James M. McPherson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom “Next to Richmond, Atlanta was the most important Confederate city by 1864. Its fall in September of that year signaled the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. Among the many books about General William T. Sherman's Atlanta campaign,
The Bonfire stands out for its focus on the experience of Atlantans themselves. Marc Wortman's vivid narrative proves that war is indeed hell.”
Debby Applegate, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher
“The Bonfire is a tour de force of American Civil War history, with everything a reader could want: Extraordinary original research, vivid prose and old-fashioned suspense.”
Booklist
“Wortman’s very absorbing account of the Battle of Atlanta draws on the perspectives of individuals on both sides of the conflict and includes the story of the growth of Atlanta from a railroad junction in the late 1830s to a village in the ‘40s to a major metropolis by the time of the Civil War. That story is fascinating…. Atlanta was awash with contradictions.”
Philip Lee Williams, Michael Shaara Prize-winning author of The Campfire Boys
“Prepare to luxuriate in gorgeous prose, first-rate scholarship, and to discover page by page why Atlanta became the city it is today…. This is one of the most important Civil War books in years. It certainly is a book that anyone who wants to understand the war or current-day Georgia or Atlanta simply must own.”
Washington City Paper
“A chilling narrative.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“From the lurid flames of Gone with the Wind to the phoenix on the city seal, the fiery destruction of Atlanta during the Civil War occupies a central place in the city's mythology. In The Bonfire, Marc Wortman goes beyond the legend to reveal a history that is more complicated, but no less dramatic, than anything that came from Margaret Mitchell’s pen. [It] is a tale of divided loyalties, political intrigue and tremendous human suffering. Wortman’s real talent lies in portraying the life of the city and its residents. His ability to create a deft, rich picture of Atlanta during this tumultuous period is what makes The Bonfire both invaluable history and a gripping read.”
Winston Groom, Wall Street Journal
“An admirable account of the circumstances leading to the fall of the city.”
