Wildwood Boys: A Novel

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Harper Collins, Oct 13, 2009 - Fiction - 384 pages

From the raw clay of historical fact, James Carlos Blake has sculpted a powerful novel of both a man and an America at war with themselves. Here is the brutally honest story of free-spirit William Anderson, who is pulled into a savage conflict of state against state in the years leading up to the Civil War. When Bill suffers a catastrophic loss, a fury is unleashed in his anguished soul. He becomes the most fearsome guerrilla captain and earns a name that becomes whispered with reverence and terror: "Bloody Bill."

 

Contents

I
1
III
174
The Captains
209
IV
255
V
312
Copyright

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Page 66 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven : A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal ; A time to break down, and a time to build up ; A time to weep, and a time to laugh ; A time to mourn, and a time to dance...
Page 106 - THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled — but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk.
Page 370 - Oh, I'ma good old Rebel, Now that's just what I am; For this "fair Land of Freedom
Page 109 - For, alas! alas! with me The light of Life is o'er! No more - no more - no more (Such language holds the solemn sea To the sands upon the shore) Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree, Or the stricken eagle soar!
Page 259 - Hurrah! hurrah! for Southern rights! hurrah! Hurrah! for the bonnie blue flag that bears a single star...
Page 40 - Prairie," its borders and surroundings, are mentioned as the haunts of these outlaws and the fanners generally in these neighborhoods are said to be knowing to and encouraging the lawless acts of these guerrillas, &c., as mentioned above. Murders and robberies have been committed; Union men threatened and driven from their homes; the US mails have been stopped; farmers have been prohibited planting by the proclamation of a well-known and desperate leader of these outlaws by the name of Quantrill,...
Page 40 - ... outlaws by the name of Quantrill, and the whole country designated reduced to a state of anarchy. This state of things must be terminated and the guilty punished. All those found in arms and open opposition to the laws and legitimate authorities, who are known familiarly as guerrillas, jayhawkers, murderers, marauders, and horse-thieves, will be shot down by the military upon the spot when found perpetrating their foul acts.
Page 40 - Quantrill, and the whole country designated reduced to a state of anarchy. This state of things must be terminated and the guilty punished. All those found in arms and open opposition to the laws and legitimate authorities, who are known familiarly as guerrillas, jayhawkers, murderers, marauders, and horse-thieves, will be shot down by the military upon the spot when found perpetrating their foul acts. All who have knowingly harbored or encouraged these outlaws in...
Page 235 - Quantrill's massacre at Lawrence is almost enough to curdle the blood with horror. In the history of the war thus far...
Page 66 - A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, hand a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and...

About the author (2009)

James Carlos Blake is the author of nine novels. Among his literary honors are the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Southwest Book Award, Quarterly West Novella Prize, and Chautauqua South Book Award. He lives in Arizona.

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