Civil War Novel: Black Brigade

Black Cloud Rising is a thought-provoking and beautifully written novel that sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of Civil War history. David Wright Faladé's portrayal of the African Brigade and its leader, Richard Etheridge, offers a poignant look at the struggles and triumphs of Black soldiers fighting for their freedom. This book is highly recommended for readers interested in historical fiction, Civil War history, and stories of resilience and courage.

Faladé is an American professor and author of both books and magazine articles. This new book has previously been excerpted in the New Yorker magazine. It is an historical fiction novel set in 1863 North Carolina. It is narrated by the character of Richard, who up until the emancipation proclamation was a slave. He had been given special privileges and was taught to read and write as his father was the plantation master. Now he is a Sergeant in the Union Army, part of the African Brigade. They are tasked with rescuing and recruiting former slaves who have not been released by their masters and rounding up the Confederate siding rebel guerrillas. This is a difficult read due to both the content and the language, but both a powerful and thought provoking one and a good recommendation for the right customer.