... continues his story of what the world would be like if the south won the Civil War
341706
The master of alternate history continues his story of what the world would be like if the south won the Civil War. This is a fairly accurate representation of what the world would be like and how the characters would act.
3950985
Karl Shoemakers world turned upside down several years ago, and ever since he has traveled the country with his Rottweiler. It is their stop in Georgetown County, South Carolina that has Karl hoping he can help the local police. A young woman has been murdered and all the citizens are in complete shock. As Karl tries to help others, he realizes these friendly people might just help him begin to heal.

This book is like a slowly building rollercoaster that has a fast-paced ending. Though the book could use a bit more editing, the storyline will keep readers guessing until the very end. It is packed full of descriptions, southern colloquialisms and traditions. The author does a good job showing how small the world is through his interconnecting plots. Overall readers will be eager to find out what adventures Karl is headed into next.

Notes:
This review was written for My Sister's Books.
This review was originally posted on the Ariesgrl Book Reviews website
367475
The world made more and more sense as the story went on, like the author's pre-fall utopia had to be realized to himself in writing at the beginning. The syntheses of military and political history was interesting. Looking forward to reading pt. 2
2233623
The  book is a great read and continues the intrepid fight against the worst of humanity that ever produced and victory is coming closer every time they fight wherever they are!
3448561
If you love history and understand what the War between the States was really about, then you will love the Last of the Dixie Heroes.  Peter Abrahams takes a simple idea and gives us a little mystery in why Southerns had it right.  Finally, someone has the ability to put into words the meaning of Dixie and to the people who still hold to the culture of what America could of been. The book reveals the truth that War between the States was not about slavery or even Northern aggression, but about those who fought for a way of life.
1181678
Good take on what the world may have looked like if things played out a bit different in history.
4852428
This continues the story from Beulah Land.  Starting at the end of the civil war, it follows the lives of the Kendricks and the Davis's.  Good story, good charaters, not for people easily offended.,
4350381
Wonderful vision of the Civil War as seen bu those in the North and the South. Well written and full of details.
3428650
I am enjoying the books in this series.  Besides a value-centered family story, I am learning alot about the aftermath of the Civil War and how hard the blacks still had it.  I had never considered how the South thought and reacted to the slaves becoming free.
1115247
Story of young lad who sets out on a long journey to bring his father home. His papa remains loyal to the southern cause even though Lee has already surrnedered. When the boy finally finds his Pop,he is not the same man he remembers before the civil war. His pop seems to have more love for his troops than for his own family. This saddens the boy greatly. The only positive thing about this trip was the strange, yet loyal dog he met and named Bigger. If not for this dog the trip would have been all for nothing. This book was very well written,and descriped. Fans of Historical fiction will like this. Those looking for a happy ending may not.  1st. of a 3 part series. I look forward to reading the rest!
3052104
As many others have commented, this is a great one volume history of the Civil war and is easy to read.
The long build up to the firing on Fort Sumter also sets the political context well though I agree with some other reviewers that the narrative is a little thin on the battle sequences. But for a detailed account of the military campaigns to have been included you'd have needed alot more than the 862 pages of this book. So my verdict is that it's as good as it gets for a work of this size.
There's definitely a Northern bias so I'll be reading Shelby Foote's 3 volumes to get a more Southern perspective.
As MacPherson so aptly ends his work the point about the Civil War was that in many ways the secession consisted of a counter-Revolution. Southern Society in fact represented the old, pre-industrial world, mirrored in many parts of Europe at the time, while it was in the North that the real revolution had occurred. My one criticism therefore is that I would have liked to see this theme developed a little more. Was slavery really the central issue which MacPherson makes it or was the war more a clash of competing social visions, with the Southern States' vision more closely resembling that of the Founding Fathers?
With the power of Federal Government increasing daily over our lives this question has more relevance today than it has had in decades.
A great read.
2950568
This first person narrative of John Hancock Bates was an interesting read. The story is set in the New America after everything has been destroyed and chaos reigned for a time. When the new government emerges, it promises to save the world under one condition...complete surrender.

John grows up in this new world, not remembering any other way of life. His parents, however, have secretly taught him of the Bible and about how things were before the State took control over everyones lives and choices. The seed of rebellion is planted in his young heart, and even though he is helpless to change his circumstances, I could tell as I read that he is a waiting time bomb.

The world John lives in is a scary place full of hunger, poverty, and absolute submission to the State by the populace. John goes along with it and joins the youth military organization to get extra food rations and privileges only granted to those who sustain the State. But his very name (John Hancock) is treason, and if the State knew what John was, theyd kill him...but in the end they give him a gift.

I quite enjoyed this story. It made me think about issues we deal with in the world today...and what would happen if we gave up our freedoms to let the State take care of us. Scary thought. This story sets up a sequel nicely. Cant wait for it to come out.
307608
For anyone interested in the turn of the century southern south. Read the story to my 98 yr old father from Al. He said that's the way it was.
3543697
Virginia's story continues from Book 1 as her family moves from Gettysburg to Washington, D.C. In the final years of the Civil War, Washington, D.C. was an unattractive city full of mud-filled streets, grungy buildings and many homeless soldiers who have deserted the battlefront. Her brother had asked the family to move north so he could take a job as a reporter, but Jed ends up in a low paying job instead. The family faces some tough times that first winter, and Virginia is worried how they will survive. When she takes a job as a housekeeper for a wealthy family, Virginia learns even more hard lessons about what it means to be poor.
The story of Virginia takes readers back to the days when our nation was trying to heal the wounds of war, and deal with the pain of President Abraham Lincoln's death. It was a time of struggle and hardship, hope and rebuilding, and helps to show us what is really important in life.
398258
A nice simple novel of What If the Confederacy won the Civil War.  And then the next attempt by the United States to try to take it back into the Union..

Nothing fancy.. just a good read of "what if".. and Mr. Bennett's later novel is good also
3704401
This book brings the Civil War to a very personal level. Charlotte and Brice are initially on opposing sides in the conflict despite their love for each other. As the war carries on with incredible losses for everyone, many of the firm beliefs of pre-war are called into question. Brice and  Charlotte both grow up quickly and try to find their happiness and futures in the new reality. There are quite a few spankings in the book, all of which are consistent with the time period. The author does a great job with making the reader feel part of the time period; however, that this is a work of fiction should be remembered as the author takes creative license with some historic figures to include them in the story.
3198604
There are and were background events within the Civil War, an honest view of God's (if you believe) intervention then and in the present