JACOB'S LADDER

A family saga plays out against the backdrop of the Civil War--hardly a unique literary idea but one well handled by Donald McCaig. Grimly Claffey tells of Confederate bravado, dashed hopes, noise and carnage. He shifts easily from Yankee to Southerner, male to female, domestic to battle scenes. Although the shortened form makes characters less complete and more difficult to follow, this is a good yarn well spun. J.B.G. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 00]