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Rising in Flames  By  cover art

Rising in Flames

By: J. D. Dickey
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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Publisher's summary

A New York Times best-selling historian sheds new light on Sherman’s epic “March to the Sea", especially the soldiers, doctors, nurses, and civilians who would change the nation for the better.

America in the antebellum years was a deeply troubled country, divided by partisan gridlock and ideological warfare, angry voices in the streets and the statehouses, furious clashes over race and immigration, and a growing chasm between immense wealth and desperate poverty.

The Civil War that followed brought America to the brink of self-destruction. But it also created a new country from the ruins of the old one - bolder and stronger than ever. No event in the war was more destructive, or more important, than William Sherman's legendary march through Georgia - crippling the heart of the South's economy, freeing thousands of slaves, and marking the beginning of a new era.

This invasion not only quelled the Confederate forces, but transformed America, forcing it to reckon with a century of injustice. Dickey reveals the story of women actively involved in the military campaign and later, in civilian networks. African Americans took active roles as soldiers, builders, and activists.

Rich with despair and hope, brutality, and compassion, Rising in Flames tells the dramatic story of the Union's invasion of the Confederacy and how this colossal struggle helped create a new nation from the embers of the Old South.

©2018 J. D. Dickey (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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Fantastic book and great narrator

Rising in Flames tracks Sherman's relentless drive through the South through the stories of a marvelous and varied cast of complex characters, some good, some cruel, some who change with and are changed by the times and their experiences, and some who cling stubbornly to their prejudices while advancing the Union's cause. Dickey brings each of them to life and weaves them together in a fast paced, stylishly written narrative that he has built upon an impressive foundation of historical research.

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Evan Review

Good book for all people that enjoy civil war twist. one of biggest mistake people make not enough interest is given to Sherman and his army to the war in the West. this book gives that interest and volunteers that gave to the welfare of soldiers thru the santerary commitees.

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Not to be overlooked

We know of Grant and Sherman, but long overlooked have been two women of comparable Civil War achievement: Mary Livermore and Mother Bickerdyke. This book corrects this oversights. While Dickey details the military history of the War, he gives due credit to these two women who performed heroic deeds to see that the northern troops were fed, clothed, and nursed.

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Well written, poorly structured.

A well written, if poorly structured almost-history of Sherman's March to the Sea.

I began to suspect something was amiss in this 2018 work that purported to be about Sherman's March as told by the people who made it when I was about halfway through and we were BARELY to Atlanta.

Instead of a ground view of the march, we got a far too in depth history of the Chicago chapter of the Sanitation Commission, and overlong mini biographies of one of Sherman's occasional commanders; women involved in the Sanitation Commission; a young runaway slave that accompanies the March, and a fighting reverend who abhorred slavery.

Dickey certainly writes well and these stories, told from an almost POV type structure, on their own make this more a historical novel than a history. That's fine, but assuredly not what the book was advertised to be.

After an interminable delay, we finally get to the March itself but very little new ground is trod and it becomes a fairly standard recounting of troop movements, burned supplies, and political reaction to same. Dickey spends so much time both before and AFTER the March that it almost feels like an afterthought.

I was hoping for a "Billy Yank" deep dive into the personal accounts of Sherman's Bummers. Instead I got an occasionally melodramatic historical drama. Meh.

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Misleading title

Stopped after first few chapters because there was very little about Gen Sherman. Narrator was good, book well written, but not on topic I was interested in. I exchanged book

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Very interesting details

This was a very interesting look at several notable people that supported the union effort in the Civil War. Definitely worth a listen.

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How is this considered nonfiction?

The author twists facts to make for a better storyline. The extent to which he distorts and plays around with Sherman’s history to make a more compelling story makes me doubt the credibility of all the other individuals, which is unfortunate. Life doesn’t follow a neat path like a novel. There’s no need to spice up an already fascinating time period.

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Interesting if somewhat disheveled

Grover Gardner is an outstanding reader and delivers the story succinctly and moving. Coming directly from reading Sherman’s memoirs the handling is rather jarring and his faults are magnified. What an amazing cast of characters and foibles each major character at the national level possessed!
The use of essentially unknown characters to chart the major milestones of the narrative was interesting and helped provide some richly unique color to the popular narrative.
Very worthwhile supporting material for anyone looking for a deeper understanding of the March to the Sea and the terminal period of the war for the Army of the Mississippi.

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Recommended reading

Far more than just Sherman’s March across Georgia. Demonstrating detailed research, this book gives in-depth personal studies of several people involved from high-ranking officers to orderlies. Extensive background is filled in throughout the war, with activities at the national level down to individual units and soldiers. Civilian support is also subjected to extensive examination.

Very well-read throughout. The reader is excellent.

Recommended read to fill those Civil War knowledge gaps you didn’t know you had.

Thanks to Audible for making this volume available free of charge.

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Great listen

Great listen! one of those books you hate to stop listening to. Interesting character stories as well as a great description of the military history of the March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign. Excellent narration by Grover Gardner as usual.

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