The Black Flower

By: Howard Bahr

Narrated by: Brian Emerson

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

At 26, Bushrod Carter is already an old soldier, a veteran of all his regiment's campaigns since Shiloh. Now, on an Indian summer afternoon in 1864, Bushrod finds himself in the line of battle once again, on a plain below the obscure village of Franklin, Tennessee. The dark flower of his destiny is opening in the twilight, just as it has on other fields, and Bushrod must pass once again under its shadow if he is to see tomorrow.

In the madness and violence of a great battle and its aftermath, Bushrod Carter tries to act his part as well as he can. He must confront his soul and learn from his comrades and from a young girl struggling with her own harsh past.

This timeless portrait of a young man's suffering in war has already won praise for its originality and power. The Black Flower is a story not only of war, but of men and women seeking redemption, who are stripped of all that anchors them, and who at last turn to honor and courage and love.

©1997 Howard Bahr (P)1998 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"Bahr's blend of historical fact with gut-wrenching emotion has produced a riveting novel of the Civil War, a frighteningly realistic portrait of men and women caught in an awfulness beyond their control." (Publishers Weekly)
"Bahr makes an impressive debut with a haunting tale of a brief but bloody encounter on the road to Nashville....A bleakly effective and economical account of men and women caught up in a bestial conflict." (Kirkus Reviews)

Franklin Tennessee - Nov 1864

I have read a lot of Civil War fiction and this is one of the best, maybe the best. The characters are so realistic, the interactions believable, the detail sensitive and poignant: the loyalties among friends soldiering together, the misfits in pre-war life who are misfits in wartime, too. The young people who in a non-warring world would be courting and marrying, are now in limbo, their would-be sweethearts lost to war or refugeeing. Characters' inner thoughts, dreams, memories, prayers and hopes are all part of the story. There are no caricatures, no clich?s. It is beautifully written and the narrator is excellent.

Hauntingly beautiful

I have to agree with whomever said this book reads like a cross between Ambrose Bierce and William Faulkner - two of my favorite authors. It was hauntingly beautiful and well narrated. It's been over a year since I listened to this audiobook, but I've recommended it many times and there are several passages that have stayed with me. I loved the powerful characterizations, the surreal flashes, and the unexpected humor. I had to have a box of kleenex on hand at the end. I also recommend Bahr's "The Year of Jubilo" and "The Judas Field" which continue the story but unfortunately aren't available as audio downloads.

A moving story of the Civil War

Quirky, believable characters enmeshed in the absurdity of war. Excellent narration.

Wonderful

A wonderful heartbreaking story. The narrator did a excellent job. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys civil war novels.

Couldn't Finish It

With apologies to the author, I'm sorry but I couldn't finish this book. It is a wandering, pretentious work that is unbearable. Fifteen minutes following a wasp is beyond painful. I really wanted to like it, but couldn't.

The Black Flower

Extremely abstract, surreal. Hard to follow, no real story here.

Beautiful

I can only say this is the type of prose and style of writing we need more of in this day and age. Story is excellent, profound... it will stay with you. Narrator is perfect to the story, excellent rhythm. I read this book (on a whim) years ago in my late teens, the story stayed with me, and I was so pleased to find it on audible decades later. The writing is abstract and for good reason. It is a story of war (and love) and what war does to the human psyche and the destruction of innocence lost... that even the best of us (who we want to be) must struggle with in the face of the worst humanity can offer. You will relate with the protagonists and you will be drawn in. This is one of those books you stumble upon and realize you discovered true literary art.

Vital Debut of Confed Soldier's C. War Experiences

THE BLACK FLOWER is Howard Bahr's impressive debut novel about a Confederate soldier and the Battle of Franklin in the Civil War.

Bahr writes stunning action sequences. While the novel is moving, I felt it a bit overwrought, and found the dialogue at times clumsy and some of the narrative bumpy, which made the reading feel like drudgery in chunks.

This was an ambitious and valuable first novel for Mr. Bahr and I plan to read more of his novels.

Unfortunately, the audio quality was subpar and the narrator seemed to hit autopilot for spans.

Heartbreaking and Beautiful

I loved this book. I've been to the Franklin battlefield and know how tragic it was. This book doubles down on this. If you love Civil War history you'll like this.

Tuff one to listen to

I like history, but this one was a tuff one to listen to. I did not finish the book and likely never will.