The Widow of the South

By: Robert Hicks

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer, Lorna Raver, Stephen Hoye, Scott Brick

Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Based on a true story, this debut Civil War novel follows a Southern plantation woman's journey of transforming her home into a hospital for the war.

This debut novel is based on the true story of Carrie McGavock. During the Civil War's Battle of Franklin, a five-hour bloodbath with 9,200 casualties, McGavock's home was turned into a field hospital where four generals died. For 40 years she tended the private cemetery on her property where more than 1,000 were laid to rest.

©2016 Robert Hicks (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Recommended

Exceptional in all aspects. A good listen. Lived next to Carnton Plantation and story is a good representation of Carrie McGavock and the plantation.

Absolutely Amazing

I usually listen while I'm cleaning or something similar, but for the last couple of chapters, I had to sit.
This story gripped me within the first couple of chapters. It made me angry, sad, and joyful. To me, that is what makes an excellent book. The voice actors did a fantastic job bringing the book to life in my imagination, feeling the emotions in their voices.
Highly recommended!

History:

It is always fascinating to listen to our own history. Tragic, yet necessary for humanity! Enlightenment at its best.

Awesome

The narration really makes this book amazing. I don’t think I have ever listened to a book that was this good

good story, hard to keep up with characters

when listening to the audio book, it was difficult to know which character was speaking. the narrator didn't change the voice tones enough to figure it out. The ending is abrupt as it clearly skips many years that very important events occurred to result in the ending. A bit confusing, but interesting. WARNING:There is strong racial language that is not acceptable today.

Life changing story.

I can’t say this book was pleasant read but I felt that I had an intimate taste of the Civil war and the pain and sacrifice of so many. Many of those sacrifices were in vain. Thank you so much for your efforts.

Author has passion for the Civil War era

It took forever to finish this book. The history of the Civil War was interesting and I wish the author put as much energy into developing character as the history. Story was blah but history was very interesting so I continued to read.

1864 Civil War Tennessee

Peek into 1864 Tennessee where fighting between the north and south continues during the Civil War. A mansion house gets taken over as a confederate hospital. Follows family and neighbors in small town.

A Story Of The South

First, I absolutely loved the narrators for this book. They captured the characters beautifully. Sometimes a group of narrators working on one book can make the transitions between readers feel jumpy or even startling. That wasn't the case with this book. The reading was effortless and a pleasure to listen to.

Hicks captured a slice of southern plantation life in Franklin, Tennessee near the end of the US Civil War with such heartfelt detail I found myself spellbound. Let me be clear, Hick isn't an apologist nor does he present a tactical exploration of the US Civil War or the Battle of Franklin. What he does do with his writing is simply show the reader Carnton Plantation and the Town of Franklin, Tennessee inside out--flaws and all.

You may at times feel the characters are too self possessed, too unlikeable and even too accepting of what I find to be personally reprehensible and unacceptable behaviors. But, that said, I found myself listening with rapt attention to this story of the US Civil War from the southern plantation point of view. To me, the reality of this life was sad, shallow, duplicitous and worn down to the bone with suffering. Hicks nailed the end of the old south perfectly.

Be aware that some parts of the book are so filled with violence I had to fast forward in two places. At the same time, Hicks really shows us life in the mid to late 1800s. The reality of loss, disease and grief are made palpable. A difficult book but a very human story.

Lest We Ever Forget

A spellbinding story shining a necessary light on a dark page of America's history.