Delirium of the Brave

by William C. Harris Jr.

Book Overview

Savannah, 1864. Confederate Captain Patrick Driscoll and his dear friend and manservant Shadrack Shad Bryan leave their tearful families to help fight for the Southern cause. They are to set up fort at Raccoon Island off Georgia's coast in a last-ditch effort to save their beloved city from Union attack. But only days into their assignment, the two men die in each other's arms in a Yankee bombardment. Though the men are gone, their legacy will live...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312254954
• ISBN13: 9780312254957
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 366 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

I would call it a must read....

I am anticipating a move to Savannah this summer. Friends from "outside" Savannah gave me "The Garden of Good and Evil" to read (Called "that book" in distain by Savannians) My new friends IN Savannah recommended I read Delirium of the Brave, and I'm so very glad they did.It captures the true spirit of the South a darn sight better than any carpet-baggin' New Yorker could ever hope to.Bravo to Dr Harris.

"Delirium" is a Delight....

This has to be one of the best books I have read in long while. With its abundance of intrigue, passion, and murder, it's quite a page-turner; yet it sweeps you into a place so rich and full of flavor that you truly feel that you are there, smelling the magnolias and feeling the textures of the atmosphere that must be exclusively Savannah's. I was particularly enthralled and delighted by the multi-generational aspects of the story, and how the characters were connected throughout the years through a variety of actions, some good, some evil. I am impressed with Dr. Harris' ability to weave so much history into a novel that is easily read in just one day. His writing has a simplicity and an honesty that I found very refreshing. I can't wait to visit Savannah and experience it for myself!

I read all the "Oprah" books and this one should be on it

For anyone who reads the dramatic, compelling books on Oprah's lists, please read this one. It completely takes you in to Savannah during the Civil War, then the 1950's, 1960's, Vietnam War, etc. Though it's somewhat historical, you get to MEET the regular people and see how they lived according to the times they were in. There's so many stories and life situations that keep you intrigued. Looking foward to his second book.

Thanks for the memories

Unable to put the book down I flew through the book in 24 hours. As a native Savannahian the book brought back many experiences of my youth.Dr. Harris is a wonderful story teller who describes the heart of low country living. I recall what I miss now living miles away from this city. I hope he has more stories to tell soon!

Delirium of the Brave

One has to become more than casually involved with Savannah to appreciate the multi-dimensional portrait the author draws of this historic southern city. One can only speculate how much of the separate directions traveled by this novel are, indeed, based on fact, although probably no good purpose is served by attempts to guess which of Savannah's first families might be involved. Savannah hides its secrets well, but lurking in the shadows there is a deep, dark side about which it is fascinating to speculate. "Delerium" does an admirable job in the glimpses it evokes of people and things past, and critically integrates them in a complex, logically coherent plot which in no small way helps helps one appreciate and understand the present. What starts out as a mystery, pure and simple, turns into a compelling portrait of human emotions and depravity. The broad brush of his generational approach, not always kindly or non-critically applied, helps document the development of present-day social institutions, described autobiographically by one who has "been there, done that." For anyone with an interest in the "real" Savannah or just wanting a riveting, page-turning read, "Delerium" delivers!