Fire Bell in the Night: A Novel |
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Fire Bell in the Night: A Novel
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by Geoffrey Edwards
Sales Rank: 44986
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Discount: 32 %
List Price: $15.00
$10.20
At Amazon
on 6-23-2008.
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Features
Cover Type: Paperback with 464 pages
Published by: Touchstone September 18, 2007
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 1416564241
ISBN 13 Number: 978-1416564249
Book Dimensions:
8 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
Weighs: 12.8 ounces
From Publishers Weekly
One of the two winners of the Gather.com First Chapters contest, Edwards's provocative debut begins in the summer of 1850 as the debate over the expansion of Slavery into the Mexican Cession territory prompts threats of secession and war. A slave revolt and rumors that the leader of the uprising is roaming the countryside recruiting an army further frays nerves in Charleston, S.C. When a local farmer is caught harboring a runaway, he is charged with a capital crime. The New York Tribune sends young reporter John Sharp to cover the trial; he quickly befriends planter Tyler Breckenridge, the scion of one of the most powerful families in Charleston. But as Sharp and fellow reporter Owen Conway uncover clues of a covert militia buildup, Sharp begins to suspect that Breckenridge is involved. As the emotionally charged fugitive-slave trial unfolds, Sharp and Conway rush to expose the secessionist conspiracy and head off war. Edwards fills the gaps in the record of the Crisis of 1850 to produce a plausible scenario that eloquently captures the fear and rivalries of the antebellum era, though many passages could use a healthy pruning. For fans of historical fiction—and Civil War fiction particularly. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Book Description
Filled with historic details of the time, Fire Bell in the Night explores the explosive tension between North and South, black and white, that gripped Charleston, South Carolina, in the summer of 1850. Geoffrey S. Edwards's first novel tells the story of New York Tribune reporter John Sharp, sent to cover the capital trial of Darcy Calhoun, a farmer who stands accused of harboring a fugitive slave.
As the trial begins, John quickly realizes that not everything is as it appears in the genteel city of Charleston. A series of mysterious fires in white establishments brings the state militia, a curfew for the black population, and rising tension at the courthouse. To unravel the city's secrets, Sharp must enter Charleston's plantation society, where he is befriended by Tyler Breckenridge, owner of the Willowby plantation, and his gorgeous sister Clio.
Set against the backdrop of a nation headed toward civil war, Fire Bell in the Night is a page-turning account of a trial and one young reporter's efforts to discover the truth.
Reader Reviews
I bought this book out of curiosity. It was a reader's chioce in the Gather First Chapters competition. Could it possibly stand on its own merit as an entertaining and thought-provoking read? Could winning a popularity contest possibly correlate with quality, professional work? About ten pages in, it's clear that Geoffrey is a real writer, with real ideas and real literary talent. The man writes masterfully. There's nothing fancy about it, he lets the story unfold at its own pace with solid writing chops. Beyond a compelling and easy-to-read story, I appreciate how he shows both sides of the issues behind the civil war that cost so many lives. If you like historical fiction, then this book belongs on your bookshelf. I consider myself a bit of a talent scout and I predict that Geoffrey has a long and successful career ahead of him. Well done, sir! Ken Coffman is the author of Steel Waters, Glen Wilson's Bad Medicine and five other novels.
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Fire Bell in the Night: A Novel
Available from Amazon
Price: $10.20
Updated on 6-23-2008.
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