The Crater

by Richard Slotkin

Book by Slotkin, Richard

Genres: Historical Fiction, Civil War, Fiction, American Civil War, American History, War, Historical

558 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Richard Slotkin is an American cultural critic, historian, and novelist. He is Olin Professor of English and American Studies Emeritus at Wesleyan University, where he was instrumental in establishing the American Studies and Film Studies programs. His work explores the mythology of the American frontier and its influence on national identity. His trilogy—Regeneration Through Violence, Fatal Environment, and Gunfighter Nation—is widely regarded as a seminal analysis of the frontier myth in American culture. Slotkin has also written historical novels, including Abe: A Novel of the Young Lincoln and The Crater: A Novel of the Civil War. His contributions to scholarship and literature have earned him numerous accolades, including the Albert J. Beveridge Award and multiple National Book Award nominations.

Reviews

[Bill Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in awhile, this comprehensive account of one of the many unfortunate episodes in the American Civil War is far more than just the story of a disastrous assault by the North. At the time, the Union tunnel under rebel defenses was the longest mine in the history of warfare and the chapters that detail the digging of the mine, the countermining by the secessionists, and the horrors of the explosion are informative, exciting, and appalling. The other threads here -- the self-serving incompetence of commanders, the weight of history on Lincoln and other leaders, and especially the US' still-raging-today battle against endemic racism -- take the book to a level of literature found in the best works of fiction. I was especially struck by the interwoven passages set among the Black troops at the site of the siege and a general attending a minstrel show in Washington DC, understated and eloquent pictures of a North less brutal than the South but equally clueless about the meaning of equality and human dignity.

Highly recommended.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling historical novel. A challenging read but very much worth the effort. Slotkin weaves actual telegraph messages, letters and orders from the generals and soldiers fighting the Battle of Petersberg Crater into a narrative that stuck with me for a long time after I finished it.

[Debra]

Stephen King recommended.

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5

This book was a chore. I think the author forgot he was writing a novel at times because this read like a non-fictional narrative than a fictional novel. However it wasn't that engaging either way.

Subplots upon subplots and backstory upon backstory would grind the narrative to a screeching halt. There's a long subplot about a general attending a play in Washington that really had nothing to do with the rest of the book. And every character gets pages and pages of backstory that adds nothing.

I really enjoyed when the book focused on the mining and the command drama between Burnside and his fellow generals. The exploding of the mine itself was also handled well, but the Battle of the Crater itself was over-winded, much like the rest of this book.

I have read a lot of Civil War military fiction and unfortunately, this one does not live up to some of the greats in the genre. I likely would not have finished it had I not paid $20 for it and felt like I couldn't abandon it.

[Clinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read much historical fiction, preferring the real thing. Slotkin does a good job of capturing the scenes and attitudes of the 19th century, at least as I have assumed they existed. He incorporates messages and orders verbatim from the Official Records and imagines the reception that they would have received by the addressees based on their actions immediately prior to and following their receipt. The battle is covered with much detail on both sides. I'm looking forward to my next visit to Petersburg. I'll be sure to have my copy of The Crater with me.

[Salahuddin Hourani]

ملاحظة لي: لم اقرا الكتاب بعد

مقترح من ستيفين كينغ

[Josh McDevitt-Spall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Possibly the most challenging read I've yet undertaken. It is clear that Slotkin loves his characters to an extreme degree, and is unable to help himself indulging heavily in each of their lengthy back-stories. This book was good, but at 200 fewer pages could've been great.

[Avra Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning, fascinating, beautiful. It took me forever to read this book, but was worth every moment.

[Lowell White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best "historical novel" ever--a brilliant and moving book by a top historian. Read this!