- Hardcover: 380 pages
- Publisher: Carroll & Graf (July 13 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0786711620
- ISBN-13: 978-0786711628
- Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 16.1 x 3.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 658 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,512,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
This lightweight and fun fourth installment in the Alex Balfour series finds intrepid but unwitting time traveler Alex Balfour plopped in the middle of a Civil War battle. Immediately wounded, Alex survives thanks to an anonymous boy who provides him with a slain Union officer's papers. Alex soon finds himself installed in a Washington hospital, where, in spite of the teeming capital's chaos, he immediately meets Ambrose Bierce and Walt Whitman and spots John Wilkes Booth. Alex's New York Times pregnant reporter girlfriend, Molly, is also unwillingly spirited back in time to join him. She soon finds herself in a Washington brothel, where she works as a "seer" and a curiosity. As the plot moves forward, Alex and Molly find themselves variously imprisoned, chased and otherwise subjected to danger, at least some of which is orchestrated by Alex's nefarious father, who is also time traveling. Driven often by coincidence, the story takes second place to colorful, wide-eyed descriptions of period habits-Molly squeezes herself into a corset; Alex marvels over a salad of poke weed and purslane-and a good bit of speechifying. In chatting with the madam of the brothel, Molly asks, "Don't you ever imagine a future where men and women are equals intellectually and professionally?"; she also sets Bierce on his literary path by applying her notions of contemporary rhetorical style to his smoky Victorian prose. That there will be an attempt to thwart the assassination of Lincoln is a foregone conclusion, but other intrigues distract the time-crossed lovers often enough to keep the story rolling. Though Appel's rather sanitized, politically correct view of the period may make history buffs squirm, those in search of exuberant Civil War-flavored entertainment will find much to enjoy here.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Appel continues his excellent time-travel series, sending historian Alex Balfour back to the Civil War era in order to alter his own future. After his girlfriend, journalist Molly Glenn, dies in his arms during the out-of-time exploit chronicled in Till the End of Time (1990), Alex realizes that he must try to resurrect his only link to the present by changing the past. Transported to a Civil War battlefield, a seriously injured Alex witnesses the brutal murder of another wounded soldier. Recuperating in a Washington hospital and befriended by both Ambrose Bierce and Walt Whitman, he tries to make sense of the seemingly pointless homicide and contemplates what, if anything, he should do about Abraham Lincoln's impending assassination. When he realizes that a now pregnant Molly has been transported also, he feverishly works to bring them back together so they can safely return to their own time with their baby. Appel has adeptly combined science fiction and history into another compelling adventure that stretches back and forth through time at a breathless pace. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
ALEX BALFOUR BLINKED against the bright morning sun. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
ALEX BALFOUR BLINKED against the bright morning sun. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great read by Appel,
By Rp "azrick997" (Florida) - See all my reviews
This review is from: In Time of War: An Alex Balfour Novel (Hardcover)
Appel continues the story of his time-traveling history professor with another volume that may be the best one yet. You don't have to read these books in any particular order, but having read one, you'll want to check out the rest. I won't give away any details; just know that the books are well written, interesting, and exciting. I first found this guy's work at a used book sale; it was a diamond in the rough.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Appel does it again!,
By Larry Kahaner "www.AK-47book.com" (Mclean, VA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: In Time of War: An Alex Balfour Novel (Hardcover)
I have read all of the Alex Balfour time travel books and this is the best one yet. Appel's description of the Civil War era, especially people's day to day activities is outstanding.The story builds to an ever increasing crescendo as time traveler Alex and his love Molly find each other amid the chaos leading to the assasination of President Lincoln. Preventing tragedies like the assassination of Lincoln has always been the fodder of time travel novels but Appel does it better than anyone else. Does he prevent Booth from killing Lincoln? I won't tell, but rest assured that the author offers a twist you will find both satisfying and exciting. Thumbs up on this!!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Appel does it again!,
By Larry Kahaner "www.AK-47book.com" (Mclean, VA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: In Time of War: An Alex Balfour Novel (Hardcover)
This is the latest in a series of outstanding time travel books from Allen Appel. This one does not disappoint.Through a tightly woven plot, threaded with fascinating facets of history, Appel's hero, Alex Balfour travels to the Civil War time period in a sharpshooting tour de force. This is no ordinary time travel tome, but a smart, witty and accurate portrayal of life -- and death -- during our country's most difficult period. The dialogue sings; the scenery shines and the ending will knock you out like a cannonball shot from a hidden grove. Think you've got it figured out? Think again! My only complaint is that his books are published too far apart.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
