Book Review - The Broken Circle - David P Bridges

Title: The Broken Circle

Author: David P Bridges

Review: You can tell from the beginning of this book that David Bridges knows about the history of the Civil War and how it affected all those who fought and those who supported them.  It is a story of dedication, love of country, love of state and of divided loyalties.  It is a story that could be told with different characters but still have the same conclusion.

James Breathed is a doctor use to saving lives not taking them.  But he learns that in time of war sometimes you take them and other times you save them no matter what color they are wearing. 

The story starts when James meets Jeb Stuart, later to become a famous Confederate General, on a train ride to Maryland.  The war has not begun but soon will and Stuart tries to talk James into joining his unit he is forming to fight for the South.

James joins Stuart and eventually becomes a Captain over the artillery and the battles in the book are told from this perspective.

Mollie is a young girl that James has known since he was a child.  Both her father and James father are doctors and the families have become fast friends.  Mollie and James fall in love and when they part, for James to join Stuart, Mollie decides she needs to do something for the cause also. So Mollie starts to watch carefully and to listen carefully and is able to collect information that helps the confederacy.  Her adventures add color to the book.

James makes it through most of the war without any outward wounds but the inward wounds are building as the war drags on year after year.  Finally near the end of the war a physical wound happens that gives Mollie and James a chance to be together for a time as he recovers, but he never fully recovers and their love is put on hold while James tries to figure what lies ahead for him.  He tries to give rest to his soul by delivering babies and being the doctor that he started out to be but the pain is sometimes more than he can bare, physically but mostly emotionaly.

This story is well written but a bit to long in places with too much detail that was not necessary to the story and caused it to bog down in places. 

I give this book a three out of five stars, the story is not exciting but is very interesting and a very good read.

Thanks Eileen for this review. 

Publisher: Published September 10th 2013 by "Wipf & Stock"
ISBN: 9781625641526

Copyright: 2013
Pages: 362

Quick Review: 3 Stars out of 5
Why I Read It: I love history
Where I Obtained the Book: Sent to me by the publisher for review

Synopsis:  Dr./Major Breathed chooses the cause of the Confederacy over medicine but will that decision cost him the love of his life? James is swept away into a war created by divisions between the northern and southern states. The Broken Circle has elements that mirror a Greek tragedy that sets up the paradoxical inner conflict of saving life as a doctor versus destroying life as a soldier. He re-channels his genius from medical to master warrior and ultimately becomes disillusioned and demoralized. Mollie Macgill utilizes her espionage talents as the two fall in love throughout the course of the war. In the final post-war chapters they both seek redemption from God for their greater devotion to the Southern cause. As they seek to repair their shattered souls the tragic brokenness of James's and Mollie's lives is revealed. The Broken Circle is full of historically accurate battle scenes and the characters are historical people.

Author Biography:  David P. Bridges, theologian, historian, biographer, outdoorsman and horseman, began writing about the Civil War period after nearly two decades of serving as an ordained Presbyterian minister. Bridges undergraduate B.S. degree in economics was received from The University of Kentucky. He furthered his academic experience and studied theology and history at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and The University of Chicago, Divinity School. In order to further enhance his writing he learned to fire cannon and fight as dismounted cavalry so that he could participate in Civil War reenactments with the 2nd Virginia Cavalry & Stuart Horse Artillery, based in Roanoke, Virginia.

Bridges' area of expertise is 1850-1950 American history. His first non-fictional historical book is about the Best family, coal industrialists and philanthropists who historically impacted Chicago's history. His second book chronicles the Bridges family in Western Maryland. It shows how industry, politics and conservation worked together to preserve the Woodmont Rod and Gun Club, Hancock, Maryland. Bridges' latest book chronicles the life and Civil War trials and tribulations of Major James Breathed, Stuart Horse Artillery, C.S.A in the novel forthcoming "War, Love & Redemption A Novel Of The War For Southern Independence". He resides in Richmond, Virginia, with his faithful birddogs Angel, Bella and Rosey.

Other Reviews:

My Book Addictions Review  Rating 4

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