Another terrific novel from the master. Full of wonderful characters and masterful prose. The man is a national treasure.

This is one of Burke's early series, with Hackberry Holland the central character in four books. If there's anybody out there who doesn't know the song that gives the book its title, Wikipedia might be the place to start, or, indeed, Youtube. The civil war did more damage than anyone can have thought possible. The style is lyrical, the plot epic, and nobody has Burke's gifts with the weaving of plots and themes which grow from book to book. Hackberry Holland (four books) has a cousin, also a lawman, Billy Bob Holland (also four books) and Weldon Avery Holland (two books), grandson of the great Hackberry. Try to keep that straight. However, if you were going to read just one of Burke's book, try In the Electric Mist with the Confederate Dead, also a feature film directed by Bernard Tavernier, who is one of the great French directors.of the late 20th century.