WHITE DOVES AT MORNING

In his first historical fiction, James Lee Burke explores one man’s experiences in the American Civil War. Willie Burke doesn’t believe in slavery. He teaches a young black woman to read and write. He has a strong affection for a woman who secretly assists the Underground Railroad. Yet, even with his conflicted beliefs, Willie enlists in the Confederate Army. He’s from Louisiana, and he’s a patriot. Burke has written what may be his finest novel to date. The powerful opening scene immediately holds the listener in thrall. An extraordinary performance by Ed Sala brings freshness to every scene and believability to every character. Sala gives Burke’s elegant, poetic descriptions the care they deserve. Based on Burke’s ancestors, this fascinating story is fiction at its finest. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]