Promotional Information

A stunningly good novel from the author of the bestselling Robicheaux novels. James Lee Burke has won the Gold Dagger once and the Edgar Award twice. A movie version of IN THE ELECTRIC MIST WITH CONFEDERATE DEAD starring Tommy Lee Jones is due for UK release in 2008. 'Burke demonstrates again his bravura skill at memorable characterisation, acute dialogue and wonderfully evocative descriptions' Observer. 'He writes like an angel. His prose is deceptively fluent, his pacing unbeatable ... Brilliant. Its sense of place, of a world recreated, is unerring. The story, as we would expect of Burke, is enthralling' Daily Mail. 'Classic Burke ... it's a fine read ... It's also the perfect introduction to that war, and to slavery, and to Burke' Observer Magazine. 'Among the best things Burke has ever written ... Fear, horror, exhaustion, thirst, confusion and comradeship are all superbly rendered' TLS.

About the Author

James Lee Burke is the author of many previous novels, including twelve featuring Detective Dave Robicheaux. He lives with his wife, Pearl, in Missoula, Montana and New Iberia, Louisiana.

Reviews

He writes like an angel . . . Brilliant. Its sense of place, of a world recreated, is unerring. The story, as we would expect of Burke, is enthralling
*DAILY MAIL*

Classic Burke . . . a fine read . . . the perfect introduction to that war, and to slavery, and to Burke
*OBSERVER*

Written with a wit and wisdom reminiscent of Mark Twain, it is nothing short of a masterpiece
*WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY*

James Lee Burke spreads his wings to fine effect in this stirring tale of the American Civil War . . . White Doves at Morning makes a worthy addition to the canon. It captures the roller-coaster excitements of fast-changing times
*SUNDAY TELEGRAPH*

The hallucinatory clarity and the delights and terrors of Burke's settings have remained undimmed. In White Doves at Morning, he brings this gift to bear on the experience of battle in the Civil War. These passages are among the best things Burke has ever written . . . Fear, horror, exhaustion, thirst, confusion and comradeship are all superbly rendered
*TLS*

An epic tale of love, hate and survival set against the backdrop of the Civil War
*THE HERALD*

This epic tale is not about huge battles, rather it concentrates on the edges of grand events and the by-products that wars leave behind - the human cost and the terrible aftermath. A wonderfully colourful novel that yet again creates a vivid atmosphere that is almost tangible
*CRIME TIME*

Classic Burke . . . it's a fine read, encompassing half of the confused history and morals of the South . . . It's also the perfect introduction to that war, and to slavery, and to Burke
*OBSERVER MAGAZINE*

White Doves at Morning is an uncompromising examination of the "moral insanity" of war and slavery. It's a rare venture into historical fiction for Burke, a celebrated crime writer, but his established readership won't be disappointed . . . Burke places an uncomfortable spotlight on white American history, but the profundity of the issues never interferes with the drama and excitement of the story
*TELEGRAPH*

Majestic . . . [this] novel can be seen as a compelling riposte to Margaret Mitchell's nostalgic myth-making
*SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE*

Twenty-first tome from masterful US novelist . . . As well as a fascinating examination of the ethical chasm at the heart of battle, White Doves At Morning is also a beautifully written book. Clearly a novel the author wanted to write, it's not just a return to form - it's terrific
*UNCUT*

Burke has established a formidable reputation as one of America's leading crime writers, and his books are as synonymous with the Deep South as Conan Doyle's are with Baker Street. His ambitious new novel uses the same setting, but in a historical context . . . Burke paints a picture of the proud, old, bigoted slave-owning South that's far removed from the romantic nostalgia of Gone With The Wind. The characters are powerfully drawn, the battle scenes are shockingly vivid and the story unfolds at a cracking pace
*MAIL ON SUNDAY*

Following the publication of his 11th Dave Robicheaux thriller, bestselling Burke (Bitterroot; Purple Cane Road) keeps the action in Louisiana, turning back the clock to the Civil War. Central to this brooding saga are hotheaded young idealist Willie Burke, son of a boardinghouse owner, and a beautiful slave girl named Flower Jamison. She is the illegitimate daughter of Ira Jamison, the callous owner of the infamous Angola Plantation. Flower's mother was murdered by a brutal overseer, Rufus Atkins, just after she gave birth, and Rufus has been a malevolent presence in Flower's life ever since. Secretly taught to read and write by Willie Burke, she now does laundry for the town brothel. Befriended by Abigail Dowling, a young Yankee abolitionist who is helping slaves escape the South, Flower clings to the hope that Jamison will acknowledge her as his daughter; meanwhile, Jamison has his eye on Abigail. The war gets into full swing, and Willie loses his best friend at Shiloh because of Jamison's cowardly dereliction. Wounded and left to die, Willie is saved by Abigail, who brings him home and nurses him back to health. Against her protests, he attempts to return to battle but is taken captive and-the war now over-escapes to confront racist vigilantes intent on shutting down Flower's school for ex-slaves. Burke has created a cast of strong, if somewhat stereotypical, characters; readers will warm to outspoken, irrepressible Willie as much as they deplore the evil Atkins. Although at times a bit forced, this moving morality play shows a different dimension of this gifted writer. Agent, Phillip Spitzer. (Nov.) Forecast: Fans of John Jakes will particularly enjoy this rare historical offering from Burke. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

He writes like an angel . . . Brilliant. Its sense of place, of a world recreated, is unerring. The story, as we would expect of Burke, is enthralling -- Bernard Cornwell * DAILY MAIL *
Classic Burke . . . a fine read . . . the perfect introduction to that war, and to slavery, and to Burke * OBSERVER *
Written with a wit and wisdom reminiscent of Mark Twain, it is nothing short of a masterpiece * WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY *
James Lee Burke spreads his wings to fine effect in this stirring tale of the American Civil War . . . White Doves at Morning makes a worthy addition to the canon. It captures the roller-coaster excitements of fast-changing times * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *
The hallucinatory clarity and the delights and terrors of Burke's settings have remained undimmed. In White Doves at Morning, he brings this gift to bear on the experience of battle in the Civil War. These passages are among the best things Burke has ever written . . . Fear, horror, exhaustion, thirst, confusion and comradeship are all superbly rendered * TLS *
An epic tale of love, hate and survival set against the backdrop of the Civil War * THE HERALD *
This epic tale is not about huge battles, rather it concentrates on the edges of grand events and the by-products that wars leave behind - the human cost and the terrible aftermath. A wonderfully colourful novel that yet again creates a vivid atmosphere that is almost tangible * CRIME TIME *
Classic Burke . . . it's a fine read, encompassing half of the confused history and morals of the South . . . It's also the perfect introduction to that war, and to slavery, and to Burke * OBSERVER MAGAZINE *
White Doves at Morning is an uncompromising examination of the "moral insanity" of war and slavery. It's a rare venture into historical fiction for Burke, a celebrated crime writer, but his established readership won't be disappointed . . . Burke places an uncomfortable spotlight on white American history, but the profundity of the issues never interferes with the drama and excitement of the story * TELEGRAPH *
Majestic . . . [this] novel can be seen as a compelling riposte to Margaret Mitchell's nostalgic myth-making * SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE *
Twenty-first tome from masterful US novelist . . . As well as a fascinating examination of the ethical chasm at the heart of battle, White Doves At Morning is also a beautifully written book. Clearly a novel the author wanted to write, it's not just a return to form - it's terrific * UNCUT *
Burke has established a formidable reputation as one of America's leading crime writers, and his books are as synonymous with the Deep South as Conan Doyle's are with Baker Street. His ambitious new novel uses the same setting, but in a historical context . . . Burke paints a picture of the proud, old, bigoted slave-owning South that's far removed from the romantic nostalgia of Gone With The Wind. The characters are powerfully drawn, the battle scenes are shockingly vivid and the story unfolds at a cracking pace * MAIL ON SUNDAY *