| Gene Hackman Book:
Escape from Andersonville: A Novel of the Civil War
Book
Escape from Andersonville: A Novel of the Civil War |  |  | | List Price: $14.99 | | Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Salesrank: 116947
Released: September 15, 2009 | | Our Price: $4.94 | | Used Price: $2.71 | | | Media: Paperback | |
Editorial Review:
An explosive novel of the Civil War about one man’s escape from a notorious Confederate prison camp---and his dramatic return to save his men. July 1864. Union officer Nathan Parker has been imprisoned at nightmarish Andersonville prison camp in Georgia along with his soldiers. As others die around them, Nathan and his men hatch a daring plan to allow him to escape through a tunnel and make his way to Vicksburg, where he intends to alert his superiors to the imprisonment and push for military action. His efforts are blocked by higher-ups in the military, so Parker takes matters into his own hands. Together with a shady, dangerous ex-soldier and smuggler named Marcel Lafarge and a fascinating collection of cutthroats, soldiers, and castoffs, a desperate Parker organizes a private rescue mission to free his men before it’s too late. Exciting, thoroughly researched, and dramatic, Escape from Andersonville is a Civil War novel filled with action, memorable characters, and vividly realized descriptions of the war’s final year. Escape from Andersonville: A Novel of the Civil War Reviews:
Gene Hackman Escape From Andersonville 
2009-05-24 - I've always like Gene Hackman since I saw him in I Never Sang for My Father back in 1970 or 1971. Over the years, his acting has been entertaining. Although I've never read any of his written works, if his writing his anything like his acting, readers are in for a real treat.
Amateur Hour at Andersonville 
2009-01-04 - Everyone once in a while, I read a mass-market piece of fiction, just to remind myself about the difference between those works and quality fiction. "Escape from Andersonville" falls comfortably into the mass-market category. In short, it's terrible.
I've read a lot about the Civil War, and this book seems to be accurate. But its accuracy and its opening two sentences are the only good things that can be said about it. By sentence #3, it's a steep downhill slide.
I'm not sure where to start in my criticism. It could be ridiculous leaps from the vernacular ("sniffing through your taster") to attempts at literature ("befogged logic" and "tenacious light of a summer's day") within the same paragraph. It could be the preposterous courage and good luck of the main character, Nathan Parker, or the decisions by his soon-to-be-trusty sidekick, Marcel LaFarge. It could be absolutely wooden women -- especially the southern farm woman who glares at Parker but then presents herself to him for sex three times in a single evening, while telling him he can't whisper a word. It could be any of a dozen other flaws.
Obviously, this book wouldn't see the light of day without the tie-in to actor Gene Hackman. And I guess it's not surprising that an actor would collaborate on such an amateurish book. Being a novelist is a vanity project for him. But don't let Hackman's fancy become your burden.
Not Worth the Time or Energy
2008-10-23 - I agree with the other reviews which gave this title 1 star - it is terrible. I bought the book thinking it would provide a lot of historical data about POWs during the Civil War. Well, there is some information, however it is very limited and incorrect.
The facet of this book which was a real turn off for me is the extremely poor writing in itself. There is repetition of information and scenes, poorly developed characters, run-on sentences, poor grammar and a plot that is less than exciting and uninteresting overall. I quit reading less than 'half-way through and then sold the book (feeling guilty as I shipped it off to a new reader - perhaps someone will enjoy the book).
Perhaps this book is good bubble gum for the mind, but why bother with this book when there is better junk than this junk to read out there!
A very interesting book
2008-09-03 - "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation," wrote Henry David Thoreau, and one such man is Captain Nathan Parker, Captain of the Fifth Michigan, dubbed "Parker's Rangers." And just when he thought that the insanity of war could not get any worse, he and his men are captured and sent to the dreaded Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, Georgia. Now, Captain Parker's situation becomes truly desperate - he must escape from Andersonville, and free his men. He finds himself making alliances with men whom he never would have considered before, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and these are indeed terribly desperate times!
Overall, I found this to be a very interesting book. Just when you think that it is over, or at least should be, the book actually picks up speed, with the action and suspense reaching higher and higher. Plus, I must say that I liked the development of the characters, particularly Marcel Lafarge, a man of infinite complexity and searing pain.
Yep, I really liked this book; it kept me interested all the way to the end. Now, is this book 100% historically accurate? I can't say, but I do agree that you should realize that this is fiction, rather than pure history. And, as far as fiction goes, it's great. I really enjoyed this book and do not hesitate to recommend it.
Civil War fiction 
2008-08-14 - And entertaining read with a feel good ending. Nothing memorable here, but an enjoyable read.
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