Official Review: “I am a Soldier, First and Always&...

[Kibet Hillary]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "“I am a Soldier, First and Always” The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock" by James Harold Kelly.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The civil war between the Union and the Confederacy has been going on for long and is growing fiercer. General Reynolds arrives opportunely at the historic battlefield in Gettysburg and is shot dead almost instantly. General George Meade orders Winfield Hancock to transfer command of his II Corps to Brigadier General John Gibbon. Moreover, General Meade carefully drafts an official order to promptly replace Reynolds with Winfield. General Meade had not followed military protocol since Winfield was junior to Oliver Howard. His heroic bravery, wisdom, and decisiveness coupled with the unshakable determination to fight Robert Lee’s Confederates were clearly evident from the moment he arrived at Gettysburg. He had grown tired of the army’s withdrawal that seemed familiar and well-rehearsed and was happy he was in a position to change the army’s course.

“I am a Soldier, First and Always” The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock, Volume II: Turning Point was written by James Harold Kelly. It is an action-packed historical fiction book chronicling the life, military and short political career of Lieutenant General Winfield Scott Hancock. The author is a retired U.S. Army officer and Department of Defense executive. He is an avid student of military history, and this is his first historical fiction book in two volumes. The book was published in 2019 and is 395 pages long. It is divided into four parts and contains a total of thirty-four chapters.

The story was both fascinating and gripping from the first page. The author managed to adequately reveal the devastating consequences of war while narrating the military expertise of General Winfield. Old-time friends and college mates, who had been turned into adversaries by the war, fought on opposite sides as they reminisced about the pleasant memories they had shared. The soldiers hoped the war would end, and that they would be capable of chatting as friends again. The nostalgia was heavy, and the reader is undoubtedly left with a deep longing to experience the peaceful days. However, they were in the war, and many were shot dead, others were torn apart, and others mortally wounded. Both sides suffered massive casualties.

What I liked most is that the author convincingly portrayed both the strengths and weaknesses of Winfield. He was a devoted husband and a loving father. He properly maintained constant communication with his family even on the battlefield. He was accustomed to typically seeing many soldiers die, but the immense sadness and despair he felt when he lost close members of his family and friends showed he was still humane. Winfield’s pride and arrogance was also displayed properly. I also relished the fact that the book demonstrated how soldiers are not always well appreciated. This was an accurate reflection of modern times as well. The historical information in the book was also well researched. I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. There is nothing that I did not like about it.

The language employed in the book was straightforward, and editing was professionally done. This was a superb book to read. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I heartily recommend it to all ardent fans of historical fiction books. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy reading about prominent historical figures and military exploits. The book contains gory scenes and so may be unsuitable for readers who are averse to such.

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“I am a Soldier, First and Always” The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock
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[Kanda_theGreat]

Sometimes when I read books that feature in military life, I end up shading a tear or two.
I'm empathetic towards the uniformed men whose regalia camouflages their fear and pain.
It is this feeling that makes me desire for better conditions for the soldiers.
Amazing review.

[Wyland]

Great review! I especially like the military history of the War Between the States from another angle. Thanks.

[Nerea]

I agree, Soldiers are not always well-appreciated. As a lover of historical fiction, I might consider the book. Thank you for the informative review.

[Prisallen]

I agree the soldiers don't get enough credit for what they endure, then and now. I don't really enjoy reading about military exploits, so I am going to pass on this book. However, I greatly enjoyed reading your review, as always!

[Ellylion]

Sounds like a solid read for history fiction fans. I always appreciate it when the historical information given in a book is reliable. Thank you for a great review!

[Nisha Ward]

Fascinating is how I'd describe this premise. There's the war aspect, of course, but what's working for me is the nostalgia that these men share. Often, civil wars pit friends against friends and I think that I like that this book puts a light on that.

[Sanju Lali]

A fascinating and gripping story in the action-packed historical fiction "“I am a Soldier, First and Always” The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock"" by James Harold Kelly. The nice thing is that book chronicles the life, military and political career of Lieutenant General Winfield.

[Tan TR]

It seems like a interesting book, both from the military aspects to the emotional ordeal of the characters. I am interested in seeing how the brutal death of war reflects in the characters. A good thorough review.

[Elizabeth Pass]

I generally don't like war stories, though this one sounds well-done. I like how the characters are portrayed realistically and the overwhelming sense of nostalgia throughout.

[Amy+++]

I'm not really into war stories, so I will be passing on this one. I do know some people who would be interested in a book like this. Great review.

[Bles]

“I am a Soldier, First and Always” The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock by James Harold Kelly sounds fascinating but I'm always skeptical about war stories. In that case, I will skip this book but I will recommend it. Congratulations to the author on the BOTD. Great review.

[iknwuzoh]

This book is about gallantry, military life. Its a book filled with military men like in Vietnam. Nice job. Thanks for the review.

[AntonelaMaria]

This book sounds interesting. I am glad you say that the plotline is griping which is not something that I would expect from war stories. Great review!

[bellajavier]

Writing such books needs precision, because painting the scenes of war and a lot of understanding. To be able to craft anything remotely good when it comes to war, you just don't have to incorporate action filled scenes, but also a true understanding of what it feels like to be a soldier. Kudos to the author for conjuring up this masterpiece.

Your review is spectacular and very wonderfully written!