War Book
Book Review: Bedlam South by Mark Grisham and David Donaldson
The medical term known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) came to the fore after the Vietnam conflict. The soldiers returned home mentally scarred by the ravages of war. Lives were changed forever. PTSD is nothing new, and certainly been around since man began to have their first fights, but has only recently been recognized as a separate issue.
Bedlam South is an interesting novel that sheds light on the Civil War as seen through the eyes of two fellow soldiers, and brothers and a doctor who works with the mentally disabled. But these insane or simply pawns in the game of war?
I'm always curious to two novels authors, sometimes they work sometimes they do not. For my part I see nothing to write a novel with someone else, my ego is too large, and a novel is a very personal thing. A little research reveals that these two authors have been friends for many years. They are both new to enterprise creation, but one of them may have had some advice of his elder brother. Yes, Mark Grisham is the brother of John Grisham. Dig We also note that Mark is a bit of a history fan, especially the time of the Civil War, while David was interested to psychology and mental health for many years.
What is interesting is that these two authors have managed to keep a voice and style throughout Bedlam South, but clearly it is possible to see which of them has inspired a lot under.
Two brothers, the battle seasoned Billy and his younger brother Zeke shoulder to shoulder on the battlefield fighting for the confederate army. Split into a devastating battle with Northern forces, they spend the rest of the war not knowing if the other is alive, but somehow trying to force the horrors of war and the results potential of their minds.
Dr. Joseph Bryarly is running until an asylum in England, the call to arms is and somewhat reluctantly returns to America to head Wingate Asylum in Richmond, Virginia, an institution for mentally ill and criminals war.
Today, the concept of such a place is odious, but in the 1860s it was not an unusual arrangement, and certainly Russia has made things very similar until the 1970s. Term therapy must be interpreted very loosely to use under the "help" their patients.
The mid 1800s saw some very unique treatment, most of whom questioned the mental health of staff rather than patients. Dr. Bryarly is not without its own demons, and that the war progresses, it becomes increasingly disconnected from reality, solace in drink research and drugs. The horrors of his past paired with the horrors of this seems to overwhelm him. Can he survive? Or perhaps Is it more important the will to survive?
I liked Bedlam South, it is well written and well documented, but I still have some questions about the effectiveness of having co-authors. The book is really two stories unrelated to most that the reader must wait for the final pages to understand how they relate. I think if the two stories intertwine more important in the first part of the book, he would have made for better results final.
I always liked it, and if you have someone on your Christmas gift list who enjoys historical novels of the function during the war, it is a must have. You can order your copy from the authors website.
(Originally published at Blogger News Network and reprinted with permission of the author, Simon Barrett).
About the Author
Simon Barrett is the senior editor for
Blogger News Net
and maintains a personal blog at
Simon B
. Now semi retired in the depths of Mississippi he has plenty of time to read books by up and coming authors.