GHOST RIDERS

When, in 1862, war reaches southern Appalachia, Union sympathizer Keith Blalock is drafted into the Confederacy. His wife, Melinda, disguises herself as his brother and enlists to be near him. Simultaneously, in 2003, the reenactment of an especially violent battle raises the angry spirits of Confederate soldiers. Dick Hill and Susie Breck share the narration, giving honest treatment to real and fictional characters alike. They're most effective as Keith and Melinda; Zebulon Vance, who rises to the state legislature and Congress before becoming governor of North Carolina; and "seers" Nora Bonesteel and young Rattler, who try to placate the "ghost riders." Sharyn McCrumb's Civil War epic intercuts historical figures with present-day reenactors and harsh facts with magical realism, presenting a tale that both informs and entertains. S.J.H. 2004 Audie Award Winner (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 03]