John's Reviews > Woe to Live on

This has to be one of the most well written books I have ever read. Woodrell tells the story of a group of Civil War raiders who terrorize Union sympathizers while trying to avoid the army. It is very much hit and run tactics. The story also includes Capt. William Quantrill's infamous raid on Lawrence Kansas. Having said that, the majority of the book concerns the camp life of the raiders and their interactions with Rebel sympathizers who help hide them out.

Woodrell captures his characters PERFECTLY! Their thoughts, idioms, patterns of speech and behavior are so accurately portrayed you would swear you were living in camp and riding along with the group. Some of the characters in the book actually were among Quantrill's raiders.

I know the book won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if you enjoy character studies, or the Civil War I can't recommend this book enough.