Better Angels of Our Nature

By: S.C. Gylanders

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 17 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

On the eve of Shiloh, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, a mysterious visitor appears at General William Tecumseh Sherman's camp. Without family or home, with only a uniform and the name of Jesse, this prepossessing stranger is an intriguing mix of naiveté and wisdom, ignorant of the most basic conventions of warfare yet uncannily familiar with even the most intimate details of Sherman's personal life and career. Jesse, in turn, has only one desire: to remain by Sherman's side, for reasons only Jesse knows and isn't revealing. Initially unwilling to become a father figure to this beguiling visitor, Sherman is finally unable to resist such devotion and tenacity. He takes Jesse under his wing, determined to train this enigmatic creature in the art of war, and provide the strength and wisdom needed to survive its horrors.

Resourceful and courageous, Jesse soon earns the respect of Sherman’s men, especially the compassionate but plain-talking surgeon, Seth Cartwright, and Thomas Ransom, a noble and handsome young infantry officer. No matter their destiny neither man can divert Jesse’s mission.

But what is the truth? What is Jesse’s purpose and why has this fascinating youth appeared at this most crucial time in Sherman’s life and in the life of the bitterly divided nation? In the end we are forced to ask: Who is under whose wing?

The Better Angels of Our Nature brilliantly re-creates the drama and brutality of America’s Civil War. Set in the momentous 14-month period spanning Shiloh and Vicksburg - a time that turned the tide of war and determined the nation’s fate - this harrowing, lyrically written novel is filled with unforgettable characters and wondrous twists that will give listeners pause to reconsider events familiar to us all. Meticulously researched and movingly written, this masterwork will remain with listeners long after the last sentence is savored.

©2006 S.C. Gylanders (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Gylanders knows the era thoroughly...and writes convincingly about the horrors of the battlefield and the field hospital. In the enigmatic Jesse, she has a character who gives a compelling perspective on the times." (Publishers Weekly)

Authentically Coarse

War is never gentle. I'm not one to use or like to hear coarse language but I listened to the end of the book. I contemplated returning the book but stayed the course and finished. The storyline was wonderful and the narration is excellent, but Cassandra Campbell is a great narrator. I would recommend only to those who don't mind coarse language albeit mild in this book.

Well done

This book is an enjoyable thought filled and thought provoking look into the nature of life, death, love, and war.

Audible & Google bait & switch

First, this book is a civil war era NOVEL, not the Steven Pinker non-fiction of the SAME name. Even in several online reviews of the Pinker book, this novel’s cover is displayed. So, having bought the wrong book, I decided to listen to this “historical novel of the civil war” anyway. It was dismal, and in truth, I couldn’t even finish it. I will just say this: take out all the descriptive phrases starting with “like . . .”, and the superfluous , awkward, adjectives and adverbs and you could reduce this tome by a third and improve it by -100%. (“Mustache fluttering like the feathers of a bird” comes to mind. How was this published without the help of an editor? Or did the editor just get overwhelmed and throw in the towel? Pile the terrible sophomoric writing on top of a dismal simpleminded plot layered over the battlefield. Early on I found myself wondering if maybe this was actually intended as YA (young adult) fiction, which might explain the simplistic plot and one dimensional characters, but certainly not excuse the terrible writing.