No Greater Courage: A Novel of the Battle of Fredericksburg

by Richard Croker

Book Overview

In the tradition of Gods and Generals comes a vividly realistic novel aboutone of the most infamous engagements of the Civil War, from the author of ToMake Men Free. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060559101
• ISBN13: 9780060559106
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 417 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

The Untimely Battle of Fredericksburg

Croker takes you to the front lines of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Lincoln has removed McClellan because he had not crushed Lee when he had the opportunity and his continued delays in following Lincoln's orders. Burnside takes his place and moves forward but must wait for the pontoons bridges to arrive. When Burnside charged the boys in gray were established and ready. Croker makes you feel the frustration of the boys in blue while they wait and wait. You are there witnessing this horrible battle. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Blue Grass Dream" - and "Natchez Above The River" The Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early SettlersNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil War

A fine bit of historical fiction.

Richard Croker's novelization of the events leading up to and including the Battle of Fredricksburg in December of 1862 is just about as good as it gets in the "cast of thousands" (lots and lots of characters) type of historical fiction. Due to the nature of this book, it is just about impossible to get too deeply involved in many of them. But, Croker does an admirable job of giving us something to know about each of them, reminding the reader who each character is when they re-join the narrative and then we get to watch them in arugably the Union Army of the Potomac's worst moments. Most of the characters are real and not all of them are big generals. Not only do we get to see the action in the battle itself, but there is plenty of focus on the behind-the-scenes political intrigue that demonstrates how truly talented Lincoln was as a politician and also the dangers of too much civilian interference in purely military matters. The only complaint I have concerns maps. There are not enough of them and the maps that are included are so stylized that I had difficulty reading them. Fortunately, the maps are not absolutely necessary for the book to be enjoyed and if you find yourself confused, historical maps of this battle abound on the internet. I hope that Richard Croker is working on another book. Chancellorsville comes up next chronologically and he would do a great job with it. Croker's previous novel of the Civil War, To Make Men Free: A Novel of the Battle of Antietam is not required pre-reading to enjoy this novel.

A Different Opinion

I don't know who reviewed this book at Publishers Weekly, but I couldn't disagree more with whoever it was. Having read several non-fiction and fictionalized novels of the Civil War, I would have to say this book ranks almost equally with Jeff Sharra's The Last Full Measure and above his Gods and Generals which I felt was weak. I am enjoying new characterzations and characters in Croker's book that weren't covered in Shaara's books. In fact I have ordered his "To Make Men Free" and am looking forward to reading it.