would have helped immensely. And the characters were forever “murmering” - is that a misspelling, or is it spelled that way in the UK? AND the weird lack of commas: “What are you saying Grandfather?” Not just once but throughout the book. Again, just annoying but because these things completely permeated the book, it detracted from it A LOT. It makes me wonder: do Americans write books about the UK and have the Brits using American slang and spelling? If so, I apologize on their behalf. It’s just wrong.
I really liked this story. It was dramatic and interesting, and the historical facts were spot on. It was really hard to slog through, though, because although it was historical fiction set in 1863,1938 and 2002 America, the vernacular was strictly British. It was distracting to see “colour”, “humour”, “favour” and the like, and to have the main characters, especially the modern ones, consistently use British dialogue (we called it an answering machine, not an “answerphone”). Perhaps the author should have made Gene and Izzie British expats? That would have helped immensely. And the characters were forever “murmering” - is that a misspelling, or is it spelled that way in the UK? AND the weird lack of commas: “What are you saying Grandfather?” Not just once but throughout the book. Again, just annoying but because these things completely permeated the book, it detracted from it A LOT. It makes me wonder: do Americans write books about the UK and have the Brits using American slang and spelling? If so, I apologize on their behalf. It’s just wrong.
January 11, 2014
Excellent review in Publishers' Weekly:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1...
Chance saves Gene from a seat on United Flight 93; post-9/11 trauma sends timorous Gene Hofsettler and wife Isabelle to the backwater refuge of small town New England. There, they find a hidden trove of old photographic plates, relics dating back to the American Civil War. Their effort to learn more about the plates and their creation provides the frame for two linked stories, the tale of a young photographer Alfred Barker in the Civil War and the story of Barker's grandson Jim's ill-fated romance with would-be actress Annabelle-Lee Morrow. The three stories—modern, Depression era and Civil War—cast an illuminating light on the fables people tell themselves and on the realities many prefer to forget. The Civil War photographs, seemingly clear in content and meaning, take on new significance in fuller context; what appears to be simple documentation proves more akin to pandering sensationalism. Similarly, the simple stories people tell themselves about romance and family prove unreliable guides to the complexities of life. Veteran British Journalist and non-fiction author Bates' debut novel is an unflinching but sympathetic, often touching, look at the comforting fictions people wrap themselves in to protect themselves from the cold of reality. Agent: Charlie Viney, The Viney Agency. (July)
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1...
Chance saves Gene from a seat on United Flight 93; post-9/11 trauma sends timorous Gene Hofsettler and wife Isabelle to the backwater refuge of small town New England. There, they find a hidden trove of old photographic plates, relics dating back to the American Civil War. Their effort to learn more about the plates and their creation provides the frame for two linked stories, the tale of a young photographer Alfred Barker in the Civil War and the story of Barker's grandson Jim's ill-fated romance with would-be actress Annabelle-Lee Morrow. The three stories—modern, Depression era and Civil War—cast an illuminating light on the fables people tell themselves and on the realities many prefer to forget. The Civil War photographs, seemingly clear in content and meaning, take on new significance in fuller context; what appears to be simple documentation proves more akin to pandering sensationalism. Similarly, the simple stories people tell themselves about romance and family prove unreliable guides to the complexities of life. Veteran British Journalist and non-fiction author Bates' debut novel is an unflinching but sympathetic, often touching, look at the comforting fictions people wrap themselves in to protect themselves from the cold of reality. Agent: Charlie Viney, The Viney Agency. (July)
July 23, 2014
A special thanks goes to NetGalley and Open Road Media for a free advance download of The Photographer's Boy by Stephen Bates.
The Photographer's Boy is the fictional account of Alfred Barker, an assistant to a photographer of the battlefields of the Civil War. As Alfred travels to the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, his story unfolds as he shares his life with his traveling companions. The Photographer's Boy was educational; I learned of the art of early photography, of the battle, and of life during Civil War days. I'm recommending this one to everyone.
The Photographer's Boy is the fictional account of Alfred Barker, an assistant to a photographer of the battlefields of the Civil War. As Alfred travels to the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, his story unfolds as he shares his life with his traveling companions. The Photographer's Boy was educational; I learned of the art of early photography, of the battle, and of life during Civil War days. I'm recommending this one to everyone.
April 7, 2015
I am a Civil War Fan, because as a child I visited the Petersburg Battle site many times on family vacations. I am drawn to the tragedy suffered by the troops on both sides, their families, what those innocent in the south had to endure, and Abraham Lincoln's presidency. This book weaves real events in the Civil War with a fictional story to show what life was like for those first war photographers, a little known fact about abortion during that era and the tragedy of lost loves and tangled lives. It is 150 years of history tied together and without being "prettified".
June 7, 2014
Civil War Controversy
I enjoyed reading this book. I am not usually a fan of stories about the Civil War, but this one intrigued me because of the characters and the intertwining of their lives.
I also wanted to learn about the controversy concerning some of the photographs of that era.
I enjoyed reading this book. I am not usually a fan of stories about the Civil War, but this one intrigued me because of the characters and the intertwining of their lives.
I also wanted to learn about the controversy concerning some of the photographs of that era.
March 14, 2017
Interesting story
Anyone interested in history and the Civil War would appreciate this book. Characters were well developed and descriptions of life in the 30's was interesting, but the repeated emphasis on how photos were taken then and the redundant telling about all the dead soldiers laying on the battlefields got to be a little boring in the first part of the book.
Anyone interested in history and the Civil War would appreciate this book. Characters were well developed and descriptions of life in the 30's was interesting, but the repeated emphasis on how photos were taken then and the redundant telling about all the dead soldiers laying on the battlefields got to be a little boring in the first part of the book.
July 16, 2014
Very interesting book that floats between time periods and characters. Unfortunately lack of editing muddles up the book somewhat but the story is well told and held my interest. I would recommend this story on many levels
January 31, 2015
The story was very good, but the book is in desperate need of an editor. The author is British and he uses many British expressions that we don't use in the U. S. I enjoyed it and am interested in other books by this author.
March 22, 2015
I learned a lot about the photography of the Civil War, mechanical as well as attitude. This book is written in 3 distinct time periods. The author jumps around and at times the text is very confusing.
July 29, 2019
Fascinating.
I liked how this story was arranged. Going back and forth from the past to the present. Getting to know each of the characters from their viewpoint. This is a book that will be placed in my read again file.
I liked how this story was arranged. Going back and forth from the past to the present. Getting to know each of the characters from their viewpoint. This is a book that will be placed in my read again file.
August 22, 2014
Good read.
July 21, 2014
Fasicnating
Fasicnating
A wonderful glimpse into the early photojournalist and what it was like to be a pioneer in the field of photography.
Fasicnating
A wonderful glimpse into the early photojournalist and what it was like to be a pioneer in the field of photography.
September 3, 2014
This was a very good book. I enjoyed how it could easily go between different time periods seamlessly. I love books steeped in history and this one won my heart. Great job.
January 11, 2016
I enjoyed this book. The author was able to go back and forward to the different stories with ease.
January 6, 2017
Old men photographers
If you like Civil War history, this is an interesting read. Good story lines going through. fun characters throughout the story.
If you like Civil War history, this is an interesting read. Good story lines going through. fun characters throughout the story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews