Reviews for Manassas: A Novel of the Civil War

The average rating for Manassas: A Novel of the Civil War based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-02-24 00:00:00 Bob Graton A fascinating early work by Sinclair, Manassas stands out more for its flaws than its virtues. A must-read for those studying Sinclair or the writing craft, Manassas shows the raw potential of emerging writer and thinker. Intended to be the first part of a series of unfinished/unpublished works focusing on the Civil War, Manassas chronicles the story of a young man, Allan Montague, coming of age in a time of political unrest. Unbalanced at best, the work is part bildungsroman and part historical fiction. It does neither justice. The narrative can feel contrived, as Sinclair forces Montague into many historical entanglements. His interactions with Jefferson Davis, Frederick Douglas, John Brown, and Abraham Lincoln (to name a few) satisfy in humanizing these iconic figures and make the absurdity of the coincidences almost forgivable. And the fun facts he provides, such as the Lincoln love triangle, are worth the read alone. Unfortunately, these delights come at the expense of his main character. At times, Montague is forgotten completely or just flatten into one dimension. A stark contrast made all the more so by the beautiful psychological study in the last pages of the text. Just as Sinclair seems to find his footing once more, the book ends abruptly. For some readers, this will be an unforgivable disappointment. Others, like me, will want to read more of his lesser known works, in hopes of demystifying his process and intentions.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-01-22 00:00:00 Enrico Maria Albamonte Clever, beautifully written, over-written account of slave-owning life in the South, followed by the young protagonist's move to the North, and conversion to Abolitionism. A lively, passionate introduction to American politics at the time, to Abraham Lincolm, and to their wonderful command of the language in those days. Warmly recommended by one my sons!