Synopses & Reviews
Book DescriptionEditorial ReviewsReview Captivating inits humanity, and remarkably moving, Bellin's writing brings hischaracters to life and reality so quickly that it is impossible to stopturning the pages. - The Chronicle-Express
David Bellin's narrative captivates the reader...a fast-paced novel, Sherman's Chaplain is a great read for the Civil War enthusiast.- SanFrancisco Book Review
...an impressive observation of men, humans, during one of the mostheartbreaking episodes in American history...beautifully written, historically accurate and unique in its presentation. - IP BookReviewers
David Bellin has woven the events of 1864 and 1865 into a veryenjoyable, enlightening and thought-provoking work of historicalfiction. -- Civil War News Product DescriptionWith Atlanta in ruins behind them, sixty-thousand calloused andconfident Union army veterans follow William Tecumseh Sherman to thenext objective: Savannah. A newcomer is among them now: Ellis Brantley, a charismatic young seminary graduate with a gift for preaching. Hispowerful sermons quickly vault him from regimental chaplain to a seniorchaplain's post at Sherman's headquarters. There, he must contend withthe flinty and unpredictable general, a hostile captain who mocks hisbeliefs, a church-burning, half-insane soldier and, most dangerous ofall, his own conviction that he knows God's will - a conviction thatwill lead him to brush aside a prophetic warning from a combat-seasonedofficer: You don't know war. You don't know how quickly livesare taken or changed forever.
David Bellin is a retired advertising executive, the winner of a CLIO statuette, the ad world's Oscar. He and his wifelive in the dairy farm countryside of New York's Finger Lakes. Hisprevious book, The Children's War, a novelof Northern Ireland, was praised as Contemporary fiction withsomething substantive to say (Library Journal), A gripping story, well told (Bookviews), An incisive view of the Irish conflict...amoving tale (West Coast Review) and A satisfying novel thatilluminates compassionate souls on both sides of a terrible struggle(Publisher's Weekly)
Synopsis
Sherman's Chaplain
In a series of candid letters to his sweetheart, a young regimental chaplain chronicles the merciless march of Sherman's army from Atlanta to Savannah. Simultaneously, his letters reveal the inner conflict that will drive him to personal tragedy and a profound new truth about his Christian faith.
November, 1864. With Atlanta in ruins behind them, sixty-thousand calloused and confident Union army veterans follow William Tecumseh Sherman to the next objective: Savannah.
A newcomer is among them now: Ellis Brantley, a charismatic young seminary graduate with a gift for preaching. His powerful sermons quickly vault him from regimental chaplain to a senior chaplain's post at Sherman's headquarters.There, he must contend with the flinty and unpredictable general, a hostile captain who mocks his beliefs, a church-burning, half-insane soldier and, most dangerous of all, his own conviction that he knows God's will - a conviction that will lead him to brush aside a prophetic warning from a combat-seasoned officer: You don't know war. You don't know how quickly lives are taken or changed forever.
David Bellin is a retired advertising executive, the winner of a CLIO statuette, the ad world's Oscar. He and his wife live in the dairy farm countryside of New York's Finger Lakes.
An avid amateur historian, he took a career break in 1980 to write The Children's War, a novel of Northern Ireland praised as Contemporary fiction with something substantive to say (Library Journal), A gripping story, well told (Bookviews), A satisfying novel that illuminates compassionate souls on both sides of a terrible struggle (Publisher's Weekly).
His return to historical fiction three decades later was unplanned. I simply couldn't resist the idea: letters home from this idealistic young seminarian in the middle of Sherman's relentless army. I wrote the first letter, didn't stop, and Sherman's Chaplain is the result.