Title: The Civil War In My South Carolina Lowcountry
Author: James L. Harvey Jr.
Publisher: Xulon Press
ISBN: 978-1662847745
Pages: 262
Genre: Non-Fiction / U.S. Civil War History / Biographical
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers
Hollywood Book Reviews
Our ability to be able to understand our past and how we got to this place we find ourselves in, is one of the more crucial aspects of advancing as a civilization. Whether this comes to us on a more personal, familial nature, or if we find ourselves knee-deep into the history and advancement of an entire lost civilization, our growing desire to understand history and what brought us to this point makes the future feel more attainable, as it allows us to learn from the mistakes and successes of our ancestors.
The need to connect with our family ancestry is becoming more and more widespread in our culture, and the book The Civil War In My South Carolina Lowcountry by author James L. Harvey Jr., is the perfect example of this. The author shares how he was able to trace his family ancestry to the biggest and most brutal war fought on American soil; the Civil War. The book delves into a large-scale exploration of how the Civil War impacted the state of South Carolina, as well as his family personally. From their involvement in grand battles to the regiments which the author’s family served in, and the family’s dedication to their faith during dark times, this book will speak to history and genealogy buffs alike.
Finding the right ebb and flow between the book’s two main genres is crucial when delving into this topic, and the author did a wonderful job of doing just that, allowing both the history and personal family genealogy study to work well in concert with one another. The detail and research the author pours into this book doesn’t take away from the more personal writing style itself, allowing the reader to connect to both the author and his family’s history in a more personal way. The author sets himself apart from other authors in this genre by showcasing honestly the author’s more personal way of approaching this topic, rather than from a more scholarly field, allowing for a wider reading audience overall.
The reader who enjoys history and genealogy, as well as personal family history and storytelling and non-fiction reads overall, will truly love this book. If readers are also more faith-based in their personal lives, the author touches upon this as well, allowing the reader to see how a family’s faith served them in times of bloody war that nearly tore an entire nation apart. Thoughtful and captivating, the book “The Civil War In My South Carolina Lowcountry” by James L. Harvey Jr is a must-read non-fiction and history read. The passion for which the author writes this book and the focus on detailed writing on South Carolina and the Harvey family overall makes this a compelling book to get lost in.