Escape
A True American Civil War Adventure
Reviews by Amazon Readers
“The Greatest Escape”
P Bloom, MA
5.0 out of 5 stars
Miller's craftsmanship as a historian, skill as a writer, and artistry as a storyteller tell the saga of Libby Prison brilliantly. His research was vast and meticulous…The many accounts of the selflessness of slaves or free (wo)men of color were, to me, the most moving and uplifting of all and a message for our time.
Philip, CT
5.0 out of 5 stars - A great story, told by a master writer
If all history was written like this, kids would pay to go to High School…
Miller leaves out no detail to bring this intense drama to life. The way his characters think, the way they write, the way they speak to each other, and the ingenious and arduous details of their escape plan. Miller's command of history is encompassing. The story is packed with historical details that would only be available from years of exhaustive research…Great read - Highly recommend.
5.0 out of 5 stars - Everyone should read this book!
This is an amazing piece of American history that I had absolutely no idea ever happened…The story is written with humanity and humor, in such a way that you can feel the angst and claustrophobia of the prisoners right along with them, all the way to their triumphant escape! Get this book!
5.0 out of 5 stars - This book should be a film!
A unique true story told in a unique way. Fifty first-person accounts were brought together to tell this exciting Civil War tale of capture, prison life, and escape. I thoroughly enjoyed this once-famous story that has been overlooked by history and look forward to an exciting movie version.
5.0 out of 5 stars - Perfectly crafted and dramatically told true Civil War prison-break story.
I think I read this book in 4 quick nights and constantly thought about it in between. Miller did a terrific job of weaving together many disparate primary sources, taken from historical reports and writings from the prisoners themselves, into a coherent narrative with rich dramatic spice.
I was burned out on the whole civil war genre and put this book off until I was through with my summer reading list, but it turned out to be the best book of the whole year!... I know it's cliche, but I truly laughed and cried. When was the last time a civil war book did that? Yes, this book should be on the shelves of every civil war buff, professor and student ... and yes, I plan to read it again and again.
5.0 out of 5 stars - A Forgotten Civil War Adventure Comes To Life
Mr. Miller brings this relatively unknown (or unremembered) historic event to life in a well-researched and personal tale. From start to finish this is an exciting read for Civil War buffs and general readers alike. Highly recommend!
Martin Olson, Los Angeles, CA:
5.0 out of 5 stars - A hidden gem of a true story of the reality of the Civil War
If you love non-fiction about the Civil War that reads like an amazing novel, this story is the best of its kind I have ever read…. Especially timely was the brilliant female spy who helped enable the prisoners' escape, and the noble and courageous slaves who risked their lives to secretly help the escapees on their journey north. This was a beautiful, compelling book I couldn't put down. It's quite a hidden gem of a story and exposes many aspects of life during the Civil War that I was not aware of. Highly recommended.
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